National all time XI

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
Pick an all time XI for any nation
Selection criteria
1) player's career performances for club and country
2) player's role in overall balance of the team

I would start first with the Netherlands

Edwin Van Der Sar
Ruud Krol
Frank De Boer
Ronald Koeman
Jaap Stam
Frank Rijkaard
Clarence Seedorf
Ruud Gullit
Johan Cruyff
Dennis Bergkamp
Marco Van Basten
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
Another example

A French all-time XI

Barthez
Thuram
Blanc
Desailly
Evra
Viera
Deschamps
Platini
Zidane
Henry
Kopa
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
Argentine XI

Goycochea
Zanetti
Sorin
Passarella
Ayala
Redondo
Veron
Di Stefano
Messi
Maradona
Batistuta
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
German XI

Kahn
Brehme
Vogts
Kohler
Sammer
Beckenbauer
Matthaus
Breitner
Rummenigge
Muller
Klinsmann
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
Italian XI

Zoff
Bergomi
Maldini
Baresi
Scirea
Tardelli
Pirlo
Rivera
Meazza
Baggio
Del Piero
 

Iron Stove

Full Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
5,665
Swedish XI

Zlatan Ibrahimovic-Gunnar Nordahl-Kurt Hamrin
Gunnar Gren-Nils Liedholm-Lennart "Nacka" Skoglund
Pontus Kåmark-Patrik Andersson-Björn Nordqvist-Orvar Bergmark
Kalle Svensson

Bench:

Henrik Larsson (f)
Agne Simonsson (f)
Jonas Thern (mf)
Tomas Brolin (mf)
Bo Larsson (d/mf/f)
Glenn Hysén (cb)
Thomas Ravelli (g)


This team is pretty amazing except for the fact that I was too lazy to find a decent left-back. I can't believe I have Kåmark on there.

Damn we used to be a lot better as a footballing nation.
 

MrMarcello

In a well-ordered universe...
Joined
Dec 26, 2000
Messages
52,794
Location
On a pale blue dot in space
USA... looks very ordinary... especially since the US is still relatively young on the footballing scale.

Friedel; Cherundolo-Balboa-Dooley-Caligiuri; Ramos-Reyna-O'Brien-Stewart; Donovan; McBride

Subs: Howard, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Dempsey, Harkes, Jones, Wynalda
 

Eriku

Full Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
16,213
Location
Oslo, Norway
Hm. Noggy XI...

Goal: Erik Thorsvedt
RB: Henning Berg
CB: Rune Bratseth
CB: Brede Hangeland
LB: John-Arne Riise
RM: Øyvind Leonhardsen
CM: Erik Mykland
CM: Kjetil Rekdal
LM: Ole-Gunnar Solskjær
FW: John Carew
FW: Tom Lund

Coach: Egil "Drillo" Olsen

Very much a 90s team, but then again I've been priveleged enough to witness the best period of Norwegian national football. Included Tom Lund, despite my not having seen him, seeing as Ajax wanted him to be the next Cruijff, and with Bayern München and Real Madrid having wanted him, I'm going to assume he's good enough. Plus that allows for Ole to be marginalised on the wing, just like for most of his national team career. He still gets in due to having been unparallelled in his club success.

Carew gets in for having shown his talent in Spain, Italy, England, and has at times toyed with world-class opposition. Plainly one of the better Noggy players, IMO... even if he's not the scoring striker.

The rest aren't too hard to justify ;P

Curious as to how much any of the other resident Norwegians disagree with me.
 

Lester Freamon

Aka Caveman
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Messages
6,845
Location
Midnight sun territory
Eriku said:
Hm. Noggy XI...

Goal: Erik Thorsvedt
RB: Henning Berg
CB: Rune Bratseth
CB: Brede Hangeland
LB: John-Arne Riise
RM: Øyvind Leonhardsen
CM: Erik Mykland
CM: Kjetil Rekdal
LM: Ole-Gunnar Solskjær
FW: John Carew
FW: Tom Lund

Coach: Egil "Drillo" Olsen

Very much a 90s team, but then again I've been priveleged enough to witness the best period of Norwegian national football. Included Tom Lund, despite my not having seen him, seeing as Ajax wanted him to be the next Cruijff, and with Bayern München and Real Madrid having wanted him, I'm going to assume he's good enough. Plus that allows for Ole to be marginalised on the wing, just like for most of his national team career. He still gets in due to having been unparallelled in his club success.

Carew gets in for having shown his talent in Spain, Italy, England, and has at times toyed with world-class opposition. Plainly one of the better Noggy players, IMO... even if he's not the scoring striker.

The rest aren't too hard to justify ;P

Curious as to how much any of the other resident Norwegians disagree with me.
Click to expand...
Hangeland and Carew? You're having a laugh. Ronny Johnsen is miles miles ahead of Hangeland for that team and Tore Andre Flo was better that Carew has ever been.
 

Pogue Mahone

The caf's Camus.
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,075
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
Hmmm... Irish XI would be massively influenced by me knowing feck all about football any further back than the 80s.

.................................Shay Given.................................
Dennis Irwin....Paul McGrath....Richard Dunne.....Steve Staunton
.......Jonny Giles.........Roy Keane.........Liam Brady...................
.......Damien Duff.........Niall Quinn...............Robbie Keane

Yeah, not the best, to be fair....
 

Ramshock

CAF Pilib De Brún Translator
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
45,425
Location
Swimming against a tide of idiots and spoofers
Pogue Mahone said:
Hmmm... Irish XI would be massively influenced by me knowing feck all about football any further back than the 80s.

.................................Shay Given.................................
Dennis Irwin....Paul McGrath....Richard Dunne.....Steve Staunton
.......Jonny Giles.........Roy Keane.........Liam Brady...................
.......Damien Duff.........Niall Quinn...............Robbie Keane

Yeah, not the best, to be fair....
Click to expand...
thats a solid side to be fair Pogues...maybe Stapleton over Quinn? That would qualify for most tournaments. Given and Bonner were a close call I bet!
 

Eriku

Full Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
16,213
Location
Oslo, Norway
Lester Freamon said:
Hangeland and Carew? You're having a laugh. Ronny Johnsen is miles miles ahead of Hangeland for that team and Tore Andre Flo was better that Carew has ever been.
Click to expand...
Ronny Johnsen's career was VERY fragmented by injuries, so he never got too much of a run for the national side or the club sides... Miles miles ahead? That's just not true, regardless of whether you agree with me about who's better.

Flo was very close, but for me Carew just edged it for me, considering the fact that he's proven his worth in Spain, Italy (as much as a loanee can) and England... Plus he's better as a target man and at setting up others, which was the function I would intend for him in that line-up.

Either way I'm not fussed... both are great additions... but I maintain that Johnsen's career was too fragmented for him to make it... whereas Hangeland is bailing us and Fulham out on a regular basis, and his distribution is top notch.
 

kietotheworld

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Sep 10, 2006
Messages
12,638
Wildly biased towards United and modern players, probably a few glaring omissions as well. Couldn't think of many good English wingers so went with a Diamond.

Banks

Neville Ferdinand Moore A.Cole

Edwards
Robson Scholes
Charlton

Shearer Greaves​
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,756
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
Polaroid said:
Another example

A French all-time XI

Barthez
Thuram
Blanc
Desailly
Evra
Viera
Deschamps
Platini
Zidane
Henry
Kopa
Click to expand...
I'd drop Vieira and play 4-3-3 with Papin up front. Let's be honest with Deschamps, Zidane and Platini you really don't need Vieira!
 

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Thus says Kemo
Joined
Jul 13, 2002
Messages
52,753
Location
Founder of IhateMakeleles.org and Gourcufffanboysa
Pexbo said:
I'd drop Vieira and play 4-3-3 with Papin up front. Let's be honest with Deschamps, Zidane and Platini you really don't need Vieira!
Click to expand...
But the team is way stronger with him in it.


Imagine a Diamond like this :

----------Vieira-------

--Deschamps------Platini---

----------Zidane---------

-----Henry------Kopa------

:drool::drool::drool:
 

Lester Freamon

Aka Caveman
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Messages
6,845
Location
Midnight sun territory
Eriku said:
Ronny Johnsen's career was VERY fragmented by injuries, so he never got too much of a run for the national side or the club sides... Miles miles ahead? That's just not true, regardless of whether you agree with me about who's better.

Flo was very close, but for me Carew just edged it for me, considering the fact that he's proven his worth in Spain, Italy (as much as a loanee can) and England... Plus he's better as a target man and at setting up others, which was the function I would intend for him in that line-up.

Either way I'm not fussed... both are great additions... but I maintain that Johnsen's career was too fragmented for him to make it... whereas Hangeland is bailing us and Fulham out on a regular basis, and his distribution is top notch.
Click to expand...
I just disagree completely regarding Johnsen. First of all he was just way better than Hangeland, of that there is no doubt whatsoever. Secondly, for all his injuries he racked up 62 caps for Norway, incidentally the exact same number as Hangeland has today. Of course Hangeland will get more than that in the next few years but with 62 caps it's not as if Johnsen's injuries prevented him from getting a significant number of appearences. Lastly, Ronny Johnsen played at the very top level of world football, won three Premier League titles and an FA Cup
(that's only his English trophies counted) while Brede Hangeland has played for Viking, FC København and Fulham. And although I respect Hangeland's abilities, it's a fair fecking distance between two good seasons for Fulham and partnering Jaap Stam in the latter stages of the Champions League. Miles in fact.
 

Diablodave

Full Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
2,994
Location
Newtownabbey, NI
Northern Ireland

GK: Pat Jennings

LB: Nigel Worthington
CB:Aaron Hughes
CB: Mal Donaghy
RB: Jimmy Nicholl

RM: Billy Bingham
CM: Danny Blanchflower
CM: Jimmy McIlroy
LM: Keith Gillespie

FW:George Best
ST: David Healy
 

Cutch

Full Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
16,404
Location
Northern Ireland. Stretty W3102, Row 2, Seat 129
Ramshock said:
David Healy over Whiteside? Aaron Hughes? Billy Bingham? :lol:
Click to expand...
How can you dispute David Healy being in our all time 11 :lol: :lol:

He's our all time record goalscorer with 35 goals. The next highest is 13!

Hughes has every right to be in it also. Already in our top 10 in terms of number of caps, with many of those being as captain. We've had few centre halfs better.
 

davisjw

Full Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
5,287
MrMarcello said:
USA... looks very ordinary... especially since the US is still relatively young on the footballing scale.

Friedel; Cherundolo-Balboa-Dooley-Caligiuri; Ramos-Reyna-O'Brien-Stewart; Donovan; McBride

Subs: Howard, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Dempsey, Harkes, Jones, Wynalda
Click to expand...
I'd take Pope instead of Balboa. And Agoos in for Cherundolo.

Think Beasley in his prime was one of the better players to put on the shirt. Tempting to put in Keller too instead of Howard - think Keller is a big game keeper whereas Howard tends to get a bit lost in them. Wyanlda would be worth looking into as well.
 

Gio

★★★★★★★★
Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
20,341
Location
Bonnie Scotland
Supports
Rangers
FranklyVulgar said:
I think i'll leave the scotland one up to Gio.
Click to expand...
How generous. Any thoughts on this selection?

---------------Goram----------------

Jardine---Hansen---Miller-----McGrain

Johnstone--Souness--Bremner--Baxter

---------Dalglish-----Law-----------


Pretty tasty. STV did this recently and the only differences were Cooper instead of Baxter and Big Eck in place of Hansen. It was strange that Miller and Hansen didn't seem to have the best partnership in defence given that they appeared to have complementary qualities. Ferguson has called Miller the best penalty-box defender he has ever worked with which is high praise indeed. The strikers pick themselves.

By all accounts, Alex James (Arsenal) and Alan Morton (Rangers) were amongst the best players in the world at the 1920/1930s and would probably have made the team had they been born in the video age.
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
Brazilian XI

Gilmar
Cafu
Nilton
Aldair
Lucio
Rivelino
Zico
Zizinho
Garrincha
Ronaldo
Pele
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
Spanish XI

Casillas
Ramos
Camacho
Hierro
Puyol
Alonso
Xavi
Iniesta
Gento
Raul
Villa
 

MrMarcello

In a well-ordered universe...
Joined
Dec 26, 2000
Messages
52,794
Location
On a pale blue dot in space
davisjw said:
I'd take Pope instead of Balboa. And Agoos in for Cherundolo.

Think Beasley in his prime was one of the better players to put on the shirt. Tempting to put in Keller too instead of Howard - think Keller is a big game keeper whereas Howard tends to get a bit lost in them. Wyanlda would be worth looking into as well.
Click to expand...
I forgot about Pope. Agoos is crap IMO. I'd put Pope next to Balboa and either stick Dooley in midfield to allow Reyna freedom to roam, or put Dooley on the subs bench. I picked Howard as a backup as Keller and Friedel often clashed due to each thinking they were better than the other. For me, Howard has surpassed Keller on both club and national level.
 

Polaroid

New Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2003
Messages
2,703
English XI

Shilton
Neville
Cole
Moore
Ferdinand
Edwards
Robson
Scholes
Gascoigne
Charlton
Shearer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.