All time XIs (International and Club sides)

[vijay]

Yeah, although he's almost always impressed whenever I've caught Barca matches of the early 80s, his impact there wasn't on the same level as many of the other no 10s who've done so much. As for the right-back dilemma I'd plump for Luis Enrique ahead of Dani Alves. Trying to choose a midfield and attack out of Guardiola, Xavi, Neeskens, Busquets, Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Schuster, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Cruyff, Laudrup, Figo, Maradona, Kubala, Ronaldo, Romario, Stoichkov, Eto'o and Messi is a big ask.

Maradona inspite of being injury ridden, was two or three levels above Schuster playing alongside him and easily a level above Rummenigge at the same point, his explosiveness warranted some crude fouling in the Spanish league more compared to other creative players in Spain. He was on the verge of taking Barcelona to the next level when the ankle injury, fight in the Kings cup final and along with bust ups with Nunez undid his career.

Barcelona fans do not rate Figo and Laudrup as one of them so its unlikely either making it albeit Laudrup should select himself there.

Guardiola would miss the XI as a midfielder, he cannot select himself over Neeskens, Cruyff, Stoichkov, Enrique, Laudrup, Xavi or Iniesta in the midfield but surely can get the nod as the manager over Cruyff.

 

[vijay]

Think I'd go 4-3-3 with Holland:

Van Der Sar
Suurbier - Koeman - Stam - Krol
Neeskens - Rijkaard - Davids
Gullit - Van Basten - Cruyff​

Argentina is tricky attempting to fit in Moreno while somebody like Sivori has to miss out.

Fillol
Zanetti - Ruggeri - Passarella - Marzolini
Di Stefano - Redondo
Messi - Maradona - Moreno
Batistuta
​

Bit top-heavy, in which case I'd sub in Monti for Batistuta and shunt Di Stefano forward. Speaking of which your Brazil is a wee bit gung-ho. It's difficult to find a commanding centre-half to partner Da Guia.

Taffarel
Carlos Alberto - Da Guia - Perreira - Nilton Santos
Didi - Falcao
Garrincha - Pele - Rivaldo
Ronaldo​

Reckon your France is bang on. Barthez stands out as a weakness, but not many others come to mind to replace him.

Your Brazilian XI is barcelona biased, if Zico cannot make it to the XI its unlikely of either Rivaldo or Ronaldo making it. Rivaldo has had better world cups but certainly ain't any where near Zico at his peak.

Ronaldo should be the number 9, but the likes of Tostao, Romario and Rivelinho stand a stronger chance of walking in to the XI over Rivaldo.

selecting an all time Brazilian XI is always tricky. I would go for a three men backline with Cafu as the half back, but still impossible to ignore any of your options.

As for the Argentine XI I would replace Moreno with Pedernera and also move Moreno back to the inside left leaving Redondo out of the XI.

88 European Champions side aside I dont think Gullit reserved his best for Holland as much as he did with Milan.

Rijkaard at least had one more great tournament run in Euro 92, to rest his case.

Neither Stam can make it to their all time XI when his best performances were reserved at Lazio, Milan and United.

For Juventus all time XI the first name in the team sheet should be John Charles ahead of any one else.

As for the all time Real Madrid XI


----------------------------Casillas-----------------------
Chendo---------Hierro--------------------Santamaria----Camacho
----------Zidane------------Di Stefano---------Pirri--------
--Gento--------------------Puskas--------------C.Ronaldo----------

Its also funny many are bothered to rate Roberto carlos, he was rendered ineffective by any above average attacking right back or a right winger, a liability in positioning plus the prime culprit for Brazil in international football, in all those spectacular feckups. In fact Figo moving over to Real Madrid saved him from the constant embarrassment he faced in to whenever Real Madrid went against Barcelona with these two players on opposite colors. For a full back who constantly overlaps and provide movement in the attacking attacking third, its appalling he was unable to deliver the final killer delivery consistently.

Nonetheless he was absolutely frightening and devastating against all minnows, like it happened in Japan - Korea 2002. A player with zero positional sense, poor decision making and a liability in defending. Its only his striking technique on his left foot plus work rate that made a career out as a LB. He's the Steven Gerrard of all leftbacks.

 

[vijay]

So Henry and Vieira making it to french all time XI.

 

[Gio]

Your Brazilian XI is barcelona biased, if Zico cannot make it to the XI its unlikely of either Rivaldo or Ronaldo making it. Rivaldo has had better world cups but certainly ain't any where near Zico at his peak.

Ronaldo should be the number 9, but the likes of Tostao, Romario and Rivelinho stand a stronger chance of walking in to the XI over Rivaldo.

selecting an all time Brazilian XI is always tricky. I would go for a three men backline with Cafu as the half back, but still impossible to ignore any of your options.

As for the Argentine XI I would replace Moreno with Pedernera and also move Moreno back to the inside left leaving Redondo out of the XI.

88 European Champions side aside I dont think Gullit reserved his best for Holland as much as he did with Milan.

Rijkaard at least had one more great tournament run in Euro 92, to rest his case.

Neither Stam can make it to their all time XI when his best performances were reserved at Lazio, Milan and United

Well Zico's competing for the same space as Pele, while Rivaldo's the best left-sided attacking player they've had (I see him doing a more natural job there than Rivelino). Agree about Gullit and Stam - it wasn't purely a reflection of national team performances and Stam's club form in particular was a level above his international level (he was pretty poor in '98).