World Cup Winning XI Vs Non-Winning World Cup XI

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

What teams would you pick?

Two ground rules, a player has to have played in a main tournament World Cup match to qualify and you can only have a maximum of 2 players from the same nationality in each team

I was trying to pick somewhat balanced teams, but then decided "sod it" and just picked what I thought would make an interesting match

World Cup Winners
Dino Zoff (Italy 1982)
Roberto Carlos (Brazil 2002)
Bobby Moore (England 1966)
Puyol (Spain 2010)
Philipp Lahm (Germany 2014)
Zinedine Zidane (France 1998)
Lotar Mattheus (Germany 1990)
Maradonna (Argentina 1986)
Alan Ball (England 1966)
Pele (Brazil 1970)
Alessandro Del Piero (Italy 2006)

World Cup Non-Winners
Lev Yashin (Russia 1966)
Franco Baresi (Italy 1990)
Jaap Stam (Holland 1998)
Sol Campbell (England 1998)
Uli Stielike (Germany 1982)
Claude Makelele (France 2006)
Johan Cryuff (Holland 1974)
Messi (Argentina 2014)
Christiano Ronaldo (Portugal 2010)
Roberto Baggio (Italy 1994)
Ferenc Puskas (Hungary 1954)

 

[Yarrgh]

4-4-1-1 vs 3-5-2

Tactically intriguing.

 

[Kurt.]

*no Beckenbauer
** no maldini

*** leaves thread

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Winners:

Buffon (Ita)

Thuram (Fra)
Cabrini (Ita)
Beckenbauer (Ger)
Moore (Eng)

Matthaus (Ger)
Xavi (Esp)
Zidane (Fra)

Maradona (Arg)
Ronaldo (Bra)
Pele (Bra)

Non winners:

Yashin (Rus)

Zanetti (Arg)
Maldini (Ita)
Baresi (Ita)
Koeman (Ned)

Falcao (Bra)
Platini (Fra)
Zico (Bra)

Messi (Arg)
C.Ronaldo (Por)
Cruyff (Ned)

The non-winners win that quite comfortably I reckon.

 

[Billy Dean]

Beckenbauer has to be in for me. I would stick Cafu ahead of Roberto Carlos too. Not sure Del Piero deserves a place but hard to think of an alternative. Also one of the Spaniards should be in, Xavi or Iniesta, as well as Pirlo.

I like the non-winners team.

 

[deipnosophist]

On the strength of his leadership skills alone, I think you'd have to find a place for our Capt Jags in the 'never won it' team.

 

[Billy Dean]

Winners:

Buffon (Ita)

Thuram (Fra)
Cabrini (Ita)
Beckenbauer (Ger)
Moore (Eng)

Matthaus (Ger)
Xavi (Esp)
Zidane (Fra)

Maradona (Arg)
Ronaldo (Bra)
Jairzinho (Bra)

Non winners:

Yashin (Rus)

Zanetti (Arg)
Maldini (Ita)
Baresi (Ita)
Koeman (Ned)

Falcao (Bra)
Platini (Fra)
Zico (Bra)

Messi (Arg)
C.Ronaldo (Por)
Cruyff (Ned)

The non-winners win that quite comfortably I reckon.

Isn't Maldini a 2006 winner?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Isn't Maldini a 2006 winner?

No, he retired from internationals in 2002. His best was runner-up in 1994.

 

[Brisan123]

Winners:

Buffon (Ita)

Thuram (Fra)
Cabrini (Ita)
Beckenbauer (Ger)
Moore (Eng)

Matthaus (Ger)
Xavi (Esp)
Zidane (Fra)

Maradona (Arg)
Ronaldo (Bra)
Jairzinho (Bra)

Non winners:

Yashin (Rus)

Zanetti (Arg)
Maldini (Ita)
Baresi (Ita)
Koeman (Ned)

Falcao (Bra)
Platini (Fra)
Zico (Bra)

Messi (Arg)
C.Ronaldo (Por)
Cruyff (Ned)

The non-winners win that quite comfortably I reckon.

Ever hear of a lad called Pele

 

[Brisan123]

Beckenbauer Pele Maradonna Messi have to in the teams

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Ever hear of a lad called Pele

fair point, he's in for Jairzinho.

 

[Brendan Janus]

Ever hear of a lad called Pele

Is that the fella who did an advert on the awareness of testicular cancer !

 

[Brisan123]

Is that the fella who did an advert on the awareness of testicular cancer !

Could be
Not sure what his viewpoint is on male balls but I know what he could do with a football

 

[Brendan Janus]

Could be
Not sure what his viewpoint is on male balls but I know what he could do with a football

It might have been an advert for erectile dysfunction !!

 

[Brisan123]

It might have been an advert for erectile dysfunction !!

I’m open to correction but I think you’re right.
Didn’t make him any less of a footballer.
It’s a toss up between him and Messi for the best player ever to grace the game imho
If he’d have played in Europe he would have been a sight to behold.
That 1970 Brazil World Cup team were a sight to behold when in full flow