Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel
Massive in stature. Filled the goal and made them look half the size. Organised the defence well and a great shot stopper. Was the backbone of the United team that won the treble.
Left-back: Roberto Carlos
The best attacking left-back of the modern era. Brilliant from dead balls (Still don’t know how he scored THAT free kick against France) and has massive of athleticism. The fact that he is still playing at the age of 38 confirms this.
Right-back: Cafu
Basically a mirror image of Roberto Carlos but with a right foot. Better at defending than Carlos but still covered so much of the right-hand side of the pitch. Playing in three World Cup finals just shows you how fit he is. Plenty of people wanting his place but he just upped his game ever time.
Centre-back: Alex McLeish
Not a massive CB but was brilliant with the ball at his feet. Technically a one club man as he only played for Motherwell a few times as player manager. Almost 500 games for Aberdeen when they were at their peak and third most capped Scotland player. Read the game well and was a leader on the pitch. 12 medals in his Aberdeen career speaks volumes.
Centre-back: John Terry
The complete opposite to McLeish. A big, tall, solid central defender who will but his body on the line to stop a team scoring. He literally puts his head where nobody else would dare. A great leader on the pitch. Scores a few goals from corners too.
Right-midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo
Developing into more of a forward but still lines up on the right of a front three. His pace, trickery and skill baffle defenders all the time. Tendency to dive but 84 goals for United and 91 in 93 games for Madrid is staggering for a winger. Actually paying off his £80 million price-tag unlike Torres.
Left-midfield: Ryan Giggs
I’m so glad Giggs is Welsh. Just imagine if he had played for England. He was every right-backs worst nightmare when he played wide left. Has slowly drifted inwards now that his legs are gone but is the most decorated player ever to have graced the English game. To have scored in every season of the English Premier League and Champions League is a feat in itself.
Centre-midfield: Zinedine Zidane
He’s won a World Cup, Uefa European Championship, Champions League, Super Cups, La Liga, Serie A, you name it! Brilliant vision, amazing with the ball at his feet, Scored THAT peach of a volley at Hampden and is great with his head (sort of)
Centre-midfield: Paul Scholes
The ginger genius. A proper footballer too – never heard anything in the paper about his personal life. Immense passer of the ball, knows where his team mates are without looking and hits well-struck long-balls. Can’t tackle for toffee.
Forward: Kenny Dalglish
Scotland’s all time most capped player on 102 caps and joint scorer with Denis Law on 30 goals. Humble man off the field who is a fantastic ambassador for Scottish football. The difference is Liverpool since his returns shows how good his man management skills are.
Forward: Leo Messi
The little Argentine is a genius. Found it funny that people were calling Maradona ‘the old Messi’. His low centre of gravity means he can dribble like nobody else. Had lots of power behind his shot for a little guy and is one of the key components of the current Barcelona team who will probably go do down as one of the best teams ever.
Substitutes:
Jim Leighton
Had great battles with Andy Goram for the keeper’s jersey for Scotland. Very reliable and an excellent shot stopper. Loved the Vaseline eyebrows.
Christian Dailly
Again not a big defender but gutsy. Christian’s versatility and passion gets him into the team. Can play in defence or midfield (or anywhere he’s asked to). The fact he plays with a gumshield shows his commitment to the cause. A Tartan Army favourite for his curly hair and his bravery. Might, might have called the Germans cheat but I’m not too sure! 😉
Roy Keane
Always controlled the game and he was always in the right place, at the right time. A proper box-to-box midfielder, quite like what Scott Parker is now. Fire in his belly and I’d never like to get on his bad side. Loved watching his on and off-field battle with Patrick Viera
Henrik Larsson
An absolute steal when he was bought for £600,000 by Wim Jansen. A record of 174 goals in 221 and 8 trophies in 7 years games for Celtic is an incredible achievement. Free kicks, headers, chips he had so many finishing techniques in his locker.
Alan Shearer
Brilliant with his head for a guy of average stature. Could bullet in a header from 18 yards! Amazing goal scoring record in England and single-handedly won matches for Newcastle and Blackburn. You’d think that someone who scored that many goals would have come up with a better celebration.
