With Calcio taking a two week break, Carlo Garganese takes the opportunity to pick the best all-time elevens from the top teams. The first in the series are Juventus...
Goalkeeper: Dino Zoff (1972-83) – The best Italian goalkeeper of all-time and possibly the best goalkeeper in the world of all time, however Gianluigi Buffon may soon have something to say about both of these titles. Zoff is most famous for lifting the 1982 World Cup at the age of 40. While at Juve he won six Serie A titles, two Italian Cups and a UEFA Cup. Also made 112 appearances for the Azzurri.
Goalkeeper: Dino Zoff (1972-83) – The best Italian goalkeeper of all-time and possibly the best goalkeeper in the world of all time, however Gianluigi Buffon may soon have something to say about both of these titles. Zoff is most famous for lifting the 1982 World Cup at the age of 40. While at Juve he won six Serie A titles, two Italian Cups and a UEFA Cup. Also made 112 appearances for the Azzurri.
Right Back: Lilian Thuram (2001-06) – One of the finest defenders of his generation, Thuram won four Scudetti in five years in Turin, although two of these were later stripped due to the Calciopoli scandal. As of 2007 he is the most-capped player in the history of the French national team, and was a champion at both France 98’ and Euro 2000. Memorably scored both of France’s goals in the 1998 semi-final victory over Croatia.
Centre Back: Claudio Gentile (1973-84) – One of the meanest and toughest defenders to ever set foot onto the field, strikers used to melt in their boots when up against Gentile. The stopper is notorious for violently man-marking Diego Maradona out of the game during the 1982 World Cup, while he also ripped Brazilian great Zico’s shirt in half during the same tournament. Gentile won six Scudetti for Juventus and is certainly a cult hero.
Centre Back: Gaetano Scirea (1974-88) – Arguably the greatest ‘libero’ in the history of the game along with Franz Beckenbauer and Franco Baresi, Scirea was a stylish and graceful defender with perfect tactical understanding. He would bring the ball out of defence and spark attacks for his team, something he did in creating Marco Tardelli’s second goal in the 1982 World Cup final. With Juve he won virtually every major honour in the game, before he died tragically in a car accident in 1989.
Left Back: Antonio Cabrini (1976-89) – Cabrini is perhaps just as remembered for missing a penalty in the 82’ final against West Germany as he is for being a quite fantastic wing-back. During 13 years with the Old Lady, Bell'Antonio made almost 450 appearances and won virtually every major honour in the game. Was capped 73 times for Italy, playing at Argentina 78’, Spain 82’ and Mexico 86’.
Midfield: Marco Tardelli (1975-85) - Yet another Juventus player in the Spain 82’ team, Tardelli’s celebration in the final is one of the World Cup’s most enduring images. In a decade with the Bianconeri he won five Scudetti, as well as the European Cup, UEFA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup. Played 81 times for his country, scoring six goals.
Midfield: Giampiero Boniperti (1946-61) – Boniperti was the original ‘symbol’ of Juventus, playing for the club for his entire career. The attacking-midfielder was the all-time top-scorer for the Bianconeri for over 40 years, until he was overtaken by Alessandro Del Piero. He formed an unstoppable trident with John Charles and Omar Sivori in his latter years, and also played 38 times for Italy, including the 1950 and 1954 World Cups.
Midfield: Michel Platini (1982-87) – Legendary French midfielder who scored the winning penalty in the infamous 1985 European Cup final victory over Liverpool at Heysel. While at Juve he finished Capocannonieri and European Footballer of the Year three years in succession. For France at Euro 84’ he almost matched the individual achievements of Diego Maradona in Mexico two years later, scoring nine goals in five games as Les Bleus lifted the cup.
Midfield: Zinedine Zidane (1996-01) – The best player of his generation, Zidane signed for Juve on the recommendation of Michel Platini. ‘Zizou’ was an instant hero in Turin winning successive Scudetti in his first two seasons. The Bianconeri then went through a bit of a lean spell and he was sold to Real Madrid in 2001 for a world record €76m. He played 108 times for his country, winning France 98’ and Euro 2000, and in his last-ever match before retirement he infamously was sent off for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.
Forward: Roberto Baggio (1990-95) – This genius is regarded by many as the best Italian footballer of all time, and he scored 115 goals in 201 appearances for the Bianconeri. He left in 1995 having won a Scudetto, UEFA Cup and a Coppa Italia. For Italy he played at three World Cups, all of them full of wonderful memories. He scored the best goal at Italia 90’, while at USA 94’ he single-handedly dragged a modest team all the way to the final, where they lost on penalties to Brazil.
Forward: John Charles (1957-62) – In 1997 Charles was voted as not only Juventus’ greatest-ever foreign player, but the best Serie A foreigner ever. When you consider that the likes of Diego Maradona, Zico, Marco Van Basten and Zinedine Zidane have all graced Italian playing fields, you realise just how brilliant Charles was. Signed from Leeds in 1957, ‘The Gentle Giant’ scored 93 times in 150 games, a quite stunning goal ratio.
Formation: 4-1-3-2:
Zoff
Thuram Gentile Scirea Cabrini
Tardelli
Boniperti Platini Zidane
Charles Baggio
www.goal.com - 27/12/2007 14:19
