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Dream Team - "Greatest XI of All Time" 00010

Its about the absolute Legends, this time.....

"Greatest XI of all time"

There have been too many great Footballers who have enthralled us over the years with great skills, spectacular heroics & steely determination & champion’s approach. Finding the ‘Greatest XI of All time’ hence can be an extremely tough job with so many options to choose from. So, here we will try to find the greatest players in each position of the field who not only could make their presence count heavily, but also could complement others in the team with equal ease. We will stick to a strategy of 3-5-2 field; where the two wingers will move throughout the field fluidly. The Defense needs to be solid as Rock, with one sweeper back at the helm while two full-backs assisting him. The midfield will be controlling the attacking & defensive stint of the team & will have people who are equally adept in tackling as much as they are with scoring Goals. The Strikers need to be the deadliest combo the game has ever seen, one who strikes fear in opponent camps, every time they touch the ball; they need to score goal at the slightest of the chances & prepare chances and opportunities for scoring for the other players in the team as well. Above all this team should have people with unmatched talent, skills, authority, charisma & passion blended together. So, let’s find out the greatest XI of all time.



Lev Yashin (Goal Keeper) –
The 'Black Spider' has saved over 150 Penalty Kicks in International matches, won Olympic Gold medal with U.S.S.R., and furthermore the only Goal-Keeper to have won the prestigious 'Ballon d'Oro'. Without a shadow of doubt, the greatest Goal Keeper ever.

Franz Beckenbauer (Sweeper Back) (Captain) –
The greatest Sweeper back and the greatest defender ever, captain of the German World Cup winning Team in 1974. His vision of reading the game is of the highest quality. This man symbolised the German resilience & determination mixed with amazing work ethics & a passion for the game that few can match.

Paolo Maldini (Left Back) –
The winniest left back of all-time and is considered to be the greatest that ever played in that position. This man is defense personified.

Bobby Moore (Right Back) –
Considered to be the greatest tackler & centre back of all time, was outstanding as right back too. Captain of the 1966 English World Cup winning team. Pelé once called him the greatest defender ever. Bobby Moore holds forth.

Mané Garrincha (Right Wing) –
The greatest right wing of all time; the greatest dribbler ever. While dribbling with the ball, he was considered as incarnation of Devil himself. A two time World Cup winner in 1958 & 1962 for Brazil, was simply phenomenal & in a single word - 'Unstoppable'. Despite several birth defects like having one leg shorter, the other leg bent, problem in spine etc., nothing could stop his audacious skills. His breathtaking turns at top speed made mockeries of defenders and spectators were amused irrespective of their choice of team. Popularly known as 'The Little Bird', Garrincha was like a magician playing new tricks every new moment. Incidentally, whenever Garrincha & Pelé played together, Brazil never lost a match.

Alfredo Di Stéfano (Right Mid-Field) –
This man was the total Footballer, capable of defending, passing, shooting & scoring with equal ease & unequal finesse. 5 times Champions League winner with Real Madrid, scored over 800 Goals, a True Legend. Sadly he did not get a chance to make such a name for himself in the World Cup despite being probably the greatest in his era. Argentina did not compete in World Cup when he represented them in 1950 and 1954. Di Stéfano was granted Spanish citizenship in 1956, but Spain failed to qualify in the following World Cup. Four years later, in 1962 injury prevented him from competing in the championship proper, after scoring heavily in the qualifiers.

Ferenc Puskás (Central Mid-Field) –
The man just oozed talent. He had the latin american flair mixed with European finesse. He could score with either foot, being a phenomenal passer he could control the flow of the game like very few did and moreover he could tackle like a seasoned defender. Led Hungary to being World Cup Runners Up in 1954. Paired with Di Stéfano to transform Real Madrid into Invincibility.

Diego Maradona (Left Mid-Field) –
Sublime talent, had the greatest left foot ever. Unbelievable mixture of Audacity, Skills, Courage, Stamina & the rare quality of a winner - rising up to the occasion. The second greatest player ever (although a lot may disagree), a true genius. World Cup winner in 1986 & Runners Up in 1990. His second goal in the quarterfinal against England in 1986 World Cup, is considered as the greatest Goal of any World Cup, whereas the infamous first goal is popularly known as 'hand of God'. The temperamental Prince of Football could weave spells of Magic in the field, that rare few could match.

Johan Cruyff (Left Wing) –
A total footballer to the core. Put him anywhere in the ground & he will make a mark. Runners up in 1974, took the world by storm with his revolutionary display of 'Total Football' while leading Netherlands to the Finals. One of the greatest footballer of all time, pretty much like Di Stéfano, he was able to do just about anything on the pitch.

Ronaldo (Striker) –
Two time World Cup winner in 1994 & 2002 (Runners up in 1998); 3 times Copa America winner 1997, 1999 & 2004; thrice FIFA player of the Year in 1996, 1997 & 2002; moreover 2 more 'Ballon d'Oro's. Probably the deadliest striker to have graced the Football pitch ever, the 'Phenomenon' (as he was known in Inter Milan & Barcelona) was considered to have it all to become the greatest Striker of all time, till a disastrous Injury cut his full-flight-career short. However post-injury Ronaldo, although not as dangerous, still remained as the top Striker of the current generation by miles, before age & flab finally caught him up.

Pelé (Striker) –
The greatest ever. The ultimate Footballer, who was crowned as 'Athlete of the Century' as well. Three World Cups in 1958, 1962 & 1970 (the last one made the original Jules Rimet trophy, Brazil's forever), numerous Club Championships; 1283 Goals in 1363 games! The complete Footballer, who could score with either foot, or head with unmatched poise; he made the Jersey no. 10 as the one to watch. The ultimate ambassador of 'The Beautiful Game' took the art of playing to such a level that, it is said that he did caress the Football like a sensitive lover should. He scored from everywhere, in every way; dead-ball, one touch, dribbling past 6-8 defenders, bicycle kick, long range, in the box; everything seemed to be perfect for this gentleman. The teenage prodigy who went on to become an unstoppable stud with optimum mix of skills, guile, suave, humour, sense for opportunity, speed, strength and the rare quality of a true champion - rising up to the occasion. The 'Black Pearl' will remain an enigma and an unattainable bench-mark to all who has played or will be playing 'The Beautiful Game' ever.

Coach/Manager :- Mário Zagallo, César Luis Menotti, Arrigo Sacchi and Ottmar Hitzfeld.

Reserves include :- Michel Platini, Gordon Banks, Romário, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Franco Baressi, Gheorghe Hagi, Tostão, Bobby Charlton, Roberto Carlos, Lothar Matthäus, Cafu, Nilton Santos, Carlos Alberto Torres, Zico, Eusébio and Marco van Basten.