MY EURO DREAM TEAM SQUAD
A note for all readers, this squad was picked over 16 rounds competing with 16 other "managers". I have picked players such that they fit into my team maintaining balance and providing their astounding football skills to win any EURO match.
Special Thanks to Rahul Gollamudi for coming up with the idea!
Here's my introduction to the squad. I have only put 2-3 lines for every player, I'm sure there are others who would appreciate them better since most of this squad were winning things even before I was born. Happy Reading!
Dino Zoff (GK):
was voted 3rd best keeper of the 20th century. In a team of tough characters I will bank on him to bring calm to the team especially in the penalty area and is the best man to have as a last line of defence.
Vital Stat:
Holds the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1142 mins)
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Manfred Kaltz (RB):
Kaltz was famous for his right-footed crosses, which he hit with so much spin that they curved like a banana. They were affectionately called "Bananenflanken" ("banana crosses").
Vital Stat:
His partnership with Horst Hrubesch (a brilliant header of the ball) was one of the best. Like Hrubesch once described "Manny Banana, I head goal"
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1980, Runner up 1976
Bobby Moore (CB):
Captain of the English team which finished third in the 1968 Euro's, Moore was regarded as one of the best defenders in the world by all his peers. His reading of the game is what set him apart from other defenders of his time. Like Jock Stein, the famous Celtic coach said, "He sees things 20 minutes before the others".
Euro Form:
3rd place Euro 1968
Franz Beckenbauer (CB):
nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, his leadership, and his dominance on the football pitch. He is generally regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time and one of the greatest and most decorated footballers in the history of the game. Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder but made his name as a defender.
Vital Stat:
An outstanding ball player, he can also start attacks from the back and combine with Gunter Netzer in midfield if needed giving the perfect platform to feed the front players.
Euro Form:
Winner 1972, Runner up 1976
Sinisa Mihajlovic (LB):
Although, Mihajlovic made it to only one Euro it was primarily due to the unrest in Eastern Europe which denied him and other Yugoslav players of a chance to show what they could do at the international level. Apart from his versatility at left back and central defence, he is one of the best free kick takers in the history of the game. He could both score direct free kicks and provide assists at set pieces which could be a key factor considering the competition which the team will be up against
in the tournament.
Vital Stat:
One of the very few players to have scored a hatrick of free kicks in the Serie A and also the highest goal scorer from free kicks in the Serie A (27 goals).
Euro Form:
Quarter Finals Euro 2000
Stefan Effenberg (CM):
Nicknamed Der Tiger Stefan Effenberg had leadership skills, powerful shooting ability, physical strength, but also a fearsome character. A player who will cover every inch of grass on the field and could win you games on his own, when the chips are down or the crucial penalty needs to be taken you knew he would be the one taking it. His inspirational qualities are what will be vital to drive a team definitely not short on talent.
Euro Form:
Runner Up: Euro 1992
Gunter Netzer (CM/DLP):
Twice in 1972 and 1973 as Footballer of the Year in Germany (remember Beckenbauer was at his prime in this period), He was well known for his long passes and superior ball skills. Netzer was the iconic playmaker and is considered one of the best midfielders of all time, gaining a lot of attention with his long passes and pushes from deep within his own half of the pitch. Apart from his superior ball skills, his natural authority made him the undisputed leader of his team.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1972
Bobby Charlton (AM/CF):
During the mid 1960's Bobby Charlton was one the best players in the world, if not THE best player in the world. Charlton initally played on the left-wing. It was much later that he was to move, first to inside forward and then into the deep-lying centre forward role, the equivalent of today's central attacking midfielder. Along with his attacking instincts and setting up player he possessed a ferocious shot on him which made him very effective in the support striker/ attacking midfielder role.
Vital Stat:
holds the record for highest number of international goals scored for England (49 goals in 106 matches).
Euro Form:
3rd place Euro 1968
Luigi Riva (LW):
best known as Gigi Riva or by his nickname Rombo di Tuono (Roar of Thunder), was considered one of the best forwards of his generation, Riva enjoyed a remarkable scoring record thanks to his composure in front of goal, fearsome left foot and aerial ability. Riva had a very powerful left foot and a very soft touch. Almost invincible during sprints, he mixed a great prowess at freekicks with an astonishing finishing skill.
Vital Stat:
Italy's top-goalscorer of all-time, with 35 goals in just 42 matches means that he had a fantastic goal to game ratio. Finishing abilities will be crucial in the tournament
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Angelo Domenghini (RW):
An exciting right-winger who scored his fair share of goals, Domenghini's most important strike for Italy came in the 81st minute of the 1968 UEFA European Championship final against Yugoslavia. He formed a great understanding with Luigi Riva at both club and international level.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Horst Hrubesch (ST):
nicknamed Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer (the Header Beast) for his heading skills, Hrubesch was West Germany's match-winning hero in the UEFA Euro 1980 Final against Belgium, Hrubesch scored two goals in Rome, the second of them a trademark bullet header in the 89th minute. Hrubesch was known for his symbiotic relationship with fellow HSV and German player Manfred Kaltz, a right wingback whose crosses Hrubesch often headed into the goal.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1980
Gianni Rivera (CM/AM):
Rivera is considered as one of the greatest Italian footballers ever and as one of the greatest passers of all time. He was a creative midfielder with offensive ideas, often at odds with the proponents of the classic Italian defensive schemes. Rivera was known for his classy, elegant and aesthetic style of play, known for his impeccable dribbling and distribution.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Yuri Zhirkov (LB/LW):
Zhirkov is a versatile left sided midfielder and played a pivotal role in Russia's Euro 2008 campaign where they reached the semi finals. His form in the Euro 2008 tournament meant he was named in the Euro 2008 tournament's dream team. A versatile Left Defender and Winger, he provides a good defensive option.
Euro Form:
Semi Finals Euro 2008
Dietmar Hamann (DM):
Throughout his playing career Hamann gained a reputation for being a highly consistent and reliable player. During the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying, Hamann established himself as a key player for a transitional Germany side. Although he exited the 1st rounds in both Euro 2000 and 2004, he was a reliable defensive midfielder and provides a good backup DM option to the midfield maestros in the team.
Roberto Donadoni (RM/RW):
Mention the name of Donadoni and you would only remember the disastrous Euro 2008 campaign which he had for Italy. But, he was a brilliant right winger for the great AC Milan team of the late 1980's. He could dribble, cross, finish and made the right midfield role his own for both AC Milan and Italy. He is great option to have in the team to play the right side of midfield.
Euro Form:
Semi Finals Euro 1988
Robert Enke (GK):
Enke was an unused substitute during the Euro 2008 that saw Germany finish as runners-up. He makes this squad purely on an emotional level and as a reminder that footballers are legends but they are also human. They go through same anxious moments in life.
Like the line in the wonderfully written book by Ronald Reng "A Life Too Short":
"A mistake wasn't the whole game, A game was never the whole season, A season wasn't a career. A career isn't a life"
Something we all would do well to remember.
Euro Form:
Finalist Euro 2008, no matches started
A note for all readers, this squad was picked over 16 rounds competing with 16 other "managers". I have picked players such that they fit into my team maintaining balance and providing their astounding football skills to win any EURO match.
Special Thanks to Rahul Gollamudi for coming up with the idea!
Here's my introduction to the squad. I have only put 2-3 lines for every player, I'm sure there are others who would appreciate them better since most of this squad were winning things even before I was born. Happy Reading!
Dino Zoff (GK):
was voted 3rd best keeper of the 20th century. In a team of tough characters I will bank on him to bring calm to the team especially in the penalty area and is the best man to have as a last line of defence.
Vital Stat:
Holds the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1142 mins)
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Manfred Kaltz (RB):
Kaltz was famous for his right-footed crosses, which he hit with so much spin that they curved like a banana. They were affectionately called "Bananenflanken" ("banana crosses").
Vital Stat:
His partnership with Horst Hrubesch (a brilliant header of the ball) was one of the best. Like Hrubesch once described "Manny Banana, I head goal"
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1980, Runner up 1976
Bobby Moore (CB):
Captain of the English team which finished third in the 1968 Euro's, Moore was regarded as one of the best defenders in the world by all his peers. His reading of the game is what set him apart from other defenders of his time. Like Jock Stein, the famous Celtic coach said, "He sees things 20 minutes before the others".
Euro Form:
3rd place Euro 1968
Franz Beckenbauer (CB):
nicknamed Der Kaiser ("The Emperor") because of his elegant style, his leadership, and his dominance on the football pitch. He is generally regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time and one of the greatest and most decorated footballers in the history of the game. Beckenbauer was a versatile player who started out as a midfielder but made his name as a defender.
Vital Stat:
An outstanding ball player, he can also start attacks from the back and combine with Gunter Netzer in midfield if needed giving the perfect platform to feed the front players.
Euro Form:
Winner 1972, Runner up 1976
Sinisa Mihajlovic (LB):
Although, Mihajlovic made it to only one Euro it was primarily due to the unrest in Eastern Europe which denied him and other Yugoslav players of a chance to show what they could do at the international level. Apart from his versatility at left back and central defence, he is one of the best free kick takers in the history of the game. He could both score direct free kicks and provide assists at set pieces which could be a key factor considering the competition which the team will be up against
in the tournament.
Vital Stat:
One of the very few players to have scored a hatrick of free kicks in the Serie A and also the highest goal scorer from free kicks in the Serie A (27 goals).
Euro Form:
Quarter Finals Euro 2000
Stefan Effenberg (CM):
Nicknamed Der Tiger Stefan Effenberg had leadership skills, powerful shooting ability, physical strength, but also a fearsome character. A player who will cover every inch of grass on the field and could win you games on his own, when the chips are down or the crucial penalty needs to be taken you knew he would be the one taking it. His inspirational qualities are what will be vital to drive a team definitely not short on talent.
Euro Form:
Runner Up: Euro 1992
Gunter Netzer (CM/DLP):
Twice in 1972 and 1973 as Footballer of the Year in Germany (remember Beckenbauer was at his prime in this period), He was well known for his long passes and superior ball skills. Netzer was the iconic playmaker and is considered one of the best midfielders of all time, gaining a lot of attention with his long passes and pushes from deep within his own half of the pitch. Apart from his superior ball skills, his natural authority made him the undisputed leader of his team.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1972
Bobby Charlton (AM/CF):
During the mid 1960's Bobby Charlton was one the best players in the world, if not THE best player in the world. Charlton initally played on the left-wing. It was much later that he was to move, first to inside forward and then into the deep-lying centre forward role, the equivalent of today's central attacking midfielder. Along with his attacking instincts and setting up player he possessed a ferocious shot on him which made him very effective in the support striker/ attacking midfielder role.
Vital Stat:
holds the record for highest number of international goals scored for England (49 goals in 106 matches).
Euro Form:
3rd place Euro 1968
Luigi Riva (LW):
best known as Gigi Riva or by his nickname Rombo di Tuono (Roar of Thunder), was considered one of the best forwards of his generation, Riva enjoyed a remarkable scoring record thanks to his composure in front of goal, fearsome left foot and aerial ability. Riva had a very powerful left foot and a very soft touch. Almost invincible during sprints, he mixed a great prowess at freekicks with an astonishing finishing skill.
Vital Stat:
Italy's top-goalscorer of all-time, with 35 goals in just 42 matches means that he had a fantastic goal to game ratio. Finishing abilities will be crucial in the tournament
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Angelo Domenghini (RW):
An exciting right-winger who scored his fair share of goals, Domenghini's most important strike for Italy came in the 81st minute of the 1968 UEFA European Championship final against Yugoslavia. He formed a great understanding with Luigi Riva at both club and international level.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Horst Hrubesch (ST):
nicknamed Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer (the Header Beast) for his heading skills, Hrubesch was West Germany's match-winning hero in the UEFA Euro 1980 Final against Belgium, Hrubesch scored two goals in Rome, the second of them a trademark bullet header in the 89th minute. Hrubesch was known for his symbiotic relationship with fellow HSV and German player Manfred Kaltz, a right wingback whose crosses Hrubesch often headed into the goal.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1980
Gianni Rivera (CM/AM):
Rivera is considered as one of the greatest Italian footballers ever and as one of the greatest passers of all time. He was a creative midfielder with offensive ideas, often at odds with the proponents of the classic Italian defensive schemes. Rivera was known for his classy, elegant and aesthetic style of play, known for his impeccable dribbling and distribution.
Euro Form:
Winner Euro 1968
Yuri Zhirkov (LB/LW):
Zhirkov is a versatile left sided midfielder and played a pivotal role in Russia's Euro 2008 campaign where they reached the semi finals. His form in the Euro 2008 tournament meant he was named in the Euro 2008 tournament's dream team. A versatile Left Defender and Winger, he provides a good defensive option.
Euro Form:
Semi Finals Euro 2008
Dietmar Hamann (DM):
Throughout his playing career Hamann gained a reputation for being a highly consistent and reliable player. During the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying, Hamann established himself as a key player for a transitional Germany side. Although he exited the 1st rounds in both Euro 2000 and 2004, he was a reliable defensive midfielder and provides a good backup DM option to the midfield maestros in the team.
Roberto Donadoni (RM/RW):
Mention the name of Donadoni and you would only remember the disastrous Euro 2008 campaign which he had for Italy. But, he was a brilliant right winger for the great AC Milan team of the late 1980's. He could dribble, cross, finish and made the right midfield role his own for both AC Milan and Italy. He is great option to have in the team to play the right side of midfield.
Euro Form:
Semi Finals Euro 1988
Robert Enke (GK):
Enke was an unused substitute during the Euro 2008 that saw Germany finish as runners-up. He makes this squad purely on an emotional level and as a reminder that footballers are legends but they are also human. They go through same anxious moments in life.
Like the line in the wonderfully written book by Ronald Reng "A Life Too Short":
"A mistake wasn't the whole game, A game was never the whole season, A season wasn't a career. A career isn't a life"
Something we all would do well to remember.
Euro Form:
Finalist Euro 2008, no matches started
