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Joga Bonito & Theon....................................................................................................................Fortitude
..........VS...........
Team Joga Bonito & Theon (Bebeto dropped for E. Streltsov)
DEFENSE
Dino Zoff, the WC winning captain will prove to be a formidable last line of defense with his calming presence, organisational abilities and stupendous shot stopping expertise. The organisational and defensive prowess of Armando Picchi is pivotal to this defensive set up and as one of the finest exponents ever in the art of 'sweeping', Picchi's reading of the game and ability to sniff and put out danger, before it manifests, will be critical. Billy Wright was quite simply a rock at the back for England and Cullis's historic Wolves. Wright was a no nonsense CB who was immense aerially and physically, whilst his reading of the game was top notch. Dutch dynamo Van Bronckhorst was a force to be reckoned with on the left as Gio could man the left flank single handedly and was a potent threat to the opposition's goal (as his goal against Uruguay in the '10 WC will testify). The terrier Berti Vogts needs no introduction and the German will fortify the rearguard and will form a great right flank with Haßler.
MIDFIELD
Dave Mackay, the man branded by Best to be "his toughest and bravest opponent", was the cornerstone of Nicholson's historic double winning Spurs vintage. In many ways similar to Keano, Jimmy Greaves once remarked that Mackay was "the most complete professional footballer I have ever known". Juan Sebastian Veron was one of the foremost midfield playmakers in the late nineties as he squared up and shined against some of the toughest opposition that football had to offer in the 90s Serie A. The Witch was a sublime playmaker whose tenacious and industrious playing style made him a complete package.
The little magician Alain Giresse was one of France's best players as he dovetailed beautifully with Platini in the carré magique, but he was a legendary figure for Bordeaux and the record goalscorer for the Les Girondins, was a talismanic playmaker in his own right.
Thomas Haßler, a pivotal figure in the 80s and 90s German vintage, was a top notch playmaker with his versatility and industry always coming to the fore. Blessed with a lovely touch and a low centre of gravity, the German along with Littbarski provided the flair to the German machine of the 80s & 90s. It is only testament to his quality that his performances in the 92 Euros, invited comparisons with Maradona's 86 WC displays.
OFFENSE
The spearhead Alberto Spencer was the complete centre forward with searing pace, devastating aerial prowess, jinxing dribbling, dynamism and unerring finishing. Quite simply put, Spencer is one of the greatest centre forwards ever. With Streltsov in tandem and the creative cast behind him, he'll be in his element.
Eduard Streltsov was by all accounts the greatest Soviet player ever, no faint praise given the competition he has. Had it not been for the tragic circumstances he wouldn't be featuring in this draft. Streltsov was a prodigiously gifted forward, who was creative (with his trademark backheels) but also capable of ripping defenses apart single handedly with his sheer explosiveness.
Key Points
- The side is bolstered by several inspirational leaders, esp at the back - 82 WC winning captain D.Zoff, La Grande Inter's captain Picchi, skipper of the great 70s Gladbach side Vogts and Wright, the first player and skipper ever to reach the 100 cap milestone. Van Bronchorst skippered the Dutch to the 2010 WC and also joins Wright, Zoff and Haßler in the exclusive 100+ caps club. The side will offer sturdy resistance at the back with the resolute and the inspirational rearguard .
- The rearguard should provide the platform for the midfield and the techno midgets to do their thing. The deadly duo will be in no shortage of supply with Gio and Haßler from the flanks and the likes of Giresse and Veron. The Spencer-Streltsov duo should be a handful for any defense as both were complete forwards capable of putting the finishing touches to a well worked move from the creative cast behind them, or conjuring up a goal themselves.
- Fortitude has a fine side but his defense could find it difficult to come to terms with our offense's explosiveness and incisiveness, with Haßler and Spencer in particular, looking to have good games.
- On the other hand I'd back my defense to contain Fortitude's offense with the likes of Vogts and Wright matching up well with their opponents (Finney or Hoeneß and Altafini) with Picchi off all people mopping up.
Team Fortitude ( D. Stojković dropped for K. Koulibaly)
High press with high line and aggressive attack.
Defensive line: pace, aggression, aerial competence, physical strength, intelligence and reading of play plus two centrebacks who are able to play up and out of defense to open men on the inside or outside of them. I have confidence in the CB-pairing against any type of striker or support striker. Both full-backs are impressive overlappers and Kimmich has a wand for a foot, essentially being my Junior as and when necessary when not only joining the attack, but loitering in midfield when required and aiding the press.
Midfield: Rock-solid. Passing, pressing, press resistance, stamina, tackling, intercepting, reading of play, counter-attacking, aggression, mobility, defensive height, shooting and all three of them can switch positions on a whim, which not only enables formation flexibility, but also means there's no bad position to put them in i.e. my DM is being covered by a CM or AM; in this midfield, it amounts to the same thing as all of them are fluid and capable as DM's, CM's and no slouches in attack.
Attack: My front line is teeming with quality, flexibility and dynamism. Finney is my star man - a Cristiano before Cristiano and he will be a lethal proposition whether driving to the byline, cutting inside or plain supplying one of the greatest strikers of the 60's in Altafini. I selected Altafini to lead my attack because of the plethora of goalscoring methods he brings to the table allied to his ability in the build up and his sense of timing on when to make dummy runs. An eclectic striker such as he, who is equally prolific, is invaluable.
Hoeneß is aggression and proactivity personified and not only will he drive to the box in attack, he will drop deep into midfield and link up with Kimmich, Hanappi and sometimes Haan as and when required to do so. His energy and intelligence combined with Kimmich and Hanappi makes for one of the hardest working and dynamic flanks in the draft outright. I am confident in him and it in both directions.
Arie Haan is one of, if not the greatest long-range shooter of all time. It would be downright negligent for any side to let him play from deep, which is great for me as it forces action towards him and makes simply holding position and trying to pick my players off very difficult to do. The moment the opposition decide to engage, the midfield carousal ensues, by which Toninho Cerezo and Hanappi both get space to work on or off the ball.
Cerezo is my ball retainer in midfield, and again, one of the best midfielders in the entire draft in this particular aspect of play. He is adept in any style of play or opportunistic scenario via his passing, dribbling and intelligence. I cannot say I have special plans in place for Theoga as my team will be the one pushing the pace and theirs, reacting to it. I have very few specific vulnerabilities for them to focus or hone in on, and if they do attempt to press or bring the game to me, purportedly in behind a marauding Alba, I'm perfectly comfortable for them to do so, as in an open game, my side stacks up with anybody's.
What I would question, however, is whether Theoga have the energy reserves to take my side on deep into the second half. Kimmich, Alba, Haan, Hanappi, and Hoeneß are all renowned for tremendous energy levels and potency at times where lesser athletes fade. I won't say this is a key strategy in my team, rather, it is an inevitability that high octane football or even a hard fought game is going to be more beneficial to my cohort than theirs.
None of the above is to say I feel this game is a wash, far from it, but whatever they bring to the table, the side I have put out can match and give back.