Fantasy XI

Fantasy XI

In the 20 years I’ve been alive hundreds of footballers have drawn my attention to beautiful game. Some for dazzling the world on the biggest stage others for sheer eccentricity. There are a few unfortunates, Titus Bramble for example. Whether for good reasons, bad or for simply the sublime these eleven men have enlightened every 90 minutes of football I’ve ever seen. Except for most World Cup Finals.

Goalkeeper - Oliver Kahn, Germany 

Don't Mess.

What is there to say? The massive Aryan goalkeeper was unstoppable in his time. King Kahn wasn’t only a truly great player he was an exceptional leader who led his country in 50 games. He reached the World Cup final, won Euro 96, one Champions League. He holds the record for most Bundersliga clean sheets as well numerous individual awards.

Right –Back – Lilian Thuram, France

Incredible

Lilian Thuram, the most capped French international of all time. The defensive maestro was as equally comfortable at centre-back as he was at right-back. He was integral part of one of the greatest international sides of all time. The France team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 were the fist team I saw that truly dominated world football. Thuram was a true colossus at the back and an inspirational to all technically challenged footballers.

Centre - back – Jaap Stam, Netherlands

He Will Stunner You

For three years Stone Cold Steve Austin look-a-like Jaap Stam stomped all over the Premier League. At 6 ft 3 in Jaap stam was truly a giant who ruthless attitude entertained me week in and week out. Unfortunately for Stam most of his career may be remembered for the wrong reasons. That penalty miss at Euro 2000 still hasn’t landed and the fall out with Fergie at the end of his United may overshadow a career that any player would be proud of.

Centre-Back- Carles Puyol, Spain

Capatain Caveman

Captain caveman has been an icon of Catalonia for over a decade now. ‘The Wall’ as he is know by his fans, Puyols’s fantastic pace and unmatched reading of the game has seen him reach amazing heights as a player. As well as being the back bone of arguably the greatest team of all time, he’s won two Champions League’s as well and Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. He’s an inspiration on and off the pitch and his Giggs like lifestyle could see him playing well into his late thirties. Also he owns a sheep.

Left-Back- Paolo Maldini, Italy

Il Capitano

Older than Methuselah when he finally hung up his boots Paolo Maldini is a true legend. He’s the most successful Champions League player in my team. He made his first team debut 6 years before I was born. He was a natural defender who could chip in with a goal or two. What impresses me most about Maldini is his loyalty to his club. Two and half decades his career spanned and in an era where players like Craig Bellamy can walk from club to club, and not think once about the fans who cheer for him Maldini spent every year with The Rossoneri.

Right- Midfield- Luis Figo, Portugal

'Ole'

Probably the second coolest player in my team Figo showed the same arrogance and self-belief as another Portuguese winger, but because he isn’t that certain other winger, we like him for it. He dared to break the Barca, Madrid divide when he joined the ‘Galticos’ in 2000. Figo will always be remembered for his skills on the pitch and for giving the world the most annoying football catchphrase ever. I bet that anyone reading this post who has been megged during a game and been ‘oled’. Thanks Luis.

Centre- Midfield- Zinedine Zidane, France

Genius

First there was Pele, then Maradona and then there was Zidane. Literally winning everything there is to win as a player, Zidane was a footballing genius. Everyone remembers ‘that’ volley for Madrid. But Zidane offered so much more to his team. He was a great provider of goals and many a goal scoring team was built around him. Unfortunately like others in the list Zidane’s career ended in controversy. The 2006 World Cup final was supposed the be Zidane’s last hoorah, but after scoring the opening goal and with the scores lever Zidane head butted Marco Materazzi in the 110 minute. Zidane’s career was over and his team lost on penalties.

Centre-Midfield-Ray Parlour, England

Not Me

‘The Romford Pele.’ He sure was. Heavily underrated compared to his fellow Arsenal players, Parlour was instrumental in the ‘successful’ Wenger years. I’ll never forget the opening goal Parlour Scored against Chelsea in 2002 F.A cup final. For months after that game I attempted to recreate the goal and the identical goal by teammate Freddie Ljungberg. His amazing engine and work ethic has seen Parlour voted the 19^th greatest ‘gooner’ of all time.

Left-midfield- Rivaldo, Brazil

Great Actor

Legend. The bicycle kick against Valencia is enough to qualify him for the title, add the other 350, give or take a few and you have a seriously good player on your hands. His cultured left foot and skill made him an instant hit with Deportivo and Barcelona. Unfortunately in 2002 Rivaldo was shot when Hakan Unsal hit Rivaldo with the ball in the thigh. This prompted a sniper to shoot Rivaldo grazing his cheek and led to him writhing in agony on the floor. Miraculously Rivaldo recovered to finish the game. 

Striker-Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina

Batigol

‘Three Lions’ 1998, I’m playing as Argentina on the official England team game and ‘Batigol’ flashes across the screen. This was my first encounter with Gabriel Batistuta. I was hooked, the Argentine ace had a scoring record of almost a goal a game and will be remembered for one of the greatest Champions League goals of all time. A thirty-yard rocket against Manchester United in 2000 had me mesmerised. A truly great player and professional Batistuta was one of the greatest players of the nineties and an inspiration to me growing up.

Striker-Eric Cantona, France

Insane Excellence

Cool, charismatic, genius, brilliant ... insane. All of these could be used to describe Eric Cantona. Best described as a bi-polar footballer at his incredible best he could produce madness. At his insane worst he caused incredible controversy, you know what I’m talking about. Eric was my first favourite footballer and still is my favourite. Even at 44 Eric is still all over football despite never moving into coaching. He tried acting and is now Director of Soccer and the reformed New York Cosmos.

There’s my starting eleven. It took me a week to write, changed 7 or 8 times and still would change again tomorrow if I didn’t publish it now. Hope you enjoy reading what eleven players inspired me the most though my youth and feel free to leave yours in our comment or e-mail us and we’ll post it.

-Paul