h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Let's have an All-Time World XI in 4-4-2 Sven-tastic Formation

Goalkeeper

To begin, we'll have the Black Panther between the sticks. Kitted out in trade mark black, Lev Yashin, the Russian 'keeper at the 1958, 1962 and 1966 World Cup finals thrilled one and all with his acrobatics and agility.

Four Defenders

Brazilian Carlos Alberto captained the samba-boys to their 'three-peat' World Cup Final success in 1970 from right-back. For a winning combination, couple him up with consummate professionals German Franz Beckenbauer and Englishman Bobby Moore at centre-backs, although Franco Baresi may have a case. Keeping things tidy over on the left, it's ever-present Italian, Paolo Maldini.

Two Wings

On the left side of midfield, George Best is the obvious first choice. Over on the right, play Garrincha, the Brazilian 'little bird' who despite polio-twisted legs turned defenders inside out.

Central Midfield

There are a queue of players for the two central midfield positions, and Zidane, Platini and Maradona are always going to be there or thereabouts, but here it's Pele and Cruyff who get the nod, largely because there's only room for two. Anyway, Maradona would be a bad influence on Besty.

Up Front

The tall Marco Van Basten had it all; he was complete, on the ground, in the air, for the toe-poke in close and the poke-and-hope from 30 yards. Stick alongside him the tubby Puskas who was so talented he could juggle soap with his left foot ... his low-centre of gravity would complement Van Basten immaculately. Again, Eusebio dips out, but somebody has to warm the bench.

I suppose if I had to go 3-5-2, I might drop Alberto and play Baresi alongside Franz and Bobby.

Then I could get Maradonna into the midfield. Certainly Garrinch would track back on the right

Not convinced there'd be enough balls on the pitch though.

Why's Pele in midfield? I always thought that he was a striker?

Versatility maketh the man

It's a bit of a waste though isn't it? Why not play him in his best position coach?

I'd ask him to push up 'in the hole' like Scholes does. I can't put Pele infront of Puskas and Van Basten, or for that matter Eusebio, as a striker.

Trout

All right let's say the back 5 are sorted ...

Yashin
Alberto
Beckenbauer
Moore
Maldini

Garrincha on the right
Best on the left

Pele and Van Basten upfront.

That leaves two central midfield positions.

Maradona plus one of ...
Platini/Cruyff/Zidane

Cruyff without a doubt. As good as the other two are, I don't think they would make my squad let alone team. Complete mind block at the moment as to who I would pick ahead of them for the squad though!

Let's say we need two goalies for a proper World Cup squad.

Yashin, Zoff ... Banks?

Let's say we need three (sorry) goalies for a proper World Cup squad.

Yashin, Zoff ... Banks?

Perhaps we need something less "creative" in midfield if we're going to do this properly.

A Souness, for example.

Julian Dicks (1996 era - when he went nearly 2 seasons and only got a single yellow card!) at left back instead of Maldini. A crack penalty taker, great tackler, good distribution and more than that, excellent motivator of the team.

Shamefully overlooked for Euro 96 tournament in my humble opinion.

Garrincha - The Little Bird

"Without Garrincha, I would never have been a three times world champion"
- Pele

Despite his polio-twisted legs, Brazilian Garrincha surely vies only with Argentinian Maradonna for a place in history as football's greatest ever dribbler of the ball. As well as turning defenders inside out with his mazy runs and baffling unpredictable ability, Garrincha is also credited with having perfected the banana-kick.

Born Manuel Francisco dos Santos in Pau Grande, Brazil, on October 28, 1933, he was nicknamed Garrincha - "The Little Bird". His legs never recovered straightness (the left one was bent inwards and the right was six centimeters shorter and curved outwards), but that didn't stop him from winning 60 international caps and two World Cup Champion medals (1958 and 1962), suffering only one defeat in his last match (against Hungary) in the 1966 World Cup. His international record is remarkable:
P60 W52 D7 L1.

His home life was less happy. He had problems with alcohol, women and tax to a greater degree than most and died of cirrhosis-induced liver-failure, aged 49 on January 20, 1983.

See A884386 for the definitve team and how to manufacture it.

Note to Self.

Ozzy ardiles
Stanley Matthews
Niall Quinn
David Backhams
Alan Hansen
Chopper Harris
Joseph Cole
Andy Cole
Ashley Cole
Gareth Southgate
Paul Mcgrath

(Im Back, by the way)

I disagree with your formation. I would go for a flat back 6 with Junior Agogo as the lone striker.

Zephyr!

Is he related to Einstein?

Sub-Ed - you can cut and paste from here ... A899436

Landscape, 1981