World Cup Winning XI Vs Non-Winning World Cup XI

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artetas_biggest_fan said:
Was about to do mine before I saw your winning team. Would have picked pretty much every one (Cabrini the only exception).

The winning team would batter the other one. Brazilian Ronaldo (prime) smokes the Portuguese one. Pelé over Cruyff is also straightforward. Maradona has always been a much more dominant character than Messi so that may edge it between the two (albeit Messi is more gifted). Midfield, Xavi is the best ever. Matheus probably the most complete midfielder ever, Zidane over Platini is also straightforward. Defence is a lot closer though I’d still have Moore and Beckenbauer as the first two picks.
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I'd run out of countries really, as there were only Italy, Spain, Argentina or England left of modern era winners. Neither the Italy or Spain teams of the modern era had great left backs (Maldini was pre and Jordi Alba post their teams victories), and I wouldn't say the Argentinian or England sides had great left backs unless we go with Ray Wilson, and to be fair it would be nice to have an Evertonian in there.
 
Bruce Wayne said:
I'd run out of countries really, as there were only Italy, Spain, Argentina or England left of modern era winners. Neither the Italy or Spain teams of the modern era had great left backs (Maldini was pre and Jordi Alba post their teams victories), and I wouldn't say the Argentinian or England sides had great left backs unless we go with Ray Wilson, and to be fair it would be nice to have an Evertonian in there.
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I considered Wilson but, if we're being fair, does he rank above Lahm or Roberto Carlos?
 
WA Toffee said:
Is it just me or is anyone else surprised than van Basten hasn’t been mentioned yet?
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Ahead of who though? The mod got it spot on with Messi, Cruyff and C.Ronaldo in the losing XI..unless you shifted Cruyff back and made room for him. An issue with Van Basten is he had a very ordinary World Cup (Italia ‘90). We never saw the Milan Van Basten..C.Ronaldo hasn’t done a great deal either but on club form he would be ahead.

In terms of choosing from all forwards Pelé and Ronaldo walk into an all time XI as far as I’m concerned. A clip of Ronaldo highlights the difference in before and after his three years out. At 48 seconds (blue socks of Brazil) the speed of the stepovers is rapid and his footwork is exceptional, in the white socks of Madrid a now chunky Ronaldo has slowed considerably with his footwork less tidy.



For this reason I tend to ignore the chunky version of Ronaldo post injury as it was a pale shadow of what he was before, which was the best #9 since Pelé. At Barcelona, Inter and Brazil he was frightening. Muhammad Ali had a similar career in that he was rapid prior to his three years out, while still achieving great things in the second part of his career when he had slowed down.
 
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Just picked players who have been playing in my lifetime, so a few legends left out:

Winners:
Buffon
Cafu Cannavaro Baresi Brehme
Zidane Maradona Iniesta Pirlo
Romario Ronaldo

Non-Winners
Kahn
Zanetti Costacorta Maldini
Figo Zico Socrates Platini
Messi Ronaldo Raul
 
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