-------------------------------------------------- TEAM GIO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEAM SJOR --------------------------------------------------------
TEAM GIO
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
The attack is refreshed and reshaped through the introduction of Kylian Mbappe. His searing acceleration and devastating close control makes him dangerous in both tight and open spaces. Attacking from the left side is the posterboy of the golden age of Serie A, Beppe Signori. He elevated Lazio to title contenders up against some of the greatest teams in history. In a miserly era for attackers, he scored 188 goals in Serie A, achieving a goals-to-game ratio that was better than anyone else in the top 10 Serie A scorers of all time (with the exception of Meazza and Nordahl who both played in somewhat more open eras). Both forwards will relish the service and space provided by the inventive Roberto Mancini who drops into a false 9 role. While Sjor's Atletico/Anglo defence would have largely cancelled out our more physical/aerial Bettega-led attack from the first game, the greater threat posed by this trio on the ground is likely to ask them big questions.
TAKING CONTROL OF MIDFIELD
The midfield is built around the talents of Andrea Pirlo. As the playmaking heart-beat of Milan's Champions League wins in 2003 and 2007, of Italy's World Cup win in 2006, and the player of the tournament at Euro 2012, he is a serial tournament dominator who delivers against the best teams on the biggest occasions. His £60m price tag was perhaps somewhat of a bargain, but also reflects that building the right set-up around him is not straightforward.
With that in mind, we have paired him first with Edgar Davids whose ravenous ball-winning and recirculating abilities complement Pirlo's attributes. As a partnership it has shades of the highly successful Pirlo/Gattuso dynamic for club and country, but fired up a couple of levels. His other midfield partner is Claudio Marchisio with whom he formed a telepathic tandem as part of the tremendous Juventus midfield of the early to mid 2010s. What I like about Marchisio is his adaptability in different midfield roles - not only does he have the physical (see his side-shuttling roles) and technical (see him assuming the 6 role post-Pirlo) qualities - but he has the tactical intelligence to know how to best complete a midfield unit in the best interests of the team.
STRENGTH AT THE BACK
Franco Baresi leads a San Siro themed defence . To his left is his Milan counterpart Karl-Heinz Schnellinger who mirrors Maldini's ability to defend well centrally while also providing good quality on the ball. Baresi's partner in the centre is his national team counterpart Giuseppe Bergomi. Together Baresi and Bergom kept a clean sheet in two thirds of their games together (30 out of 50 matches), including a run of 11 clean sheets in 13 games up to and including the 1990 World Cup when they hit their peaks. Completing the back four is Javier Zanetti who, like Davids and other Duracell bunnies in the side, has the energy to jmatch Sjor's Atletico-themed unit and then inject a load of flank-dominating quality on top of that.
-----
TEAM SJOR
Tactics:
Low-balanced defensive block, defend as a unit with only Garrincha having a bit more freedom on the defensive end as potential counter and with Griez there to cover when needed.
Plan is to pretty much secure the back as much as possible with 2 GOAT PL defenders in Terry and Adams who form a natural partnership and should excel in this system. Two fullbacks that showed in a similar system they can perform at the highest level against all time greats level of opposition.
In the engine room two warriors, my defensive wall of Senna and one of the most underrated DMs in history - Gabi. Heart and soul of that famous great Atletico side.
Two wizards on the wing, Griezmann as the glue both offensive and defensive wise and Pele up front.
Conclusion:
Tough team to beat, great defensive wise and with Gray, Griez and specifically Pele and Garrincha in the offensive end, team always has a great chance to win, against anyone.
Nah, he's the Duke of Edinburgh.