The Ultimate World Cup XI: Stuart Pearce's Dream Team
As the world eagerly awaits the start of the biggest football tournament ever, legendary English footballer Stuart Pearce has shared his all-time World Cup XI. Known for his contributions to the Three Lions between 1987 and 1999, Pearce has selected what he believes to be the greatest starting line-up in World Cup history.
Here is Pearce's ultimate World Cup XI, and we invite you to consider whether you agree with his choices.
Goalkeeper: Gordon Banks
Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Gordon Banks played 73 times for England. His most memorable moment came during the 1966 World Cup, where he started every match and kept a clean sheet until the semi-final. Banks' iconic save against Brazil in the 1970 tournament, diving low to his right to deny Pele’s header, is considered one of the best saves ever. Pele himself called it "one of the best saves" he has ever seen.
Defender: Cafu
Cafu, the formidable Brazilian defender, played at the highest level for an incredibly long time. He holds the record for the most caps for Brazil with 142 appearances, including a record 20 World Cup games. As captain, Cafu won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002. Praised for his leadership and being a "complete" player, many consider him among the best full-backs to play at the World Cup.
Defender: Bobby Moore
Another stalwart of the 1966 England side, Bobby Moore played 108 times for his country between 1962 and 1973. He was only 22 when he became England's captain in 1963 and quickly became the backbone of the team. Across the 1966 and 1970 World Cups, Moore made the most interceptions and won possession more than any other player.
Defender: Franco Baresi
Although Baresi's only World Cup trophy came from a tournament where he didn't actually play, he left a lasting mark on international football. As a long-time AC Milan captain, he perfected the libero role in Italy's domestic league and national team. At the 1990 World Cup, he anchored an Azzurri backline that set a then-record of 518 minutes unbeaten. His teammate Gianfranco Zola once called him the best defender he had faced.
Defender: Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini, a long-standing defensive partner of Baresi, played 126 times for Italy over 14 years. His time as an Italy international was sandwiched between two of their four World Cup victories, but he reached the semi-finals in 1990 and lost the final on penalties in 1994. Maldini was named FIFA's second-best player of the year in 1995 and was selected for two World Cup All-Star teams.
Defender: Franz Beckenbauer
Known as Der Kaiser, Beckenbauer won 103 caps for West Germany and captained the side to World Cup victory in 1974. His elegance on the ball and command of play were unmatched. With 14 goals for his country, Beckenbauer inspired generations of footballers since his retirement.
Midfielder: Paul Gascoigne
Gascoigne was one of the brightest English talents of the 1980s and 90s. Gaining recognition for his technical ability and flair, he played every minute of the Three Lions' run to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals. Some prominent footballers of his time called him the best they have ever played with.
Midfielder: Bobby Charlton
The final member of the legendary England squad of 1966, Charlton also won the Ballon D’or that year. Scoring an incredible 49 goals for the Three Lions in 106 caps, his three in their winning campaign are undoubtedly the most important. Charlton remains the nation’s third-highest goalscorer of all-time.
Forward: Johan Cruyff
A revolutionary footballer, Cruyff dazzled crowds with his technical ability and the legendary 'Cruyff turn.' Although he never hoisted a World Cup, he led De Oranje to the 1974 final and won the Golden Ball as its best player. Manager Terry Venables once said, "there were matches when he did with a ball what no-one else would dare to try."
Forward: Diego Maradona
Before Lionel Messi overshadowed him, Maradona was widely regarded as the most skilled player ever. In his international career, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals for Argentina. His most infamous year came in 1986, where he captained the nation to World Cup victory, won the Golden Ball, and produced the 'hand of God' goal against England.
Forward: Pelé
Decades after retiring from professional football, there are still some who believe that Pelé is the best player to ever step foot on the pitch. In a Brazil kit, Pelé was unstoppable. In 1958, at just 17, he helped the Selecao to their first ever World Cup victory before playing a pivotal role in their next two triumphs in 1962 and 1970. O Rei, Portuguese for 'the king,' is still Brazil's second highest goalscorer with 77 goals in 92 international appearances.
Do you agree with Pearce's XI? Was Banks better than Manuel Neuer? Would you pair up Moore and Beckenbauer in defence? And can you find room for both Messi and Ronaldo in your final team?
Pick your XI from the shortlist and submit your final selection. You can then compare it to our Daily Mail football experts, and we'll be asking big names from the sporting world to submit their own teams as June 11 kick-off gets ever closer. You can also share your team with your friends and see how your selection compared with thousands of other Mail readers...
No comments:
Post a Comment