We're 20 years on from what was the first world cup I can remember and it also happens to be my favourite.
This was the era of Football Italia in its zenith, before the Champions League became the goliath it is now and probably the last one where all of the traditional powerhouse countries were competing to win it.
I had a thought in comparing the players on show in this tournament to then so decided to see what composite XI I could create which would beat anything out of this edition.
-------------------------Schmeichel------------------------------
Cafu---------------Stam---------Nesta----------Maldini-------
-------Beckham----------Zidane----------Veron--------------
Del Piero-----------------Ronaldo---------------------Rivaldo
The list of players that I can't squeeze in is staggering albeit some were at the tail end of their careers: Salas, Michael Laudrup, Thuram, Desailly, Henry, Stoichkov, Hierro, Raul, Baggio, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos, Vieira, Davids, Kluivert, Seedorf, De Boer, Bergkamp, Matthaus, Klinsmann, Suker, Prosinecki, Scholes, Shearer, Hagi, Ortega, Batistuta, Zanetti, Crespo.
1998 World Cup XI
posted on 26/6/18
I'd take that entire France side as is. Only thing I'd change would be bringing Suker in to play beside Djorkaeff.
posted on 26/6/18
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 41 seconds ago
comment by (U19770)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 34 seconds ago
comment by (U19770)
posted 26 minutes ago
Bergkamp has to be in it. Did Del-Piero do much in the 98 world cup?
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Not basing it on the actual world cup performances just ability/level at the time. Otherwise Suker gets in.
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Aah I see. Well, Bergkamp should still walk into that team.
Beckham's inclusion is a surprise tbh. Maybe Figo?
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Nah, Bergkamp would be well down on that list of strikers. Portugal didn't qualify.
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So it's based on the best players in the world, but not any that didn't qualify?
posted on 26/6/18
Veron ffs!
posted on 26/6/18
comment by West London Express (U5874)
posted 11 minutes ago
Veron ffs!
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Do some people have no knowledge of football outside of the PL?
1997-2002 Veron was one of the best in the World in his position. Didn't work for him in England but a glorious footballer to watch in his pomp. Pirlo-esque but with a bit more bite.
posted on 26/6/18
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by West London Express (U5874)
posted 11 minutes ago
Veron ffs!
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Do some people have no knowledge of football outside of the PL?
1997-2002 Veron was one of the best in the World in his position. Didn't work for him in England but a glorious footballer to watch in his pomp. Pirlo-esque but with a bit more bite.
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All i know is he was utter cr@p when he was at Chelsea!
posted on 26/6/18
comment by West London Express (U5874)
posted 39 minutes ago
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by West London Express (U5874)
posted 11 minutes ago
Veron ffs!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do some people have no knowledge of football outside of the PL?
1997-2002 Veron was one of the best in the World in his position. Didn't work for him in England but a glorious footballer to watch in his pomp. Pirlo-esque but with a bit more bite.
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All i know is he was utter cr@p when he was at Chelsea!
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and there's your answer
posted on 26/6/18
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
comment by (U19770)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 34 seconds ago
comment by (U19770)
posted 26 minutes ago
Bergkamp has to be in it. Did Del-Piero do much in the 98 world cup?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Not basing it on the actual world cup performances just ability/level at the time. Otherwise Suker gets in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aah I see. Well, Bergkamp should still walk into that team.
Beckham's inclusion is a surprise tbh. Maybe Figo?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah, Bergkamp would be well down on that list of strikers. Portugal didn't qualify.
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You mention the point about Beckham being 2nd in WPOTY the next year, yet Bergkamp was ranked as the 3rd best player in the world at the time of the World Cup (based on the last award held at the end of 1997), yet he's considered wee down the list?
I appreciate it's hard to fit everyone in, and I'm not saying he should be a shoe in, but seems a little unfair to say he'd be 'well down' on the list of striker when he was in the All-Star team, was ranked third best in the world at the time, had the most assists at the tournament, and had one EPL Footballer and Player of the year in the season just finished. .
posted on 26/6/18
comment by DaStuDogg (U9291)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
comment by (U19770)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by Benched (U7195)
posted 34 seconds ago
comment by (U19770)
posted 26 minutes ago
Bergkamp has to be in it. Did Del-Piero do much in the 98 world cup?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Not basing it on the actual world cup performances just ability/level at the time. Otherwise Suker gets in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aah I see. Well, Bergkamp should still walk into that team.
Beckham's inclusion is a surprise tbh. Maybe Figo?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah, Bergkamp would be well down on that list of strikers. Portugal didn't qualify.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You mention the point about Beckham being 2nd in WPOTY the next year, yet Bergkamp was ranked as the 3rd best player in the world at the time of the World Cup (based on the last award held at the end of 1997), yet he's considered wee down the list?
I appreciate it's hard to fit everyone in, and I'm not saying he should be a shoe in, but seems a little unfair to say he'd be 'well down' on the list of striker when he was in the All-Star team, was ranked third best in the world at the time, had the most assists at the tournament, and had one EPL Footballer and Player of the year in the season just finished. .
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It's just his opinion that Bergkamp's not in the first XI though. Put your own forward rather than tell him he's wrong. I'd have Bergkamp in, personally, and it's hard to justify leaving out Petit and Desailly
posted on 27/6/18
I’d argue Football Italia was in its zenith the World Cup before, that was at its biggest in the early to mid nineties
posted on 27/6/18
Veron was not utter crap at Chelsea, he was actually pretty decent and one of the most talented players I’ve seen at the club. A lot of off the field issues are what ended his time with us.