What is your country’s all timer national team XI ?

[Wolf1992]

Fairly easy for France, we don't have a long history of winning and outside of Kopa and Platini all our best players are from the 98 team and later

Lloris
Thuram Desailly Blanc Lizarazu
Deschamps Vieira
Zidane
Mbappe Trezeguet Henry

Bench: Barthez, Varane, Sagnol, Makelele, Platini, Kopa, Benzema

Rocheteau, Bats, Fontaine, and Tigana are missing there, 80s France was great.

It's not about winning, but the quality of the players...otherwise dutch posters could only mention the Euro 88 winning team starting Xl.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Fairly easy for France, we don't have a long history of winning and outside of Kopa and Platini all our best players are from the 98 team and later

Lloris
Thuram Desailly Blanc Lizarazu
Deschamps Vieira
Zidane
Mbappe Trezeguet Henry

Bench: Barthez, Varane, Sagnol, Makelele, Platini, Kopa, Benzema

There’s a few choices I could argue with but Platini on the bench?

oh, and 1982/1984 says hi.

 

[Sildegil]

That’s the closest thing to perfection! Not just as individuals, but as a team too.

Thanks !

 

[Sildegil]

Fairly easy for France, we don't have a long history of winning and outside of Kopa and Platini all our best players are from the 98 team and later

Lloris
Thuram Desailly Blanc Lizarazu
Deschamps Vieira
Zidane
Mbappe Trezeguet Henry

Bench: Barthez, Varane, Sagnol, Makelele, Platini, Kopa, Benzema

No way in hell that Lloris is above Bats or Barthez. Deschamps was a great leader but as a 6 you cant pass on either Makelele or Kanté. And I cant figure out how could leave out Platini and put a third forward in that team, especially if his name is Trezeguet.

 

[huyn]

Rocheteau, Bats, Fontaine, and Tigana are missing there, 80s France was great.

It's not about winning, but the quality of the players...otherwise dutch posters could only mention the Euro 88 winning team starting Xl.

They were good players but I just can't pick Rocheteau over Henry or Mbappe or Tigana over Deschamps Vieira Makelele or even Kante. It's not about winning but to me the 84 team is much weaker than the 98 one in pretty much every position.

There’s a few choices I could argue with but Platini on the bench?

oh, and 1982/1984 says hi.

Platini is certainly one of the best french players in history, top 3 in my book, but if I have to make a team it's either him or Zidane and it's not even a contest in my opinion. I suppose he could be played in a more advanced role especially in today's football.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

They were good players but I just can't pick Rocheteau over Henry or Mbappe or Tigana over Deschamps Vieira Makelele or even Kante. It's not about winning but to me the 84 team is much weaker than the 98 one in pretty much every position.

The 98 team is stronger but you pick Vieira who couldn’t make the XI?

Tigana isn’t a swap for Kante but if you’re picking a midfield and chose Kante before Tigana Also, Deschamps over Makelele??

Platini is certainly one of the best french players in history, top 3 in my book, but if I have to make a team it's either him or Zidane and it's not even a contest in my opinion. I suppose he could be played in a more advanced role especially in today's football.

and to say Zidane v Platini is “not even a contest”?


Football is all about opinions?

 

[JPRouve]

and to say Zidane v Platini is “not even a contest”?


Football is all about opinions?

To be fair, it is not a contest, Platini trashes Zidane.

Also Deschamps and Tigana are above Kanté and Makélélé.

 

[huyn]

and to say Zidane v Platini is “not even a contest”?


Football is all about opinions?

Yea that's my opinion, do you want me to add imo at the end of every sentence? You have your own opinion, but unlike you, I respect yours. No reason to debate with people like you who think their opinion is gospel.

 

[giorno]

It is my country and it hurts that you didnt put us in a 433 but in a 442 diamond.

Meh. I'd go VdS, Rijkaard, Stam, Krol, Van Hanegem, Davids, Neeskens, Cruyff, Robben, Gullit, Van Basten myself

 

[Eggberto]

Based on players I have seen playing Italia 90 onwards with classic 4-4-2
GK Seaman
RB Kyle Walker
CB Des Walker
CB Sol Campbell
LB Ashley Cole
RM David Beckham
CM Paul Gascogne
CM Stephen Gerrard
LM Raheem Sterling
CF Harry Kane
CF Gary Lineker

Bench : Ferdinand, Rooney, scholes, Ince, Shinton

Manager Sir Bobby Robson

 

[NICanRed]

Here is a slightly different take - an all-time national team of Manchester United players.

N. Ireland

Harry Gregg
Jimmy Nicholl
Craig Cathcart
Jonny Evans
Mail Donaghy
Norman Whiteside
Jackie Blanchflower
Sammy McIlroy
Keith Gillespie
David Healy
George Best

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

To be fair, it is not a contest, Platini trashes Zidane.

Well, I didn’t want to be rude.

No issue with people rating Zidane (he was great) or even saying better than Platini (I’d disagree, Platini was a god of a player) but it was the not even a contest bit like we’re comparing Maguire and VVD.

(loved Tigana too. That midfield? )

Yea that's my opinion, do you want me to add imo at the end of every sentence? You have your own opinion, but unlike you, I respect yours. No reason to debate with people like you who think their opinion is gospel.

You’re misinterpreting it as a slight rather than taking it as I meant it (and literally said) … it’s just opinions and I’ve got no monopoly on what’s right and never said I did.

I respect your opinion… I can add a smiley face emoji on my post if it helps?

Like this

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

For me if you’re doing a France All-Time XI you have to play Zidane and Platini, the 4321 of the 1998 World Cup team might suit in terms of shape and give you the balance, especially as France have had some outstanding all-action midfielders. Platini’s team of the magic carré could also possibly carry the two of them, when paired with capable defensive midfielders like Kanté and Vieira.

 

[Gio]

For me if you’re doing a France All-Time XI you have to play Zidane and Platini, the 4321 of the 1998 World Cup team might suit in terms of shape and give you the balance, especially as France have had some outstanding all-action midfielders. Platini’s team of the magic carré could also possibly carry the two of them, when paired with capable defensive midfielders like Kanté and Vieira.

Spot on. Both of those winning sides provide the shape to accommodate the main men.

 

[Bwuk]

Scotland side that I’ve been old enough to see play.

Gordon
Caldwell - Weir - Tierney
Hutton - Fletcher - Brown - Robertson
McGinn
McFadden - Miller​

 

[Real Name]

Ćiro transcends every comparison.

For me Šimić was an enigma. First player to reach 100 caps, played for Milan and Inter, but it seemed that there were always multiple better/more talented defenders around.

As I said, I think Pletikosa vs Ladić vs Subašić is a toss-up for me. And Raktić vs Prosinečki vs Asanović is tough as well. I feel the former contributed more in the checkered shirt than Prosinečki at least.

If we're defining greats by purely looking at peak international success, then it's a 1998/2018 combo, I guess. With the likes of Štimac and Bilić included, although I still wouldn't be willing to replace Srna.

Yeah, of course 1998/2018 with a bit of 2008 with the likes of R. Kovač and Srna.
You're right about Šimić, talented player but not the top.

 

[smi11ie]

SCOTLAND

Andy Goram

Danny McGrain
Alan Hansen
Willy Miller
Andy Roberston

Dennis Law
Graeme Souness
Billy Bremner
Davie Cooper

Kenny Dagleish
Ally McCoist

I am too lazy to spell-check the names but I am sure you know who I mean.

 

[Redfrog]

Barthez

Blanc
Desailly
Thuram
Lizarazu

Deschamps
Vieira

Zidane
Platini

Henry
Mbappé

 

[P-Ro]

SCOTLAND

Andy Goram

Danny McGrain
Alan Hansen
Willy Miller
Andy Roberston

Dennis Law
Graeme Souness
Billy Bremner
Davie Cooper

Kenny Dagleish
Ally McCoist

I am too lazy to spell-check the names but I am sure you know who I mean.

You're not allowed to have 12 on the pitch mate.

 

[lysglimt]

I'd be more inclined to go:

Given
Irwin McGrath Hurley Carey
Houghton Keane Giles Brady
Stapleton Keane
​

Toughest decision was who partners McGrath at CB, with Hurley, Moran and Dunne all outstanding candidates.

Ronny Whelan belongs there somewhere

 

[diarm]

Ronny Whelan belongs there somewhere

He's talked his way out since he retired and started stinking up the TV.

 

[smi11ie]

You're not allowed to have 12 on the pitch mate.

Count again but use your fingers and toes this time.

 

[SoulSurvivor]

vd Sar


Krol - Koeman - Rijkaard - De Boer


Bergkamp - Cruijff - Neeskens


Robben - van Basten - Gullit


Coach: Rinus Michels​

 

[RatPack]

Coach: Kasper Hjulmand

Peter Schmeichel

John Sivebæk - Simon Kjær - Daniel Agger - Joakim Mæhle

Morten Olsen - Christian Eriksen

Allan Simonsen - M. Laudrup - Brian Laudrup

Preben Elkjær

 

[JPRouve]

Since I see the craziest suggestions for France, I have to share the one and only, foolproof all timer eleven.

----------------------Fontaine
-------------Platini---------Zidane
---------Giresse---Vieira---Tigana
Lizarazu--Trésor--Thuram--Amoros
------------------------Bats


Bench: Lama, Adams, Desailly, Kanté, Kopa, Henry, Mbappé.

 

[V.O.]

Count again but use your fingers and toes this time.

No, he's right. You've got two Andy Gorams.

 

[Gio]

Goram
McGrain - Gough - Hansen - Robertson
Johnstone - Souness - Mackay - Baxter
Law - Dalglish​

2nd XI:

Gordon
Jardine - Greig - Miller - Caldow
Henderson - Bremner - Murdoch - Cooper
Reilly - McCoist​

• Rank Miller and Hansen as our best ever centre-backs, but they famously didn't gel, so one in each team instead.
• Several options for the 'stopper' role, but Gough and Hansen would complement one another perfectly
• Reckon Robertson's done enough now to command the left-back slot. Gemmell unlucky not to be included.
• Other options on the left of midfield including Robertson and Lennox, but Baxter offers the best balance
• Could throw in the likes of Morton, James, McGrory etc but hard to say just how good they were.

 

[smi11ie]

No, he's right. You've got two Andy Gorams.

I am not seeing that. I will paste the entire post again. I only count 11 and 1 Andy Goram. This is weird.

SCOTLAND

Andy Goram

Danny McGrain
Alan Hansen
Willy Miller
Andy Roberston

Dennis Law
Graeme Souness
Billy Bremner
Davie Cooper

Kenny Dagleish
Ally McCoist

I am too lazy to spell-check the names but I am sure you know who I mean.

 

[André Dominguez]

With World Cup season looming following the draw I figured we could have some fun.

In YOUR opinion what is your country’s ALL TIME XI and coach (the coach had to have coached the national team)

Not everyone will have the same opinion for their country so will be interesting to see the differences.

Alright let’s get it started!

My ALL TIME Portugal XI

Formation: 4-1-2-1-2

GK: Vitori Baía: Porto legend who I believe is the greatest shot stopper we ever produced.

RB: Joao Pinto: Hard nose right back who was both a leader and a player who would never stop running, once described as having two hearts and 4 legs because he never stopped.

CB: Ricardo Carvalho - Absolute legend who was a key player in multiple big clubs through out his career.

CB: Pepe - One of the best defenders of the past 20 years Pepe was a key player in Madrid and Portugal for years, was a huge performer in Euro 2016.

LB: Hilário -This was a tough one but I’ve gone with Hilario a Sporting legend, was a key player in a Eusébio led Portugal in 1966 and I felt he was a deserved player for this spot.

CM: Coluna - A Benfica legend who was a tank in midfield. Incredible box to box player who can both shoot from distance and was technically skilled. He was an Engine in midfield.

CAM: Rui Costa - Portuguese prince, elegant in midfield and a maestro. Rui Costa was brilliant. Part of Portugal’s golden generation Rui Costa ia heralded as a king in Florence and a Série A legend.

LM: Paulo Futre - In his time only behind Maradona and Platini Paulo Futre was one of the greatest dribblers the game has ever seen. Dubbed the Portuguese Maradona for their similar style of play and wing wizardry Paulo Futre was the key player in Porto’s 1987 CL win and is and Idol in atlético Madrid. One of the biggest legends for Atlético Paulo Futre also came second in Balon D or voting in 1987 behind Ruid Gullit. Some believe it was rigged by AC Milan’s president after Milan had purchased the Dutch midfielder. Strong case Futre should have won that year. For many the 4th most talented player the country has ever produced.

RM: Luis Figo - Who else but Luís Figo. Balon D or winner, wing wizard and of the greatest players the game has ever and will ever see. Also the cause of the biggest transfer the game has ever seen. Widely regarded as the unanimous third best player in Portugal’s history.

ST: Eusebio - The King, Eusébio was part of the legendary Benfica teams that conquered Europe. Widely regarded as a competitor to Pele they managed to meet one time in the World Cup. Eusébio was the key reason in Portugal attaining their greatest ever finish at the World Cup. For years considered the greatest Portuguese player ever he has since been surpassed by a certain someone, nonetheless the consensus #2.

ST: Cristiano Ronaldo - Who else but the great man himself. I could just leave it at GOAT but that’s no fun. The greatest player in the history of the CL, the greatest goal scorer of all time, the greatest national team goals scorer of all time, 5x Balon D or and the list just gets longer after that. Arguably the greatest of all time, at the very least Ronaldo along with Messi, Maradona and Pele sit at the Mount Rushmore of Futebol. Key figure in Portugal only ever major trophy.

Coach: Fernando Santos - Very hot take but he has so many records and the best winning % ever for Portugal as well as being the Coach that led us to a European title. HOWEVER it is a SUPER close second to Scolari IMO.

Bench:
Rui Patrício
Couto
Nani
Quaresma
Deco
Pauleta


* For the CB position I struggled as I was between Fernando Couto and Humberto Coelho as well but I went with recency bias. For the LB position I also considered Coentrao.

* That front line is incredible. Figo and Futre wing wizardry crossing to Ronaldo and Eusébio with Rui Costa pulling the strings behind. It’s futebol Porn.

I would use a different system, a 4x2x3x1

• GK: Agree with Baía: he was one of the best keepers of our league, but I will guess that Barça fans will not miss him so much
• RB: João Pinto is an easy choice: fast, strong, aggressive and cunning, and was a regular presence in UEFA team of the year. He could had gone to Serie A top teams, but always refused to leave Porto.
• LB: Hilário is an easy choice, we usually never have a solid LB choice. Dimas would probably come second.
• CB1: Ricardo Carvalho was clearly the best portuguese CB ever on his career peak. He was a very aggressive defender, had the passing range of a midfielder and he had a nice shot too.
• CB2: Pepe due to his long and sucessful career: amazing at Madrid, amazing at Turkey and still amazing at his age now.
• CMB2B: Mário coluna, some people even say that he was as much influencial on Benfica and Portugal sucess as Eusébio.
• CMDef: Paulo Sousa, he was one of the first modern registas. Juve made him payer with a bad knee and ruined his career.
• AMC: Rui Costa was a beast on his peak and even after his peak at Milan he was still amazing.
• LW: Cristiano Ronaldo: I think he had his best years of goal scoring coming from the left.
• RW: Luis Figo is an easy choice too: best crosser on open game I've ever seen and he also scored a lot of goals for a 90's/early 2000's winger, which was unusual for wingers of those times.
• ST: Eusébio, if sports medicine were better at the time, he would had been a record goal scoring player.

Bench:

• Bento: I know 80's goalkeepers were pretty much poorer in terms of positioning and technique when compared with nowadays keepers, but Bento had the most impressive reflexes on a keeper I've seen on our league.
• Humberto Coelho: he was aggressive and knew how to put the ball into play.
• Artur Russo: even former players who never played against him mention him as one of the toughest and skilled full backs of our football.
• João Moutinho: He is an engine that glue things together. A valuable player.
• Deco: aggressive, creative and skilled.
• Paulo Futre: amazing left winger, but unfortunatelly Ronaldo also played there most of his career.
• Sérgio Conceição: shadowed by Figo, but his career at Serie A speaks volumes of his talent. (I also considered Chalana, but chose Sérgi due to career longevity)
• Peyroteo: easy one to choose too.
• Rui Jordão: he was a very gifted player who actually did not liked football, which speaks volumes for someone with smaller motivation to be able to play so well.

 

[NoPace]

They were good players but I just can't pick Rocheteau over Henry or Mbappe or Tigana over Deschamps Vieira Makelele or even Kante. It's not about winning but to me the 84 team is much weaker than the 98 one in pretty much every position.


Platini is certainly one of the best french players in history, top 3 in my book, but if I have to make a team it's either him or Zidane and it's not even a contest in my opinion. I suppose he could be played in a more advanced role especially in today's football.

Zidane would probably be great as a false 9 between Henry and Mbappe too. What could Berkgamp do that Zidane couldn't?

 

[NoPace]

Based on players I have seen playing Italia 90 onwards with classic 4-4-2
GK Seaman
RB Kyle Walker
CB Des Walker
CB Sol Campbell
LB Ashley Cole
RM David Beckham
CM Paul Gascogne
CM Stephen Gerrard
LM Raheem Sterling
CF Harry Kane
CF Gary Lineker

Bench : Ferdinand, Rooney, scholes, Ince, Shinton

Manager Sir Bobby Robson

I think for balance I'd pick Hargreaves over one of the Gs.

 

[Physiocrat]

Two Brazilian sides which I think are reasonably balanced -

...............Pele........Romario..........
..Didi........Zito......Falcao......Garrincha
R. Carlos..T.Silva...Aldair.....Djalma
....................Taffarel..........................

......................Pele......................
...Ronaldo...................Kaka..........
..........Junior..........Falcao..........
......................Zito.....................
Marcelo...T.Silva...Mozer...Cafu
....................Allison..................

 

[RVN1991]

Mexico ( Only players I saw play)

Ochoa

Carmona
Salcido
Marquez
Suarez
Ramirez

Pardo
Galindo
Guardado

Sanchez
Blanco

 

[paraguayo]

I am Braziguayo so I will use half from each country. Btw, only players I've seen

Chilavert

Arce - Gamarra - Rivarola - R.Carlos

Mauro Silva

Rivaldo Ronaldinho

Ronaldo Romário Santa Cruz

 

[NoPace]

I'll make a try for Germany.
Biggest question for me ist the formation, do I go for a classic 442 or 352 formation.

GK: Neuer (Kahn, Maier)
RB: Breitner, he played midfield most for his career, but at the beginning he was a right back and I want strong offensive fullbacks in this lineup. (Lahm)
CB: Beckenbauer (Boateng, a marvel at his peak)
CB: Sammer (Kohler for an old school hard nosed CB)
LB: Brehme (Schnellinger)
CM: Matthäus (Ballack)
CM: Kroos (Schweinsteiger)
OM: Schuster (Özil, Möller)
RW: Rummenigge (T.Müller)
LW: Reus (?)
ST:. G.Müller, Seeler and for the poaching ability Klose

Feels like not having a clear LW and having Sammer and Beckenbauer there suggests a 3-5-2. Bring Kohler (or Boateng for his long passing) in, push the fullbacks up, let Matthaus get forward more.