Thursday, September 03, 2009

SWOOSH0018'S WORLD CUP X11-STRIKER CENTRE FORWARD








WOZA SA 2010 WOZA

SWOOSH0018’S BEST WORLD CUP XI

POSITION: STRIKER/CENTRE FORWARD


PELE
Full Name: Edison Arantes do Nascimento
Born 23 October 1940
World Cups: 1958, 1962, 1966 & 1970


Pele is without a doubt the best candidate to be known as The Greatest Footballer of All Time. The Brazilian Legend and Hero has featured in and scored in 4 different FIFA World Cups, Won 3 World Cups as well as being one of the best players in 2 of those World Cup victories. Pele has the greatest World Cup Record of All Time. He beagn his World Cup career at the Age of 17 in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. Along with Garrincha, Didi & Vava Pele was part of 1 of the greatest teams of the World Cup ever in Brazil’s 1958 World Cup Winning Team. Pele scored 6 goals in the tournament including a hatrick against one of the favourites of the tournament France in the semi-finals and 2 goals in the final against hosts Sweden. Brazil won both those games 5-2 and Pele was instrumental in both those resounding victories. Pele was definitely one of the stars of the tournament and at the young age of 17 already lit up the World of football with his superb skill, vision and goal scoring talents.

In 1962 Pele scored early on in the tournament but due to the rough and violent nature of the tournament as a whole he was injured in the Group Phase and never featured throughout the remainder of Brazil’s successful campaign, led by Garrincha in the absence of the great Pele.

In 1966 Pele and Brazil were successful in the defence of the World Cup against Bulgaria with Pele scoring once again. However he was injured and would miss Brazil’s next clash with Hungary which would prove to be vital as Brazil lost to the Hungarians. Pele returned to face the Portuguese but was hacked to pieces by the violent defence of the Portuguese and limped on 1 leg for much of the game and hence Pele and Brazil were defeated and went home in the first round.

In 1970 Pele alongside Gerson, Jairzinho, Tostao & Carlos Alberto was once again among one of the greatest World Cup teams of all time if not the Best. Pele scored 3 goals to lead Brazil to the finals in a perfect display by the Brazilians winning all their games to reach the final. Pele’s brilliance and creativity of the game of football was there for all to see with his dummy against Uruguay in the semi-finals that wrong footed the goalkeeper and resulted in Pele almost scoring one of the greatest goals of all time. Pure Class. In the final against the Italians Pele scored the opening goal of the game to take his total World Cup goal count to 12. Although Italy equalized Pele did manage to score a goal on the stroke of half time only for the referee to blow the whistle and disallow the goal. The Italian defence gave the Great Pele rough treatment with little help from the referee. But Pele & Brazil were just brilliant and the final performance and result summed up their Great tournament as they outclassed the Italians by 4 goals to 1 to match the victory margin of Brazil 1958 where Pele also featured.

The greatest ever player to grace the game of football was Pele, who won 3 World Cups, was part of 2 of the Greatest Football Teams Ever, and scored over 1000 goals throughout his career. He played his last World Cup in 1970 at the Age of 29. Perhaps a player of his brilliance would have done even better with a 5th World Cup in 1974 at the Age of 33. Pele the greatest footballer ever who’s goal scoring and finishing was definitely the best of all time, not forgetting his brilliant support play.



FERENC PUSKAS
THE GALLOPING MAJOR
2 April 1927 – 17 November 2006
World Cups: 1954 & 1962



Ferenc Puskas was one of the greatest ever players to grace the FIFA World Cup. He was the captain and leader of Hungary’s Magnificent Magyars at the 1954 FIFA World Cup who were overwhelming favourites to win the Cup. Puskas scored 2 goals in Hungary’s opening game a 9-0 hammering of South Korea and followed it up with a 3rd in the 8-3 mauling of West Germany. However Puskas was injured during this encounter by German defender Liebrich and would not feature again till the finals. In the finals against West Germany again, Puskas who was not 100% recovered from his injury decided to play and the decision seemed to have been justified as he scored the opening goal of the encounter. Towards the end with the Germans up 3-2, Puskas scored an equalizer which was controversially ruled offside. One of the greatest upsets of the FIFA World Cup and the disappointed Hungarians never again reached the level of the Mighty Magyars and are no longer a force in Football today. Puskas did however feature at the 1962 World Cup, this time however for Spain at the age of 35 in another superstar team with the likes of Francisco Gento, Jose Santamria and Alfredo di Dtefano who was injured and did not play. Puskas was ageing but still assisted in Spain’s first goal over the Brazilians who were too strong for them and won the game 2-1 ultimately resulting in Spain’s exit from the World Cup in the 1st round.



EUSEBIO
Full Name: Eusebio da Silva Ferreira
Born 25 January 1942
World Cups: 1966




Eusebio was undoubtedly the star player of the 1966 FIFA World Cup. He was the main player behind Portugal’s success at the World Cup. He dazzled the crowds with his superb play in a rather dull and defensive World Cup on the whole. He opened his World Cup account in his 2nd game against Bulgaria but lit up the 66 World Cup with his sensational performance against the Defending Champions Brazil with Pele scoring twice in a 3-1 victory. In the Quarterfinals Eusebio was even more devastating when he rallied Portugal back from being 3-0 down against surprise package North Korea, scoring 4 times to lead them to a 5-3 victory and set up a semi-final against host England where he was subdued by Nobby Styles and the Defensive English and only managed to score a late consolation penalty in a 2-1 loss. However he scored his 9th goal in the 3rd place playoff against Lev Yashin to help Portugal finish 3rd. Eusebio with his 9 goals was the top scorer of the 1966 World Cup and definitely one of the Stars of the tournament.



ROMARIO
Full Name: Romario de Souza Faria
Born 29 January 1966
World Cups: 1990 & 1994



Romario was and is a Brazilian Football Legend. He featured briefly at the 1990 FIFA World Cup tournament in Italy as he was injured and featured in only 1 game. His defining World Cup was undoubtedly 1994 where he was considered the Next Brazilian Football Hero since Pele as he scored 5 goals and was named the Player of the Tournament by winning the Golden Ball. He was instrumental in Brazil’s first success since Pele and 1970. Romario missed out on the 1998 World Cup as coach Zagallo had to omit him from the team on the eve of the tournament once again due to injury.


SANDOR KOCSIS
“THE GOLDEN HEAD”
21 September 1929 – 22 July 1979
World Cups: 1954


Sandor Kocsis was part of the Legendary Magyars of the 50’s. He featured at the 1954 World Cup which was to be Hungary’s crowning moment as the Greatest Team in the World at the time. Alongside Puskas, Czibor, Hidegkuti & Bozsik. The Hungarians were the most feared team and undoubted favourites for the World Cup. Kocsis began his tournament off with a bang, scoring a hatrick against South Korea and netting 4 times against eventual Tournament champions West Germany in an 8-3 hiding. He followed that up with 2 goals a piece against the Brazilians in the Quarters and Uruguay in the semi’s to become the first ever player to score 10 Goals at the FIFA World Cup. Kocsis and Hungary however surprisingly lost to West Germany in the finals.eHe


JUST FONTAINE
Born 18 August 1933
World Cups: 1958




Just Fontaine was the French star & hero of their First ever World cup Medal. Fontaine was however not expected to even feature at the 1958 World Cup. Bliard was the first choice centre forward for the French, however he got injured just before the tournament and Fontaine grabbed his opportunity in explosive fashion. He was a goal scoring machine at the Sweden 1958 World Cup tournament and along with Midfield Playmaker Raymond Kapo, Fontaine led France to the semi-finals where they fell to the mighty Brazilians. Along the way Fontaine scored in all 6 games he played in including 2 hatricks in the opening game against Paraguay and 4 against West Germany in the 3rd place playoff. His 13 goals in total is still a single tournament record till today and looks very hard to beat, even though there are now 7 games as opposed to the 6 needed by Fontaine to achieve his record. Fontaine overtook Sander Kocsis record of 11 goals to be the new all time goals scored leader of the FIFA World Cup.


GERD MULLER
Full Name: Gerhard “Gerd” Muller
Born 3 November 1945
World Cups: 1970 & 1974



Gerd Muller was a German & World Cup scoring Legend. He was an important part of the West German National Team in the 1970 3rd Place Finish as well as their success at the 1974 World Cup. In 1970 Muller was a goal scoring predator for the Germans. He scored 2 hatricks in the Group Phase against both Bulgaria & Peru in consecutive matches. In total Muller scored 10 times in the 1970 World cup in 6 games. The only game he failed to score in was the 3rd place playoff against Uruguay. Muller was the 3rd and last player to reach double figures in goals at a single tournament following on from Kocsis & Fontaine. In the 1974 World Cup Muller was once again on hand to help West Germany lift the title for the 2nd time after he scored crucial goals notably the winner against Poland in the 2nd Group Phase a match which was effectively a semi-final. In the Final Muller scored the winner for Germany and hence overtook Fontaine as the all time leading goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup. Gerd Muller was one of the greatest strikers of all time and a class goal poacher and goal snatcher.

RONALDO
“O Fenomeno” (The Phenomenon)

Full Name: Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima
Born 18 September 1976
World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002 & 2006


Ronaldo was undoubtedly one of the greatest if not the greatest striker, goal scorer and finisher of the modern era of football. He was pure class and a clinical finisher when it came to goal scoring. Ronaldo was part of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning Squad but never featured ahead of the likes of Romario & Bebeto. In 1998 Ronaldo was the main player in Brazil’s attack and led them to the final against hosts France scoring 4 times along the way. In the build up to the final there was a lot of controversy around Ronaldo just prior to the game as he suffered a convulsion the night before. Initially Ronaldo was not part of the starting line up but insisted on playing and so get his wish. However Ronaldo & Brazil were outclassed by Zinnedine Zidane & France and the disappointment was hard to take. Ronaldo bounced back in brilliant style at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea & Japan. Ronaldo scored 6 goals for Brazil to lead them to their 2nd consecutive final. Brazil & Ronaldo were floorless on route to the 2002 World cup Final as they won all their games. The 2002 FIFA World Cup Final against Brazil was perhaps Ronaldo’s crowning moment as a footballer as he scored both goals in Brazil’s in the final against Germany as well as produced a man of the match performance. In 2006 Ronaldo, perhaps a bit overweight, was certainly not short on skill and did not lose his ability to score. He scored 3 goals to take his World Cup tally to 15 goals in total putting him ahead of Gerd Muller as the all time Leading World Cup Goal Scorer. Ronaldo was a true World Cup Legend and his clinical finishing has earned him the Record of All Time Top Goal Scorer at the FIFA World Cup. Will Ronaldo be at the 2010 FIFA World Cup?

TRIVIA QUESTION
Of the 18 World Cup Winning Captains, Which have won more than 1 World Cup as a player?

HOW TO VOTE:
Same rules as previous section applies: You can vote for any 2 players you like and are not limited to the ones mentioned above. Voting procedure is same as last only you need to vote for 2 players: Send your vote and answer via email to
galactico786@gmail.com as well as email/cell phone number. VOTING CLOSES ON 25 SEPTEMBER 2009.

PRIZES:
The prize for the overall winner of the competition which is the person who correctly guesses the correct World XI and answers all Trivia Questions Correctly will be Copies of The Complete Set of World Cup Highlights DVD’s from 1954-2006, a total of 14 Discs. At the end of the Forwards section the leader of the Forward Section will win a copy of a Selected World Cup DVD of your choice.

LAST MONTHS ANSWER & RESULT:
The answer to last months question of which 2 fathers and their sons were squad members of their national teams that squared up against each other is:
Pablo Forlan and Jean Djorkaef Uruguay vs France 1966
Diego Forlan and Yourri Djorkaef Uruguay vs France 2002

Galactico
I was driving past FNB the other afternoon and stopped to take some pics. Eish....cant wait.The Stadium is looking superb

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