Gio VS Joga Bonito - NT Peak draft

[Annahnomoss]

Team Gio

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.

Buchwald was my best player.

CARLOS GAMARRA, WORLD CUP 1998
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:

Left 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.

BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER, WORLD CUP 2010
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.

------------------------------mm--Team Gio-----------------------------------------------------------------Team Joga Bonito

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.

Spoiler: Valery Voronin in 1966 WC

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

Spoiler: Conti's 1982 WC

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 - 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]

 

[Annahnomoss]

@Joga Bonito @Gio Good luck.

 

[antohan]

Wow! I'm stunned again by the hoarding of quality picks some teams got away with. Gio even gets room to waste Dzajic a bit while keeping him a tactical option. Love the way Joga gets a zona mista going with very few specialists in that tactic but every man perfect for the role assigned to them.

 

[Ecstatic]

The discussions between the managers should be epic !

 

[Joga Bonito]

Good luck @Gio .

Voting for myself to see the score.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Wow! I'm stunned again by the hoarding of quality picks some teams got away with. Gio even gets room to waste Dzajic a bit while keeping him a tactical option. Love the way Joga gets a zona mista going with very few specialists in that tactic but every man perfect for the role assigned to them.

Cheers, although tbh, it wasn't exactly the intention when I first started drafting and I still have to say it gutting having to drop Czibor as I was really excited about the Czibor-Charlton-Rummenigge trio, but got to say Conti just made way too much sense for this match, esp given Gio's excellent left flank.

 

[Gio]

All the best @Joga Bonito

 

[antohan]

Cheers, although tbh, it wasn't exactly the intention when I first started drafting and I still have to say it gutting having to drop Czibor as I was really excited about the Czibor-Charlton-Rummenigge trio, but got to say Conti just made way too much sense for this match, esp given Gio's excellent left flank.

I can't see how you planned to use Czibor when you have Facchetti and Vogts. Rummenigge works very well in this setup, I wouldn't deploy him to mind the outside right full time like he would need to with a Vogts instead of a Kaltz.

 

[Joga Bonito]

I can't see how you planned to use Czibor when you have Facchetti and Vogts. Rummenigge works very well in this setup, I wouldn't deploy him to mind the outside right full time like he would need to with a Vogts instead of a Kaltz.

Had something else planned but it doesn't matter now.

 

[Gio]

Surprised you went for Schumacher in 1986 Joga. Appreciate he did well en route, but I thought his final performance against Argentina was really poor - letting in 3 goals and there's a case he should have done better for all of them. Especially the first where he ends up in no-mans land, and then the late third where he is rooted to his line as Burruchaga charges into the box.

Spoiler: Schumacher's poor performance in the World Cup Final v Argentina

May not typically be a concern, but relative to what we've got in the sticks in Peter Schmeichel in Euro '92 form, it seems there's a clear difference.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Surprised you went for Schumacher in 1986 Joga. Appreciate he did well en route, but I thought his final performance against Argentina was really poor - letting in 3 goals and there's a case he should have done better for all of them. Especially the first where he ends up in no-mans land, and then the late third where he is rooted to his line as Burruchaga charges into the box.

Spoiler: Schumacher's poor performance in the World Cup Final v Argentina

May not typically be a concern, but relative to what we've got in the sticks in Peter Schmeichel in Euro '92 form, it seems there's a clear difference.

Fair point definitely, as Schumacher was definitely at fault for that free-kick goal but his performances were impeccable throughout the tournament and there's a reason why he won the Silver Ball (only behind Maradona), won the German Footballer of the Year and finished 13th in the Ballon d'Or (quite remarkable for a goalie) and was labelled as the best player of Germany (which had the likes of Lothar, Rummenigge, Brehme etc), by the Fifa Technical Report for his performances in that WC, esp in the knockout stages where he kept clean-sheets in the R16, quarter finals and the semis.

In some ways there are parallels to be drawn with another German goalie who was his side's best performer on his way to the WC final, and it would have been a travesty if Oliver Kahn wasn't picked in this draft on account of his error against Ronaldo in the 2002 WC final.

Forster was-together with goalie Schumacher the best player of his team

I'd like more info on how Gamarra fits into that set-up btw, don't really have him pegged for a side centre-back in a back 5 with an expansive libero in Sammer. Would like to hear others thoughts on it too. Great showing in that WC though.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Should've gone for '82 Schumacher, instructing him to do a Battiston on Zidane:

«Like to headbutt people, eh? Feckin' amateur.»

 

[Joga Bonito]

Should've gone for '82 Schumacher, instructing him to do a Battiston on Zidane:

«Like to headbutt people, eh? Feckin' amateur.»

 

[Gio]

I'd like more info on how Gamarra fits into that set-up btw, don't really have him pegged for a side centre-back in a back 5 with an expansive libero in Sammer. Would like to hear others thoughts on it too. Great showing in that WC though.

He generally played as the right centre-back for Paraguay in 1998. That was next to the fairly expansive Francisco Arce at right wing-back who was a critical outlet for Paraguay with his gorgeous right peg, so there was an element of flank covering involved there as well (for Arce read Zanetti here). I'd draw particular attention to the France game where he was impeccable in keeping them at bay for almost 120 minutes, snuffing out the threat of Thierry Henry so much so that the striker was hauled off after just 64 minutes. Now that was an emerging Henry, but he was in excellent form having already scored 3 goals in 3 group stages games. But Gamarra didn't give him a sniff.

Spoiler: Some Gamarra clips from the Paraguay v France second round game

Paraguay based their strategy on a strong defence... With the outstanding Chilavert in goal, Sarabia, Ayala and Gamarra were the three permanent defenders. None of them was really a libero; they concentrated on zone-marking and interchanged positions as necessary.

As you can see in the FIFA report and the video above, what we ask of Gamarra here is very similar to the role he executed so effortlessly and cleanly for Paraguay in 1998.

 

[Joga Bonito]

He generally played as the right centre-back for Paraguay in 1998. That was next to the fairly expansive Francisco Arce at right wing-back who was a critical outlet for Paraguay with his gorgeous right peg, so there was an element of flank covering involved there as well (for Arce read Zanetti here).

I can understand that and generally in most back 4s, esp in modern set-ups with expansive and attacking full-backs, the RCB and the LCB have it as part of their duty to cover for their advancing full-back occasionally. However, it doesn't always mean that they can slot into the side-back role in the back 5, as it imposes a completely different level and frequency of said requirements and demands more specialization from the side-back - esp with 2 attacking wing-backs and Sammer of all people at the libero position in this instance.

both goals coming after trademark bursts forward to cut open the opposition like a hot knife through butter.

As you can see in the FIFA report and the video above, what we ask of Gamarra here is very similar to the role he executed so effortlessly and cleanly for Paraguay in 1998.

With Sammer as the libero, 2 attacking wing-backs pushing forward constantly, it doesn't exactly seem to be a similar set-up that Gamarra excelled in, nor by my reckoning, a similar role

Paraguay based their strategy on a strong defence, which at times contained as many as 7 players (three defenders and four midfielders). But the drawback was that very little offensive drive came from the back.

So I wouldn't really draw parallels to his back 4 role in a deep lying defense in 1998 to the role that he is playing here tbf, which is more of a pure covering RCB role with 3 relatively more adventurous defenders at the back. Gamarra had a great reading of the game and was brilliant in the 1998 WC but perhaps a relatively more dynamic defender could have been more suitable for the RCB role. Buchwald is perfect for the LCB though and I can see him working great here.

 

[Gio]

I can understand that and generally in most back 4s, esp in modern set-ups with expansive and attacking full-backs, the RCB and the LCB have it as part of their duty to cover for their advancing full-back occasionally. However, it doesn't always mean that they can slot into the side-back role in the back 5, as it imposes a completely different level and frequency of said requirements and demands more specialization from the side-back - esp with 2 attacking wing-backs and Sammer of all people at the libero position in this instance.

But the back four is irrelevant because Gamarra's Paraguay, like Sammer's Germany and Buchwald's West Germany, played a back three. As the FIFA report says, "Sarabia, Ayala and Gamarra were the three permanent defenders. None of them was really a libero; they concentrated on zone-marking and interchanged positions as necessary."

I think it's a bit excessive to expect anything beyond that already very seamless level of fit.

 

[Joga Bonito]

But the back four is irrelevant because Gamarra's Paraguay, like Sammer's Germany and Buchwald's West Germany, played a back three. As the FIFA report says, "Sarabia, Ayala and Gamarra were the three permanent defenders. None of them was really a libero; they concentrated on zone-marking and interchanged positions as necessary."

I think it's a bit excessive to expect anything beyond that already very seamless level of fit.

Fair enough, I don't necessarily agree with that appraisal but shall leave it to the voters to make up their mind on that matter.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Charlton vs Matthaus Will we see a mutual cancellation a la Beckenbauer in '66?

 

[Annahnomoss]

The back three/five conundrum. Some think any CB can do it because part of their game is stepping out and others think adjusting to the libero is an art in itself and requires some specific expertize. I am for the latter interpretation myself. The only real question mark for me from either team as they are pretty damn spot on. Leonidas with his dribbling makes for a fantastic right striker with a wing back and the other side is even better with Dzajic.

Joga on the other hand has lined up with Conti on the right and Vogts and defensively a wing doesn't get any more GOAT than that. So Carlos and Dzajic will be nullified a lot there and I see Leonidas and Zanetti probably looking to be the match winners. How was Zanettis peak in '04?

Also a bit worried about Sammer not getting the time to storm from his own box to the opponents one before the attack is already over. Dzajic/Leonidas/Matthäus/Carlos would keep a ferocious tempo with their direct game and it is hard to see Sammer making it up in time to make an impact. Schweinsteiger looks perfect for a Sammer player as he can control the tempo, slow it down, but that would hamper the team a bit.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Some think any CB can do it because part of their game is stepping out and others think adjusting to the libero is an art in itself and requires some specific expertize. I am for the latter interpretation myself.

It should be clear when we played back 3 under LvG. A 3-5-2 doesn't work as well with the same players who were much better in 4-3-3. I agree, that playing a Side Back requires something more specialize than just a CB stepping out.

 

[Gio]

It's hard to forget just how incredible Zinedine Zidane was at Euro 2000. It's probably the only tournament since 1986 when the top player just stood out head and shoulders above everyone else. And it was a high quality tournament, perhaps the best of the modern era, with several of the traditionally strong European nations in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Holland and France really peaking and going at it full pelt. Even then Zidane was still absolutely fantastic - and that's coming from someone who thought he was a little over-rated before that summer.

The compilation video is worth a watch, if only to basque in his unparalleled balance and poise on the ball. I think he's well placed to shine in this game, with the sheer graft behind him and options ahead. I don't think the Voronin-Falcao combo is quite strong enough to really stop him when he's so evidently on song with such a quality supporting cast.

Spoiler: Zidane in his prime at Euro 2000

 

[Joga Bonito]

With the dynamism and the goalscoring threat of the likes of Rummenigge, and Sir Bobby Charlton, Careca is the ideal centre-forward to spear-head my attack here imo. He scored or assisted in every game (5 goals and 3 assists in 5 games) and even earned a penalty in their penultimate game which Zico unfortunately missed.

The key thing to highlight would be his sheer movement, ability to create openings and cracking link-up play.

Spoiler

1.40 (shot off the bar from which Socrates scores an open goal for the only goal of the match)

2.30 (Plays a ball that any playmaker would be proud of for which almosts results in a goal)

2.54 (Comes close again)

Spoiler

2.30 (scores the only goal of the match with a classic poacher's goal)

Spoiler

1.12 (scores goal from a cross to open the scoring)

6.15 (forces a great save from Jennings)

6.45 (ventures out to the channels yet again, creating openings through the middle - a frequent feature of his game)


7.38 (scores a brilliant goal after some sumptuous link-up play with Zico after cutting in from the right)

Spoiler

1.50 (wins penalty after some slick off the ball movement again, keeps finding pockets of space with ease)

6.05 (classic counter-attacking goal with a back-heel assist by Careca, once again his intelligent positioning and ability to bring others into play shines through here)

6.52 (does the same thing again with his pass resulting in a penalty, which Careca duly converts)

Spoiler

0.25 (very nearly 'poaches' a goal)

0.35 (scores one of the goals of the tournaments after some great build-up play)

2.45 (hits the bar with a header)


5.02 (Seriously if France had gone out, they must have been cursed or something)

5.16 (great dribble and cross but Socrates misses an open goal )


And Brazil go out on penalties.



Sammer would be a rock at the back but a fluid attacking trio with amazing movement off the ball, and with supply from the slick creative cast, could very well prove to be too much for the side-backs of Gio's side, and as much as I like Buchwald, he could find Rummenigge in his 1980 Euros form too hot to handle, whilst Sir Bobby or Careca running at Gamarra (who might not necessarily be in his best role here), could just prove to be crucial here. Whereas on the other hand, I can see Baresi in his 1990 form and Förster being a good fit for the elusive Leonidas, his major goalscoring threat. Dzajic is his secondary goalscoring threat and Vogts in the ideal RCB to deal with that incarnation of Dzajic (just as Burgnich did a good job at nullifying the roaming Dzajic in the 1968 final, though you can't really fault Dzajic as he had to play 2 games in 5 days or something). It's going to be relatively harder for Gio's offense to breach my defense whilst I can see my forwards having some joy against Buchwald and Gamarra here.

 

[antohan]

That was such a great game... we got the whole family together and I was the fecking weirdo rooting for France (Platini fanboi that I was).

One of those games which finish and you wish both had gone through.

 

[Gio]

I like Careca and when I was younger thought he was the dog's bollocks. But to be a little bit harsh but fair, he's nothing exceptional in this elevated company. There's a load of mobile no9s in his bracket in this draft.

Certainly Leonidas is the top Brazilian striker on the park in terms of World Cup performances. 7 goals in 4 games was exceptional stuff, even for the time. And more than that he was the first Brazilian striking superstar to reach a global audience whose impact stretches far beyond what Careca was able to do half a century later.

He was the catalyst, whose extraordinary performances during a French summer allowed Brazil to make an initial mesmeric impact on the world game and lay the foundation for future spectacular successes.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Any other comments from neutrals?

That was such a great game... we got the whole family together and I was the fecking weirdo rooting for France (Platini fanboi that I was).

One of those games which finish and you wish both had gone through.

Aye, brilliant game that was. Your thoughts on the game btw?

 

[Gio]

Meanwhile, the beauty of Buchwald is that his top-class man-marking pedigree and physical stature make him a great fit to keep tabs on Rummenigge. That's no easy task of course, but physically and positionally they're well matched.

Buchwald might be a less well known name relatively speaking, but his Italia '90 performances were absolute top drawer. So much so that the Kaiser anointed him their best player after the tournament, high praise indeed given the heroics of Matthaus and Brehme.

 

[Joga Bonito]

he's nothing exceptional in this elevated company. There's a load of mobile no9s in his bracket in this draft.

Except of course, they don't win the Silver Shoe, score 5 goals and 3 assists, scoring or assisting in every single one of their game, whilst being their side's best player. Tbf, strikers were a dime a dozen in this draft which does explain how Leonidas was picked in the 12th round and Careca in the 14th .

Meanwhile, the beauty of Buchwald is that his top-class man-marking pedigree and physical stature make him a great fit to keep tabs on Rummenigge. That's no easy task of course, but physically and positionally they're well matched.

Buchwald might be a less well known name relatively speaking, but his Italia '90 performances were absolute top drawer. So much so that the Kaiser anointed him their best player after the tournament, high praise indeed given the heroics of Matthaus and Brehme.

He was clearly a key component of the German side, but it's quite something to elevate his performance levels above Kohler and Augenthaler in defense alone, let alone Matthaus and Brehme. 'He's nothing exceptional in this elevated company. There's a load of mobile man-marking side-backs in his bracket in this draft' . He does deserve a lot of credit for man-marking a half-fit Maradona out of the final though.

However, here he is up against Rummenigge, who was arguably the best player of that tournament at his consecutive ballon d'Or winning peak, claiming the following accolades (club form also played some part though), whilst his leadership in that post Beckenbauer, Müller, Vogts, Breitner, Overath and a host of other players, was absolutely critical in that young German side.

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




A great anecdote on his assist for the winner in the final


Rummenigge went into the 1980 UEFA European Championship with a big reputation having topped the Bundesliga scoring charts with 26 goals to win the title with FC Bayern München. He lived up to it, punctuating a series of powerful performances with the decisive goal against reigning champions Czechoslovakia and providing the corner for Horst Hrubesch's late winner in the final. Rummenigge was voted 1980 European Footballer of the Year on the back of his 1980 Euros performances and retained the Ballon d'Or in 1981 after another top-scoring, title-winning campaign with Bayern.


Trivia : The Goal which won the European Championships

The Germans had taken an early lead through a Horst Hrubesch goal in the 10th minute. The Belgiums around future Kaiserslautern coach Erik Gerets and Bayern München keeper Jean Marie Pfaff had answered Germany’s early lead by taking charge of the game after a while, pressuring the German defense relentlessly at times.

German defenders Karlheinz Förster and Uli Stielike saved Germany time and time again. Future German assistant coach Stielike was out of answers to the Belgian attacks in the 72nd minute, putting in a foul on François Van Der Elst just outside the penalty area. Referee Rainea wrongly pointed to the spot, and René Vandereycken made no mistakes against Toni Schumacher, putting the Belgians on level terms again.

The corner kick

Normally this might have been enough to secure extra time. But, there is still the matter of the corner kick in the 89th minute. Germany’s designated corner kick taker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge approached Horst Hrubesch before taking the corner. The HSV striker’s German nickname(Kopfballmonster) can be roughly translated to ”the monster of headers”. Rummenigge was well aware of Hrubesch’s qualities, and therefore he told him:

''I’ll kick the ball onto your head, and you’ll put it into the goal!''

Rummenigge was in fact so confident in his and Hrubesch’s ability to execute this simple plan, that he turned to a photographer before taking the corner kick, yelling at him:

''Point your camera at Hrubesch.''

When the photographer asked Rummenigge why he should do so, the Bayern man replied:

''Just point it!''

After this brief exchange Rummenigge went up to take the corner. He floated the ball beautifully into the box, with Hrubesch storming onto the ball, heading it into the net. The plan had worked out. Hrubesch who hadn’t scored a single goal before the final, and who actually only got onto Germany’s roaster due to Klaus Fischer’s injury, had managed to score a brace, securing Germany’s second European championship.

Spoiler

(Forward to 3:02 for the anecdote)


Divine Intervention

Hrubesch shined at the Euro in Italy when it really mattered - according to popular myth with some possible divine intervention.

Hrubesch recalled a visit to the Pope in Rome: “He suddenly waved in our direction and held up two fingers as if making the victory sign. A Hamburg journalist said ‘Horst this means you have to score two goals.’”

The towering Hrubesch duly delivered in the final with Belgium, firing home a pass from Schuster early on and heading the 2-1 winner in the final seconds of regulation.

 

[Gio]

That's a good story, thanks for sharing.

I thought Rummenigge had a good Euro 80 consistent with his overall stature in the game at the time. But I find it difficult to give any more praise than that because for me it didn't set the pulse racing in the way that Schuster dictated games, who I thought was the obvious top man (with a shout out to Van Moer). Ultimately that there wasn't anything there to suggest that Rummenigge in his Euro '80 form wouldn't be largely cancelled out by 'Diego' Buchwald in his 1990 form (subject to the fact they're both top players and there will be variation within that). As for Maradona - he may have been half-fit in 1990, but he caused all sorts of problems for Baresi's Italy in the semi-final. There was a stark contrast between that lively performance and the one that followed in the final, with Buchwald squeezing him out of the game very effectively.

 

[Joga Bonito]

That's a good story, thanks for sharing.

I thought Rummenigge had a good Euro 80 consistent with his overall stature in the game at the time. But I find it difficult to give any more praise than that because for me it didn't set the pulse racing in the way that Schuster dictated games, who I thought was the obvious top man (with a shout out to Van Moer). Ultimately that there wasn't anything there to suggest that Rummenigge in his Euro '80 form wouldn't be largely cancelled out by 'Diego' Buchwald in his 1990 form (subject to the fact they're both top players and there will be variation within that).

Definitely, Schuster was the spark and the revelation of the tournament but there's no disputing the claim that Rummenigge was amongst the best players of that Euro tournament alongside Ceulemans and Schuster. His winner against the reigning champions Czechoslovakia and his assist in the final were crucial but more importantly it was the drive, direct running (keep in mind that Germany had the likes of Hrubesch and Allofs who weren't the greatest of ball-carriers or the most dynamic of forwards) and his all-round game which truly made him stand out. As good as Buchwald was in WC 1990, it will take some doing to limit Rummenigge's impact here though, esp in the fluid attack that he is operating in.

 

[Gio]

Definitely, Schuster was the spark and the revelation of the tournament but there's no disputing the claim that Rummenigge was amongst the best players of that Euro tournament alongside Ceulemans and Schuster. His winner against the reigning champions Czechoslovakia and his assist in the final were crucial but more importantly it was the drive, direct running (keep in mind that Germany had the likes of Hrubesch and Allofs who weren't the greatest of ball-carriers or the most dynamic of forwards) and his all-round game which truly made him stand out. As good as Buchwald was in WC 1990, it will take some doing to limit Rummenigge's impact here though, esp in the fluid attack that he is operating in.

I know you're putting forward the fluid angle, but in that respect we should highlight the fact that Sammer and Buchwald forged a complementary title-winning partnership together at Stuttgart. Not that we need to take into account those performances, but we see how they well they dovetail together and can be more than the sum of their parts as a cohesive unit.

 

[Joga Bonito]

I know you're putting forward the fluid angle, but in that respect we should highlight the fact that Sammer and Buchwald forged a complementary title-winning partnership together at Stuttgart. Not that we need to take into account those performances, but we see how they well they dovetail together and can be more than the sum of their parts as a cohesive unit.

Tbf though, as I've already mentioned (and don't want to keep repeating myself) I don't have an issue with Buchwald or Sammer here, in fact they are in their ideal positions. However, it's the inclusion of Gamarra in a back 5 doesn't seem ideal (as Annah and EAP have also alluded to) and I don't see that as the ideal back 3 due to that alone, and given the rigours of defending in a back 5, esp with an expansive libero in Sammer, a single chink is all that's needed to undo a potentially cohesive unit. Given the movement, directness and interchanging capability of my attack, Gamarra could potentially be found wanting here.


Anyway, will wait for neutral's comments as we seem to be going around in circles.

 

[Gio]

Tbf though, as I've already mentioned (and don't want to keep repeating myself) I don't have an issue with Buchwald or Sammer here, in fact they are in their ideal positions. However, it's the inclusion of Gamarra in a back 5 doesn't seem ideal (as Annah and EAP have also alluded to) and I don't see that as the ideal back 3 due to that alone, and given the rigours of defending in a back 5, esp with an expansive libero in Sammer, a single chink is all that's needed to undo a potentially cohesive unit. Given the movement, directness and interchanging capability of my attack, Gamarra could potentially be found wanting here.


Anyway, will wait for neutral's comments as we seem to be going around in circles.

Well at first you seemed to be under the impression that Paraguay played a back four in 1998. And that seemed to be the basis of your concern - that a centre-half in a back four might struggle in a back three. Now having proved that wrong and that they actually played in a back three, I'm not really sure why you've brought it up again. You may have had a concern about the roles within that back three - for example Gamarra could have been a libero. But again I've proved that wasn't the case and that all three took on zonal, interchanging marking duties (which is how any modern defence works, regardless of formation). So I'm really struggling to see what the issue is, particularly when we factor just how well Gamarra performed.

To me it would be a bit like having a go about your use of Baresi in a Zona Mista style tactic - and that he never had to play with an overlapping full-back like Facchetti and effectively operate as a three. Seems silly IMO.

 

[Gio]

Leonidas with his dribbling makes for a fantastic right striker with a wing back and the other side is even better with Dzajic.

Joga on the other hand has lined up with Conti on the right and Vogts and defensively a wing doesn't get any more GOAT than that. So Carlos and Dzajic will be nullified a lot there and I see Leonidas and Zanetti probably looking to be the match winners. How was Zanettis peak in '04?

Reassuringly high I would say - the word 'rampage' seems to crop up all the time. We could have gone with 1998 - when FIFA said that "Zanetti was notable for his physical ability and surprising and effective forward surges in a 3-4-3" - but 2004 was undoubtedly his best tournament. You'll have seen the World Soccer praise from 2004:

Left 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.

And that wasn't just some generic praise - it was part of some section naming it's 3 stars of the competition. Elsewhere it also included some specifics around "his rampaging down the flank against Peru".

Or even the Guardian's summary of the tournament:

Zanetti rampaging down the right flank

He was also named in a team of the tournament.

A few short clips to get a feel for his role:

Spoiler: Zanetti at the 2004 Copa

Admittedly he has had a slightly weird international career, getting dropped for a couple of tournaments by lunatic managers, yet at the same time still piling up 145 caps. But there's no question over the calibre of his performances in 2004.

Importantly he fits well: it's not easy to find two greater flank dominators in a 3-5-2 than Carlos and Zanetti.

 

[Enigma_87]

Hard to separate both teams to be honest. Very well constructed sides from both managers(which should be expected given the drafters).

From first side I like Joga's team a tad more - especially in defence. But then again I think Zidane would have a stormer if he's in his 2000 incarnation. Gio's side is also well balanced(I rate Buchwald and Gamarra had exceptional tournament for him).

@Gio any idea why Leonidas was benched in that SF against Italy, given he was excellent till that game and it was the biggest test for him?

 

[Joga Bonito]

o I'm really struggling to see what the issue is,

I've already made that clear and like I said I'm not going to repeat myself, so let's leave it at that.

oga on the other hand has lined up with Conti on the right and Vogts and defensively a wing doesn't get any more GOAT than that. So Carlos and Dzajic will be nullified a lot there and I see Leonidas and Zanetti probably looking to be the match winners.

Indeed not only was Conti an immense creative presence for Italy in 1982, he was also an industrious player capable of manning a flank single-handedly. His display in the 1982 final was quite something else though, winning the penalty, playing a key role in the second and assisting the third goal which was scored by Alessandro Altobelli. Given that the wing-backs in Gio's side play a significant role, Conti will definitely be a pest against R.Carlos both defensively and in terms of attacking input.


On the other flank, Facchetti played a key role in the 1968 Euros win for Italy and delivered an immense performance with the defense being built around him, giving him freedom to impose himself on the opposition's half.

With Rummenigge's ability to forage out wide and esp Charlton's tendencies to drift out wide, it does make for some pretty strong and balanced flanks imo.

Spoiler: Conti in the 1982 WC final

​

 

[Gio]

@Enigma_87 Funnily enough Leonidas was rested for the semi-final.

In Brazil's semi-final with the holders Italy in Marseille - the player known as the 'black diamond' was again at the very vortex of attention - despite not setting foot on the Stade Velodrone turf. Such was Brazil's confidence in reaching the final that manager Pimenta decided to rest Leonidas for the ultimate match. This complacent folly was rewarded with a 2-1 win for Italy - a result that did not affect their domination.

But there was still an opportunity for Leonidas to console himself with the third-place decider against Sweden. He was recalled, appointed captain for the day, and scored twice in a 4-2 victory.

The self-deluding Brazilians had mismanaged their World Cup campaign, but at least they possessed the tournament's top scorer in Leonidas, whose eight goals put him three ahead of the Hungarian Zsengeller and the Italian star, Silvio Piola.

 

[Joga Bonito]

But then again I think Zidane would have a stormer if he's in his 2000 incarnation.

Indeed, he was magnificent in that tournament but let's not forget that it's doesn't necessarily take a man-marking job or a immense individual performance by a DM* to nullify a top notch #10, as Italy so aptly demonstrated in the 2000 Euros final, with their midfield working their bollocks off against France and nullifying Zidane indirectly. With Falcao and Voronin, ably being supported by Sir Bobby Charlton, Zidane definitely won't be having it easy here.

*And if you need a monstrous performance from a DM, look no further than Voronin who nullified the likes of Florian Albert and Eusebio in that World Cup, the most in-form forwards of that World Cup. Resulting in him being ranked as the 4th best player of the WC by a referendum organised by L'Equipe and France Football, winning the Soviet Union Footballer of the Year (check out the OP for more info)

Do watch these displays if you haven't done so already. Cheers.

Spoiler

Great all-round display against Germany


Man-marking Eusebio out of the game


Nullifying Florian Albert

 

[Gio]

On the other flank, Facchetti played a key role in the 1968 Euros win for Italy and delivered an immense performance with the defense being built around him, giving him freedom to impose himself on the opposition's half.

Is there much evidence for that? I know Facchetti is Facchetti and Italy were pretty miserly in the semi-final and finals. But the only mention he seems to gain in any reports is the fact he chose the right side of the coin in the toss to decide the winners of the Soviet Union tie. And Dzajic's goal in the final and two of the goals in the quarter-finals against Bulgaria - they all came from the left-back area. I don't want to shoot a sacred cow, because for me he's still the GOAT, but his performances didn't quite seem to be as compelling as a few others who really stood out at tournament time (Brehme being the obvious left-back example for instance who did a good defensive job but also decided games going forward).

 

[Joga Bonito]

Is there much evidence for that? But the only mention he seems to gain in any reports is the fact he chose the right side of the coin in the toss to decide the winners of the Soviet Union tie.

Yes, here you go.

http://footballia.net/matches/italy-yugoslavia

http://footballia.net/matches/italy-yugoslavia-euro

 

[Gio]

Yes, here you go.

http://footballia.net/matches/italy-yugoslavia

http://footballia.net/matches/italy-yugoslavia-euro

Will have a look if I get the chance. Obviously I'm aware of Dzajic's goal which came from his area.