Annahnomoss
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Team Gio
PETER SCHMEICHEL, EURO 1992
Regarded as the most influential goalkeeping performance of all time, Schmeichel dragged a workmanlike Danish side to success in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Having dispatched France and England in the group stages, he became increasingly unbeatable as the tournament wore on, producing two man-mountain displays against holders Holland in the semi-finals and world champions Germany in the final.
MATTHIAS SAMMER, EURO 1996
In what was perhaps the greatest libero tournament display of all, Sammer was Germany's best defender, midfielder and attacker all rolled into one package at Euro '96. Sammer's organisation saw Germany keep three clean sheets to stroll what had been coined the 'group of death' as a stacked Italy squad tumbled out of the tournament. The libero stepped up another gear in the quarter finals, almost single-handedly dismantling a brilliant Croatia side, winning the penalty for the opener then scoring the winner - both goals coming after trademark bursts forward to cut open the opposition like a hot knife through butter. His performances saw him fend off peak Ronaldo to earn the 1996 Ballon D'Or later that year.
GUIDO BUCHWALD, WORLD CUP 1990
A strong performer at Italia '90 illustrated most notably by shackling Diego Maradona in the final. Buchwald shone throughout and was an all-action hero in the crunch second round clash with Holland. Grizzly and physically dominant man-marker who played on the side of a back three and enjoyed great success at club level complementing Sammer for Stuttgart. His showing in the summer of 1990 was rewarded with an impressive 10th place in that year's Ballon D'Or, remarkable for such an unfashionable player getting into the top 10 of such an attacker-focused award.
The quintessential tournament player who represents the very spirit of the draft. Impeccable at France '98 producing, for me, the second best tournament performance from a defender in the last 20 years (after Cannavaro's heroics in 2006). Captain and leader of a rock-solid Paraguay defence who read the game so beautifully he did not make a single foul in the entire tournament.
ROBERTO CARLOS, WORLD CUP 2002
Twice in the team of the tournament, it is the 2002 version which is on show here. That Roberto Carlos played in a 3-5-2, liberated to own the flank in the same way he did every week alongside Zidane for Real Madrid. Called El Hombre Bala - the bullet man - in Spain for his searing pace, tree-trunk thighs and cannonball shot.
JAVIER ZANETTI, COPA AMERICA 2004
Argentina's most capped player started off his international career scoring the best set-piece goal of the 1998 World Cup in a rollercoaster match against England. His best international tournament though was the 2004 Copa America where his endless stamina, power and poise dominated his right flank in every game, gaining high praise:
The man who made it a personal crusade to win the World Cup as ultimately shown by his man-of-the-match efforts in the 2014 final. Went very close in 2010 where he dictated games with aplomp, using his brilliant passing range, physicality and positional discipline to give Germany a solid platform to go forward. Special mention to his second-round performance in making mincemeat out of Maradona's wayward Argentina while marking Messi out of the game. An obvious choice for team of the tournament with 3 assists to his name.
LOTHAR MATTHAUS, WORLD CUP 1990
In what was surely the most influential central midfield performance of any World Cup, Matthaus was in dominant form in 1990 scoring 4 goals from the heart of midfield (the 3rd top scorer in the competition). The apex was the 4-1 demolition of pre-tournament dark horses Yugoslavia, as the box-to-box dynamo netted two bristling goals from outside the area. A step ahead of the game throughout as he not only won all those little battles that are the bread-and-butter fare of the proper central midfielder, but also made repeated match-winning impacts.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE, EURO 2000
In the summer of 2000, Zidane reached a tournament pinnacle that in the modern era was only clearly bettered by Maradona 14 years earlier. At the peak of his powers, he married that characteristic elegance with the decisiveness that he occasionally lacked during his domestic league career. His mastery of the ball was thrilling to watch and he delivered the knockout blows to both Spain (a 30-yard free-kick) and Portugal (the golden goal penalty) in the knockout stages.
DRAGAN DZAJIC, EURO 1968
Player of the tournament lighting up an otherwise fairly drab and defensive Euros. Dzajic was in rampant form, clocking up 3 goals and 3 assists out of 8 goals Yugoslavia scored against France, England and Italy for Euro '68. Those defences boasted some top class personnel - he ghosted in behind Bobby Moore and lobbed Gordon Banks to knock out the world champions - and Dzajic combined both productivity and the dazzling dribbling we fame him for in unlocking them. Top scorer in 1968 and again in the team of the tournament in 1976, this time giving Berti Vogts the runaround, Dzajic has a strong case for producing the best tournament performances of any left-sided attacker.
LEONIDAS DA SILVA, WORLD CUP 1938
Despite Brazil failing to reach the final, Leonidas was a clear choice as the Golden Ball winner and remained the only man to do so without having reached the final all the way until Forlan in 2010. Leonidas scored 7 goals in just 4 games, naively rested for the semi-final (which Brazil lost) after a lion-esque display in the quarters against Poland:
WHY WE WILL WIN:
Team Joga Bonito
Defense
When it comes to the art of defending, no one knows how to do it better than the Italians and the Germans and the all Italo-German rearguard starts off with the notorious Harald Schumacher who was an integral part of Germany 1986 run to the final, with his heroic keeping (including 3 clean sheets in the R16, quarter-finals and semi-finals) earning him the silver ball behind one Maradona.
Franco Baresi takes charge of this defense and with tactically astute and like-minded rugged defenders for company, it won't be hard not to see him reprise his 1990 form which was amongst the best defenses in the WC imo (a single goal conceded in the entire tournament). Karlheinz Förster is a great complement for Baresi with his exploits in the 1986 WC being led to him being described as the best centre-back of the tournament. Berti Vogts is well known for his man-marking display against Cruyff but he was also a great defender first and foremost with excellent reading of the game, he slots in seamlessly in a great defensive set-up. Not much needs to be said about Giacinto Facchetti but he was a phenomenon who was pretty much revolutionary in terms of the impact a full-back could have on a side. With Vogts on the other side, and Forster providing expert cover if need be, he has the freedom to impose himself in the opposition's half here, whilst he can be counted on to fulfil his defensive duties.
Midfield
Paulo Roberto Falcão was one of the best players in the 1982 WC and arguably the best player (definitely the driving force though), of the 1982 Brazilian joga bonito side with his all-round game capturing the imagination of the masses. Here he'd be tasked with playing his usual dynamic and creative game with the likes of Charlton and Voronin for company. Valery Voronin was one of the best midfielders of the 1966 WC and was quite simply one of the most complete and tactically well-rounded central midfielders in the history of the game, capable of playing as a rugged defender, holding midfielder, man-marker or as a playmaking B2B midfielder. His international portfolio is as impeccable as it comes (TOTM in 1962 WC, best player in Soviet Union's run to the final in the 1964 Euros and of course culminating in the 1966 WC where he was rated as the 4th best player of the tournament by a L'Equipe referendum). It's a rarity to find a cultured defensive midfielder, let alone a defensive robust midfielder (capable of man-marking peak Eusebio and F. Albert out of the game) who can also function as the creative heart-beat of his side.
Great all-round display against Germany
Man-marking Eusebio out of the game
Nullifying Florian Albert
Sir Bobby Charlton gave one of the most distinguished and complete WC performances ever, winning the Golden Ball and the ballon d'Or, with his goals proving to be decisive whilst his all-round game was the glue to England's unique set-up. I'm actually gutted to leave Czibor, a favourite of mine on the bench, but Bruno Conti wasn't exactly too shabby himself. The Italian was a real revelation at the 1982 WC and was amongst Italy's key players in their WC triumph, with Conti almost single-handed manning the flank, with his industry, but his trickery and creativity shone through too, with Conti's wizardy all too often proving to be Italy's major source of inspiration.
Offense
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was arguably the player of the tournament in 1980 with his all-round display coming right to the fore, with his assist for Hrubesh proving to be the decider in the final. Rummenigge tends to be portrayed as a pure in-cutting inside-forward when he was a direct and a complete two-way player capable of both stretching play and being a potent goalscoring threat as well.
One of the deadliest players in the '86 WC, Careca was both equally deadly as he was inventive. And there was no doubt on the dependency they had on their prolific forward - Brazil had the most solid rearguard of all World Cup participants. In five matches they had but conceded but one goal. The ten Brazilian goals were scored by only four players with Careca nabbing a Silver Boot with his 5 goals and 3 assists in 5 matches, either scoring or assisting in every single match that he featured in. Unfortunately, Zico managed to miss the penalty that Careca won in the match against the French. Just a shame he was injured for the 1982 WC. Careca functioned as a complete spear-head capable of roaming out to the channels and flanks, and his link-up play was bang on the money. With the fellow dynamic cast of midfielders and forwards alongside him, Careca's multi-faceted game would be put to good use here.
(TOTM nominations and exclusions should obviously be taken with a pinch of salt although they are generally a decent indicator, likewise club achievements also have to be taken into account when considering the ballon d'Or ratings although the Euro/WC showings play a significant part in that).
Harald Schumacher - 1986 World Cup
World Cup Silver Ball;
German Footballer of the Year;
Ballon d'Or - 13th
Franco Baresi - 1990 World Cup
World Cup TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 5th
Karlheinz Förster - 1986 WC
German Defender of the Year;
Ballon d'Or - 24th
Fifa Technical Report - Förster was undoubtedly the best central defender of the mundial
Berti Vogts - 1974 WC
World Cup TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 10th
Giacinto Facchetti - 1968 Euros
Euro 1968 TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 5th
Valery Voronin - 1966 World Cup
Ranked 4th behind Charlton, Beckenbauer and Eusebio by a referendum organized by L'Equipe and France Football;
Best XI of the 1966 WC by the Associated Press;
Soviet Union Footballer of the Year;
Ballon d'Or - 10th
Paulo Roberto Falcão - 1982 World Cup
World Cup Silver Ball;
World Cup TOTM;
South American Player of the Year Silver Ball;
Onze de Bronze
Sir Bobby Charlton - 1966 World Cup
World Cup Golden Ball
Ballon d'Or - 1st
World Cup TOTM
Ranked 1st by a referendum organized by L'Equipe and France Football
Bruno Conti - 1982 World Cup
World Cup TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 5th
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - 1980 Euros
Euros 1980 TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - Winner;
Onze d'Or - Winner;
World Footballer of the Year - Guerin Sportivo;
German Footballer of the Year;
Bravo Otto
Careca - 1986 World Cup
World Cup Silver Boot;
South American Team of the Year[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]
PLAYER PROFILES
PETER SCHMEICHEL, EURO 1992
Regarded as the most influential goalkeeping performance of all time, Schmeichel dragged a workmanlike Danish side to success in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Having dispatched France and England in the group stages, he became increasingly unbeatable as the tournament wore on, producing two man-mountain displays against holders Holland in the semi-finals and world champions Germany in the final.
MATTHIAS SAMMER, EURO 1996
In what was perhaps the greatest libero tournament display of all, Sammer was Germany's best defender, midfielder and attacker all rolled into one package at Euro '96. Sammer's organisation saw Germany keep three clean sheets to stroll what had been coined the 'group of death' as a stacked Italy squad tumbled out of the tournament. The libero stepped up another gear in the quarter finals, almost single-handedly dismantling a brilliant Croatia side, winning the penalty for the opener then scoring the winner - both goals coming after trademark bursts forward to cut open the opposition like a hot knife through butter. His performances saw him fend off peak Ronaldo to earn the 1996 Ballon D'Or later that year.
GUIDO BUCHWALD, WORLD CUP 1990
A strong performer at Italia '90 illustrated most notably by shackling Diego Maradona in the final. Buchwald shone throughout and was an all-action hero in the crunch second round clash with Holland. Grizzly and physically dominant man-marker who played on the side of a back three and enjoyed great success at club level complementing Sammer for Stuttgart. His showing in the summer of 1990 was rewarded with an impressive 10th place in that year's Ballon D'Or, remarkable for such an unfashionable player getting into the top 10 of such an attacker-focused award.
CARLOS GAMARRA, WORLD CUP 1998Buchwald was my best player.
The quintessential tournament player who represents the very spirit of the draft. Impeccable at France '98 producing, for me, the second best tournament performance from a defender in the last 20 years (after Cannavaro's heroics in 2006). Captain and leader of a rock-solid Paraguay defence who read the game so beautifully he did not make a single foul in the entire tournament.
ROBERTO CARLOS, WORLD CUP 2002
Twice in the team of the tournament, it is the 2002 version which is on show here. That Roberto Carlos played in a 3-5-2, liberated to own the flank in the same way he did every week alongside Zidane for Real Madrid. Called El Hombre Bala - the bullet man - in Spain for his searing pace, tree-trunk thighs and cannonball shot.
JAVIER ZANETTI, COPA AMERICA 2004
Argentina's most capped player started off his international career scoring the best set-piece goal of the 1998 World Cup in a rollercoaster match against England. His best international tournament though was the 2004 Copa America where his endless stamina, power and poise dominated his right flank in every game, gaining high praise:
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER, WORLD CUP 2010Left on the bench for a World Cup qualifier in June and many assumed he was finished. Emphatically proved the contrary with a series of storming displays down the right flank.
The man who made it a personal crusade to win the World Cup as ultimately shown by his man-of-the-match efforts in the 2014 final. Went very close in 2010 where he dictated games with aplomp, using his brilliant passing range, physicality and positional discipline to give Germany a solid platform to go forward. Special mention to his second-round performance in making mincemeat out of Maradona's wayward Argentina while marking Messi out of the game. An obvious choice for team of the tournament with 3 assists to his name.
LOTHAR MATTHAUS, WORLD CUP 1990
In what was surely the most influential central midfield performance of any World Cup, Matthaus was in dominant form in 1990 scoring 4 goals from the heart of midfield (the 3rd top scorer in the competition). The apex was the 4-1 demolition of pre-tournament dark horses Yugoslavia, as the box-to-box dynamo netted two bristling goals from outside the area. A step ahead of the game throughout as he not only won all those little battles that are the bread-and-butter fare of the proper central midfielder, but also made repeated match-winning impacts.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE, EURO 2000
In the summer of 2000, Zidane reached a tournament pinnacle that in the modern era was only clearly bettered by Maradona 14 years earlier. At the peak of his powers, he married that characteristic elegance with the decisiveness that he occasionally lacked during his domestic league career. His mastery of the ball was thrilling to watch and he delivered the knockout blows to both Spain (a 30-yard free-kick) and Portugal (the golden goal penalty) in the knockout stages.
There are no prizes for guessing the outstanding midfielder (and player) of the tournament. Zinedine Zidane rose head and shoulders above everyone else in the finals, taking the art of midfield playmaking to new heights.
DRAGAN DZAJIC, EURO 1968
Player of the tournament lighting up an otherwise fairly drab and defensive Euros. Dzajic was in rampant form, clocking up 3 goals and 3 assists out of 8 goals Yugoslavia scored against France, England and Italy for Euro '68. Those defences boasted some top class personnel - he ghosted in behind Bobby Moore and lobbed Gordon Banks to knock out the world champions - and Dzajic combined both productivity and the dazzling dribbling we fame him for in unlocking them. Top scorer in 1968 and again in the team of the tournament in 1976, this time giving Berti Vogts the runaround, Dzajic has a strong case for producing the best tournament performances of any left-sided attacker.
LEONIDAS DA SILVA, WORLD CUP 1938
Despite Brazil failing to reach the final, Leonidas was a clear choice as the Golden Ball winner and remained the only man to do so without having reached the final all the way until Forlan in 2010. Leonidas scored 7 goals in just 4 games, naively rested for the semi-final (which Brazil lost) after a lion-esque display in the quarters against Poland:
As a player he was simply phenomenal. A classy yet effective dribbler, he cut through the enemy defense like lightning, and he shot at the enemy goal with the precision and power of a born goal-scorer.
He was as fast as a greyhound, as agile as a cat, and seemed not to be made of flesh and bones at all, but entirely of rubber. He was tireless in pursuit of the ball, fearless, and constantly on the move. He never conceded defeat. He shot from any angle and any position, and compensated for his small height with exceptionally supple, unbelievable contortions, and impossible acrobatics.
The things Leonidas did in that first half of that historic game against Poland on July 5 in Strasbourg can be ranked among the most beautiful and brilliant plays in soccer history - artistic, rhythmic plays that carry the secret of soccer magic, and a grace that make the ball speak. Leonidas was a flash of joy and glory that easily danced through the entrenched Polish defense.
In that first half he made three goals, but then a deluge of rain set in, and the Polish managed to transform Brazils lead to a 4-3 lead into their favor. Then, Leonidas, living up to his name became a lion in battle, wreaking havoc in the mud on the players from the sunless land. At one point his foot got stuck in the mud. "The black Diamond" took his foot out of the shoe and kicked the ball with all his might to tie the game. In the end, Brazil won 6-5.
WHY WE WILL WIN:
- We should have the edge in midfield. Lothar Matthaus and Zinedine Zidane at their absolute tournament best will be too hot to handle. Schweinsteiger is a serial tournament performer who is a perfect fit to get the best out of both players.
- Clear tactical fit with players well versed to the 3-5-2. Sammer reprises his libero role from 1996, Buchwald renews his side-centre-half spot from 1990, Carlos in his left-wing-back gig from 2002, while Matthaus is in the same 3-5-2 set-up he shone so brightly in 1990. Every player is fulfilling the same function they had at their tournament best.
- Elsewhere we have honed in on the spirit of the draft as much as possible. Sammer becomes a GOAT in this draft as the greatest ever libero, same for Dzajic as a left-sided attacker, while the likes of Gamarra and Buchwald would never see daylight in any normal all-time draft, but are highly credible here. Schmeichel was quasi-unbeatable in 1992, while up top Leonidas gave one of the top handful of World Cup attacker displays in 1938, scoring 7 goals in just 4 games.
Team Joga Bonito
Defense
When it comes to the art of defending, no one knows how to do it better than the Italians and the Germans and the all Italo-German rearguard starts off with the notorious Harald Schumacher who was an integral part of Germany 1986 run to the final, with his heroic keeping (including 3 clean sheets in the R16, quarter-finals and semi-finals) earning him the silver ball behind one Maradona.
Franco Baresi takes charge of this defense and with tactically astute and like-minded rugged defenders for company, it won't be hard not to see him reprise his 1990 form which was amongst the best defenses in the WC imo (a single goal conceded in the entire tournament). Karlheinz Förster is a great complement for Baresi with his exploits in the 1986 WC being led to him being described as the best centre-back of the tournament. Berti Vogts is well known for his man-marking display against Cruyff but he was also a great defender first and foremost with excellent reading of the game, he slots in seamlessly in a great defensive set-up. Not much needs to be said about Giacinto Facchetti but he was a phenomenon who was pretty much revolutionary in terms of the impact a full-back could have on a side. With Vogts on the other side, and Forster providing expert cover if need be, he has the freedom to impose himself in the opposition's half here, whilst he can be counted on to fulfil his defensive duties.
Midfield
Paulo Roberto Falcão was one of the best players in the 1982 WC and arguably the best player (definitely the driving force though), of the 1982 Brazilian joga bonito side with his all-round game capturing the imagination of the masses. Here he'd be tasked with playing his usual dynamic and creative game with the likes of Charlton and Voronin for company. Valery Voronin was one of the best midfielders of the 1966 WC and was quite simply one of the most complete and tactically well-rounded central midfielders in the history of the game, capable of playing as a rugged defender, holding midfielder, man-marker or as a playmaking B2B midfielder. His international portfolio is as impeccable as it comes (TOTM in 1962 WC, best player in Soviet Union's run to the final in the 1964 Euros and of course culminating in the 1966 WC where he was rated as the 4th best player of the tournament by a L'Equipe referendum). It's a rarity to find a cultured defensive midfielder, let alone a defensive robust midfielder (capable of man-marking peak Eusebio and F. Albert out of the game) who can also function as the creative heart-beat of his side.
Great all-round display against Germany
Man-marking Eusebio out of the game
Nullifying Florian Albert
Sir Bobby Charlton gave one of the most distinguished and complete WC performances ever, winning the Golden Ball and the ballon d'Or, with his goals proving to be decisive whilst his all-round game was the glue to England's unique set-up. I'm actually gutted to leave Czibor, a favourite of mine on the bench, but Bruno Conti wasn't exactly too shabby himself. The Italian was a real revelation at the 1982 WC and was amongst Italy's key players in their WC triumph, with Conti almost single-handed manning the flank, with his industry, but his trickery and creativity shone through too, with Conti's wizardy all too often proving to be Italy's major source of inspiration.
Offense
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was arguably the player of the tournament in 1980 with his all-round display coming right to the fore, with his assist for Hrubesh proving to be the decider in the final. Rummenigge tends to be portrayed as a pure in-cutting inside-forward when he was a direct and a complete two-way player capable of both stretching play and being a potent goalscoring threat as well.
One of the deadliest players in the '86 WC, Careca was both equally deadly as he was inventive. And there was no doubt on the dependency they had on their prolific forward - Brazil had the most solid rearguard of all World Cup participants. In five matches they had but conceded but one goal. The ten Brazilian goals were scored by only four players with Careca nabbing a Silver Boot with his 5 goals and 3 assists in 5 matches, either scoring or assisting in every single match that he featured in. Unfortunately, Zico managed to miss the penalty that Careca won in the match against the French. Just a shame he was injured for the 1982 WC. Careca functioned as a complete spear-head capable of roaming out to the channels and flanks, and his link-up play was bang on the money. With the fellow dynamic cast of midfielders and forwards alongside him, Careca's multi-faceted game would be put to good use here.
(TOTM nominations and exclusions should obviously be taken with a pinch of salt although they are generally a decent indicator, likewise club achievements also have to be taken into account when considering the ballon d'Or ratings although the Euro/WC showings play a significant part in that).
Harald Schumacher - 1986 World Cup
World Cup Silver Ball;
German Footballer of the Year;
Ballon d'Or - 13th
Franco Baresi - 1990 World Cup
World Cup TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 5th
Karlheinz Förster - 1986 WC
German Defender of the Year;
Ballon d'Or - 24th
Fifa Technical Report - Förster was undoubtedly the best central defender of the mundial
Berti Vogts - 1974 WC
World Cup TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 10th
Giacinto Facchetti - 1968 Euros
Euro 1968 TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 5th
Valery Voronin - 1966 World Cup
Ranked 4th behind Charlton, Beckenbauer and Eusebio by a referendum organized by L'Equipe and France Football;
Best XI of the 1966 WC by the Associated Press;
Soviet Union Footballer of the Year;
Ballon d'Or - 10th
Paulo Roberto Falcão - 1982 World Cup
World Cup Silver Ball;
World Cup TOTM;
South American Player of the Year Silver Ball;
Onze de Bronze
Sir Bobby Charlton - 1966 World Cup
World Cup Golden Ball
Ballon d'Or - 1st
World Cup TOTM
Ranked 1st by a referendum organized by L'Equipe and France Football
Bruno Conti - 1982 World Cup
World Cup TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - 5th
Miljan Miljanic: “All the Italians were great, Bruno Conti maybe a little more than the others”.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: “Italy were deserved winners. The tournament’s best player? For me it’s Bruno Conti; it was an honour for me to swap shirts with him after the final. I’ll keep it as a memory of a fantastic champion”
Michel Hidalgo: “Do you know who I’d long to have? Bruno Conti”
Bobby Charlton: “If I was the national coach of any team in the world, I would want Bruno Conti with me”
Hansi Muller: “Who is the player who I’m most worried about as a future opponent? Bruno Conti, no question”
Pele: “Bruno Conti was the true Brazilian at the World Cup. He was the best of any player I saw in Spain. I don’t think players like him are born any more”
Oscar: “For me, Conti was the best player of the World Cup”
Diego Maradona: “Conti was the real revelation of this World Cup, he’s a player of real international class. Argentina or Brazil would be delighted to have him in their team”
Daniel Bertoni: “Bruno Conti is decisive in the Azzurri’s play, he’s a true world class player. Thanks to him, Bearzot was able to solve no small amount of problems”
Jean Vincent: “Before Italy-Cameroon, I said that Conti was the only player who truly made me fearful, because he’s unpredictable and gifted with great quality. His performances during the entire World Cup showed that I was right”
Zbgniew Boniek: “I’ve seen Conti from on the pitch, on the television and from the stands – it’s almost impossible to stop him. Among other things, he has a very precise and powerful shot”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: “Italy were deserved winners. The tournament’s best player? For me it’s Bruno Conti; it was an honour for me to swap shirts with him after the final. I’ll keep it as a memory of a fantastic champion”
Michel Hidalgo: “Do you know who I’d long to have? Bruno Conti”
Bobby Charlton: “If I was the national coach of any team in the world, I would want Bruno Conti with me”
Hansi Muller: “Who is the player who I’m most worried about as a future opponent? Bruno Conti, no question”
Pele: “Bruno Conti was the true Brazilian at the World Cup. He was the best of any player I saw in Spain. I don’t think players like him are born any more”
Oscar: “For me, Conti was the best player of the World Cup”
Diego Maradona: “Conti was the real revelation of this World Cup, he’s a player of real international class. Argentina or Brazil would be delighted to have him in their team”
Daniel Bertoni: “Bruno Conti is decisive in the Azzurri’s play, he’s a true world class player. Thanks to him, Bearzot was able to solve no small amount of problems”
Jean Vincent: “Before Italy-Cameroon, I said that Conti was the only player who truly made me fearful, because he’s unpredictable and gifted with great quality. His performances during the entire World Cup showed that I was right”
Zbgniew Boniek: “I’ve seen Conti from on the pitch, on the television and from the stands – it’s almost impossible to stop him. Among other things, he has a very precise and powerful shot”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - 1980 Euros
Euros 1980 TOTM;
Ballon d'Or - Winner;
Onze d'Or - Winner;
World Footballer of the Year - Guerin Sportivo;
German Footballer of the Year;
Bravo Otto
Careca - 1986 World Cup
World Cup Silver Boot;
South American Team of the Year[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]
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