Short team profiles:
1. Roa – solid keeper with great reflexes – was at his peak in 98-99 when he was one of the main reasons Argentina eliminated England in the World Cup saving 2 penalties. Made it to CWC final against Lazio with the smaller Mallorca team. Tall keeper with good organizational skills will be good choice for any back line.
2. Yuichi Komano - An excellent crosser of the ball with his right foot, he was well known in the J-League for his curling and sharp bended crosses. The "weekly soccer Digest" rated him the best crosser of the ball in the J-League in issue May 22, 2007.
In addition, he had a strong engine which allowed him to cover mileage. He was quick footed with a burst of pace which allowed quick defence to offence(FIFA clocked him at 25.77kmh at one point at the 2010 finals) his national team manager Ivica Osim said "Komano is by far the quickest player in japan. He was a good dribbler who liked to cut inside and shoot with his right foot. With over 75 matches for Japan he represented the national team at 2 world cups and 1 olympic games.
3. Berti Vogts – der terrier - One of Germany’s greatest defenders of all-time, which says a lot. He was the most instrumental player in a backline of Germany to success in every international tournament between 1970 -1976 especially World Cup 1974 final round which his best highlight was appeared. Effectively and completely neutralizing and man marking Johan Cruijff to prevent him reaching his prime level. However, Vogts was very overshadowed by Beckenbauer whom he partly forced his greatness. He was known for his aggressive style, uncompromising, tireless and world-class tackling ability. Vogts was not only great in defensive game as a right full-back but also could make his impressive performance as a wing-back with his acceleration and crossing. Considered the best European full back of all time and IMO the best full back in the draft.
4. Billy McNeall “Caesar” – the captain of the Lisbon Lions. Led his team to unprecedented 9 times in a row domestic titles, 1 European cup, 7 domestic cups, a lynchpin in the team Stein led to much success. A strong determined footballer, he commanded respect not only from his fellow players but from opposition players as well. Strong in the tackle and in the air, he was a commanding player but it was his organisational skills and communicational abilities on the park that gave him an edge over others. He had an aura and despite his strong will, he was actually a pleasant and decent person at all times and few if any have ever had anything to say bad about him.
5. Fabio Cannavaro – world class defender and one of the best defenders Italy produced over time he is their all-time most capped player for Italy and longest serving captain. He could easily play as both sweeper and stopper, noted for his outstanding in his fierce defending, aggressive and interception. Played against world class attackers in his career spanning 2 decades like Zidane, Ronaldo, Shevchenko, Del Piero, Batistuta, Inzaghi, Baggio, etc… One of the best in his position with his spotlight in 2006 when he won 10 individual awards.
6. Fernando Redondo - Fabio Capello, one of the more respected people in the sport called Redondo “a tactically perfect player”. And he was. Fernando Redondo is perhaps the most complete defensive midfielder to have graced a football pitch.His awareness was infectious, measuring the state of the game astutely. Every single move, every single pass. His tackles were precise and perfectly timed with the right mix of aggression. Nothing too fussy in his play, Redondo relied on his brilliant reading of the opposition play, making crucial interceptions in the process. Standing 6′ 1″ tall, the Argentine wasn’t the most physically intimidating specimen but he was no pushover either. Two of his finest and more remarkable moments came in the CL. In 1998 Real Madrid came across Juventus, a team with a frighteningly gifted midfield of Deschamps-Davids-Zidane. Despite the plethora of talent on display Fernando Redondo was named man of the match in a close fought 1-0 win in the final. He dominated the middle of the park with his uncanny knack of breaking opposition play and initiating attacks with his crisp passing. The second one being the QF against United against peak Scholes/Keane midfield when Fergie said “Redondo must have a magnet in his boots, he was fantastic, unbelievable. He had one of those games. Every time we attacked and the ball came out of their box, it fell at his feet. Every time!”. Later he called him the best midfielder in the world. Ferguson decided United lost because he was too slow to react to Madrid's unprecedented 3-3-2-2 formation, with Redondo the only central midfielder. Roy Keane had a brilliant game, and was in the best shape and form in his career but Redondo was on another level that night.
7. Clarence Seedorf - is a consistency international-class player during the 2nd half 90s to 2000s and being the only player in history of the game to win UEFA Champion League with three different teams. He is a versatile midfielder, can adapt himself to create game on the left or right side in midfield, possesses high stamina, excellent technique and teamwork, fitness and intelligence. Seedorf started well-known with golden generation of Ajax alongside Kluivert, Davids and Rizeger. Seedorf is named in ESM team of the month 8 times and team of the year once time and was named in UEFA Team of the year twice times. He was nominated in Ballon'Dor three times. At his peak he was one of the most complete midfielders to play the game – thunderous long range shot, excellent technique, great passing range. Back in January 2010 before Manchester United’s last-16 Champions League tie against AC Milan Wayne Rooney also said:
“Seedorf is the Milan player I fear most. He’s probably the best player I’ve ever played against.”
8. Dragan Stojkovic – the 5th star of Red star. He won two national titles with Red Star & one National Cup, also being named as the best player of Yugoslavian league twice. Stojkovic played plenty of legendary games throughout his career. Red Star’s Champions Cup game vs Milan, when one of the greatest teams in the history was saved by Belgrade fog, is one such example. He was also part of the Red Star team that were up by 3 goals against the mighty Real Madrid in the Champions Cup after 40 minutes. Real Madrid had one of the greatest players of the time, Hugo Sanchez, in their squad and managed to get the game back to 4-2, winning the tie on away goals with a 2-0 win in the second leg. But that team, lead by Piksi, was the sign of things to come. Perhaps no one expected that the team would reach the top without Stojković. Dragan Stojkovic was a sensational footballer, possibly the most naturally gifted to come out of Eastern Europe. His vision, skillset, dribbling was rivaled to none as he gained recognition on international stage as well – scoring a brace against Spain in 1990, and also the same year arguably getting the better of Maradona in their match against Argentina. Even at 33 he was one of the best players in the national team scoring against Germany in the World Cup in 1998. Injuries has plagued his later career, but at his peak he was unplayable and one player that always stood out of the pack.
9. Alan Shearer – a complete striker. He doesn’t have the flash in his game like Ronaldo in his game, along with the fact that he didn’t play for a big club in his career, which probably didn’t get him the recognition he deserved, but at his peak he was really the complete striker. Many people went berserk when Suarez recently scored 31 in one season in premiership, and probably deservedly so, but Shearer in the 90’s did that 3 times…in a row.. He was great header of the ball, possessed great strength, could shield the ball, bring others into the play, had a thunderbolt of a shot, always knew where the target was and was very quick in his peak, before the operations. More than 400 goals for club and country and instrumental in 94/95 season when Blackburn became champions. Always scoring important goals and always a big game player when it came. Inspirational captain with who probably United would’ve notched up 1 or 2 CL’s more.