Goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel, Denmark – Although his son made a pretty decent fist of filling his father’s extremely large boots, there is only one choice for keeper in this XI. An inspired signing for Man United in 1991 from Brondby (Alex Ferguson described the £505k fee as the “bargain of the century”), Schmeichel was a physically imposing and aggressive keeper who utterly dominated his six-yard box. He was a crucial ingredient in United’s return to the top of English football, helping them to the PL title in only his second season, and going on to win a further 14 trophies at the club.
Left-back, John Arne Riise, Norway – Over eight seasons at Liverpool Riise helped to redefine the role of the full back in English football, showing incredible stamina and energy to cover the full length of the field in both defence and attack. If not perhaps at the very top rank defensively, he was a frequent threat at the other end of the pitch, with his signature cannon of a left-foot delivering a number of memorable goals and many assists.
Right-back, Henning Berg, Norway – Capable of playing at right back or in the centre, Berg has the distinction of being the first player to win the Premier League with two different clubs – first Blackburn, then Man United. More traditional in approach than modern full-backs, Berg valued defensive solidity over attacking flair. Not super-quick, he relied on his reading of the game and positional sense to cut off passing lanes and force opposing wingers into less harmful positions. In this side he would give a nice balance to the more attack-minded Riise on the left flank.
Centre-back, Olaf Mellberg, Sweden – Mellberg was a quintessential, old-school stopper for Aston Villa for seven seasons at the start of the 2000s. Big, strong and aggressive, Mellberg relished the rough and tumble of top flight football, wrestling for physical supremacy with opposition centre-forwards and throwing his body into tackles and headers with enthusiasm. He generally knew how to stay on the right side of the rules, recording a relatively low number of bookings and only one red card. A club legend to all Villains.
Centre-back, Daniel Agger, Denmark – Like Mellberg, a firm fan favourite, Agger was a different type of centre half. Extremely comfortable on the ball and happy to carry it out of defence, Agger was something of a throwback to all-time Liverpool legend Alan Hansen. Agger relied more on positioning and anticipation to snuff out attacks, but was strong in the tackle when called upon. Heavily tattooed before it was ‘fashionable’, Agger endeared himself to Koppites forever by embedding the letters YNWA (‘You’ll never walk alone”) on his knuckles. Injury robbed him of more appearances and honours, but a fully fit Agger fully earns his place in this XI.
Defensive midfield, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Denmark – Just getting the nod over his slightly more volatile compatriot, Thomas Gravesen, Hojbjerg was a hard-working midfielder who provided structure and stability to both Southampton and Spurs over eight Premier League seasons. If he was never a fan favourite because of his safety-first mindset, his work rate and on-field leadership was valued by managers like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte as well as successive Denmark national coaches.
Centre midfield, Christian Eriksen, Denmark – A prodigious talent as a youth, Eriksen had the pick of the top teams in Europe, but chose to do his ‘apprenticeship’ at Ajax. It served him well, so when he arrived in the Premier League for Spurs at 21 he was already well-developed as a creative force. Over his seven seasons at White Hart Lane, Eriksen registered over 90 assists and more than 60 goals. Unfortunate not to win any honours with Spurs (ditto Harry Kane) he at last won silverware with Man United in the EFL Cup of 2023 and FA Cup of 2024.
Attacking midfield, Freddie Ljungberg, Sweden – An integral part of Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’, Ljungberg was a dynamic wide midfielder who not only provided a constant threat to the opposition goal, but also acted as the first line of defence for his own team. Ljungberg was quick, but his real skill was in making off-the-ball runs to find dangerous positions from which to provide assists or score himself. The Swede had a knack for ‘clutch’ goals including two in successive FA Cup finals. In a very strong Arsenal side he stood out enough to be named Premier League Player of the Season in 2001-02.
Central midfield, Martin Odegaard, Norway – A teenage prodigy, Odegaard was poached from his native country aged just 16 by Real Madrid. Denied more than a handful of starts at the Spanish club, he spent most of his time at the club out on loan, before joining Arsenal in 2021. His first league game as a permanent player was not a massive success (a 5-0 defeat at Man City), but Odegaard soon established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league. Blessed with excellent close control and passing vision, Odegaard is not just a creative force, he’s also exceptionally hard-working. He often tops the distance-covered charts for his team, and ranks highly for defensive recoveries and pressing in the front two-thirds of the pitch. The Premier League title in 2025-26 was just reward for a truly world-class performer.
Forward, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Norway – The ‘baby-faced assassin’ will forever be lionised by the Manchester United faithful for his extra-time winner in the epic 1999 Champions League final. Neither particularly quick nor especially big and strong, Solskjaer relied instead on reading the game and identifying defensive weaknesses, often from the bench before he was brought on as a sub. He was uncanny in being in the right place at the right time, and was a cool finisher with either foot. With Haaland in the side, he could be a great provider, finding the short pass to the big man, or could pick up the scraps to slot it in himself.
Centre forward, Erling Haaland, Norway – It’s hard to believe but Erling Haaland, scorer of almost 400 career goals, is still only 26 years old. He is a phenomenon, well on his way to being the greatest centre forward of all time. With Manchester City he’s been nigh-on unstoppable with 162 goals in his first 199 appearances. For Norway he has (at time of writing) more than a goal a game (62 in 55). He is quick, unbelievably strong, has extraordinary positional sense and anticipation, and can finish any which way you can think of. He has no discernable weakness, other than a slightly dodgy hairstyle. Enjoy him while you can – he’s the definition of a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ footballer.
Unlucky not to make the team
There are a few Scandis unlucky not to make this XI, and a handful who would make it if only they were actually Scandinavian. The latter category accounts for the excellent Sami Hyypia – sadly Finland is not actually in Scandinavia – and for both Eidur Gudjohnsen and Gyllfi Sigurdsson – Iceland doesn’t count either. Excluding these, the following would make a competitive, if slightly unbalanced, XI.
Goalkeeper – Kaspar Schmeichel
Defenders – Brede Hangeland, Andreas Christensen, Joachim Andersen, Ronny Johnsen
Midfield – Thomas Gravesen, Sebastian Larsson, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Dejan Kulusevski
Attack – Alexander Isak, Tore Andre Flo
And one or two of the worst to play in the Premier League
Tomas Brolin – Signed by Leeds after a successful 1994 World Cup, Brolin is widely considered one of the worst PL signings of all-time. He could claim that he was never the same after a foot injury in 1994, but he looked for most of his time in England that he simply could not be bothered, either to work on the pitch or get fit off it.
Marcus Allback – Allback had a very solid career, scoring over 150 league goals across Europe and getting 30 for Sweden in only 74 appearances. His stint in English football, however, was a career lowlight, with 35 league appearances for Villa in the early 2000s producing only six goals. Proof that English football is not for everyone.
Andreas Isaksson – A keeper with over 100 appearances for Sweden, Isaksson was signed by Man City in 2006 to replace David James. Plagued by injuries he never established himself and left after only 19 PL appearances. His final game capped his unhappy spell – an 8-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.
Many predicted that the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams would render the Group stage largely meaningless, and would lead to a number of very one-sided matches. In the event, there were few walkovers, and one or two of the less-heralded teams massively exceeded expectations. Chief among them was the team from Cabo Verde, a country with a population similar to that of Liverpool. Their debut was dramatic, a scarcely believable draw against Spain, built upon a heroic rearguard action and a world-class performance by 40-year-old keeper Vozinha. They followed up with draws against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to qualify second from their group, then took defending champions Argentina into extra time in their first knockout game. When they exited the tournament they did so having not lost a game in normal time.
The performance of the superstars
It is not uncommon for the world’s best players to come to major international tournaments and underwhelm with their performances. They may be exhausted after an intense club season, may find their national team colleagues are not quite up to their exalted level, or may feel the pressure of expectations from an entire country. 2026 was different. The game’s superstars (well, most of them at least) came to the World Cup party and delivered. Mbappe, Messi, Haaland, Bellingham, Dembele, Kane, even Vinicius Jr during Brazil’s brief run, all made world class contributions up-front, scoring goals and making assists at record levels. It was, though, another who walked off with the FIFA Golden Ball for Player of the Tournament, Rodri, the midfield general who conducted his Spain side to one of the more convincing tournament victories of recent times. A true maestro.
The demise of Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal arrived in the USA as one of the pre-tournament favourites. Winners of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, their squad featured players in every position who star for the top teams in Europe’s best leagues. At centre forward stood the remarkable Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker in international football, now in his sixth World Cup finals. There was, though, a question mark against him – was he, at 41 years old, a little bit past it at the very top level? The answer, sadly, was ‘probably’. Aside from a couple of goals against an outclassed Uzbekistan, Ronaldo contributed little to his team. In the other four games that he played (where he was on the pitch almost every minute), he managed a sum total of seven shots (five on target) and not a single assist. He looked a shadow of his former, brilliant self, and it was the considered view of most pundits that Portugal would have fared better with a more energetic presence up front. It was a disappointing World Cup farewell for one of the game’s true legends.
The gamesmanship of the Argentinians
It was a great relief to most football fans around the world when Argentina finally succumbed to Spain in extra time in the World Cup final. Not only had they decided to pull up the drawbridge for the game’s biggest showpiece, not producing a single shot in normal play, but also, they had displayed throughout the tournament the most cynical gamesmanship. Their approach to many matches – particularly the semi-final vs England – seemed to be to wind up their opposition and prevent any rhythm to their game, by relentless grabbing, niggly fouling and playacting, only coming out to play when circumstances demanded it. What made it worse was that contentious decisions went their way so often that it seemed FIFA were willing Messi and his teammates to the title. Their violent and graceless reaction after losing the final was just the final nail in the coffin for any dignity or sportsmanship they might once have had. Good riddance.
The third/fourth place play-off
Traditionally a game that no-one wants to play in and that most fans can’t be bothered to watch, the 3rd/4th play-off in Miami turned out instead to be one of the most entertaining games seen at this, or indeed any, World Cup tournament. England arrived on the back of an all-too-familiar collapse, effectively conceding the semi-final to Argentina after going ahead. Opponents France turned up on the back of a surprise humiliation administered by Spain. Of the two, England looked as though they had bounced back best, racing into an incredible 4-0 lead at half-time. France seemed to come to after half-time, scoring three quick goals to get back to 3-4 and looking for all the world as though they would stage one of the great comebacks. But, an exchange of goals was followed by the coup de gras, a superb individual effort from England’s player of the tournament, Jude Bellingham, to seal a 6-4 win. Yes, it was some way removed from real football, but it was great fun nevertheless.
The hydration breaks … and half time in the final
Sadly, so much of what FIFA is about nowadays seems to be about money. No doubt egged on by their avaricious US hosts, they hatched an idea that would offer huge revenue raising opportunities – a hydration break in each of the two halves of the match. The pause in play would give commercial broadcasters up to three minutes to screen highly lucrative adverts. It meant that a game that had been played for over 150 years in two 45-minute halves, became a game of four quarters, with managers able to make changes more three times in a game rather than only once. And FIFA did not stop there, overriding long-standing rules regarding the maximum length of the half-time break (designated as 15 minutes) to allow spectators to “enjoy” (sic) some “high-class entertainment” in the World Cup final. Is nothing sacred? Evidently not if the financial carrot is attractive enough.
The reinstatement of Folarin Balogun
As a Middlesbrough fan, I can declare a (very) minor personal interest in Folarin Balogun, who had a brief and not entirely convincing loan spell at our club. He then went on to make more impact as a striker in France, then for his adopted country, the USA. (Balogun was actually born in the US, but only because his pregnant mother was not allowed to fly home to England to give birth). WC26 gave him an opportunity on ‘home’ soil and he grabbed it with both hands, earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards, and proving to be his side’s most effective forward. His World Cup, though, looked like it had come to an end when he was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina incurring an automatic one-match ban. FIFA, however, mysteriously decided that his ban should be suspended, allowing him to play in the US’s next match, against Belgium. When it transpired that Donald Trump had called Gianni Infantino to discuss the matter, the bad smell that emanated from the surprise decision was especially pungent. Balogun, to be fair, was blameless in all this, but the controversy looked like it affected him and his teammates. They lost 4-1 to the Belgians, and very few in the wider football world shed a tear for them.
The treatment of ‘undesirables’
One could make a plausible argument to say that Iran should never have been at the 2026 World Cup given the country’s human rights violations, and their record in fomenting international discord. But, like it or not, FIFA did allow them to compete, and their football team qualified for the finals fair and square. Their US hosts clearly felt that Iran should not be there and did everything they could to make them feel unwelcome. Several members of the Iranian party were denied visas, the team was forced to move training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, ticket allocations were pulled, and they claim to have been hounded out of the US minutes after their final group game finished. That they only narrowly failed to qualify for the knock-out phase was a minor miracle in the circumstances. They at least did manage to participate. Somalian referee, Omar Artan, who would have become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup, was denied entry at Miami airport despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. He at least has the consolation of being appointed by UEFA to ref the European Super Cup final.
No Scotland, no party
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the 2026 World Cup was that pretty well every team was able to play in front of a big part of their diaspora in the United States. Some countries, such as those from nearby South America had predictably big supporter bases, but who knew that there were hundreds of thousands of Cape Verdeans in New England or 800,000 people of Norwegian descent in Minnesota. There are, of course, many Americans who claim Scottish ancestry, and they were supplemented by 40-50,000 fans who crossed the Atlantic to support their team in a first WC Finals appearance for 28 years. The Scotland fans seemed genuinely pleased just to be there, and joyously lived up to the mantra of ‘No Scotland, No Party’. The city of Boston enthusiastically adopted them – especially the bar owners of Boston who reported happily that the Scots had drunk them dry – and many locals became overnight Scotland supporters. A shame all-round, therefore, that the team fell at the first hurdle, failing to qualify from their group.
The coming of Saint Jude
It’s hard to believe now, but there was some debate before the World Cup as to whether Jude Bellingham should be in the England squad. Some thought the Real Madrid star was getting a little too big for his boots, and couldn’t really be bothered turning it on for his country. It looked as though Thomas Tuchel bought into the scepticism, benching Bellingham for two warm-up games, and making comments that were not entirely positive. The doubters could not have been more wrong. Bellingham was superb throughout, topping almost every positive statistic for his country, not just scoring or assisting, but winning possession, making runs in behind and completing the most sprints. He showed up as not only a world-class player, but also a big-game player. His run, dribble and shot to finish off France in the 3rd/4th place play-off was a glorious final act in what had been a stunning tournament for the still-only 22 year old.
Erling and Jude’s embrace
Although, sadly, one of the final memories of WC26 will be the appalling scenes at the end of the final from some of the Argentinian players, there were many acts of sportsmanship to gladden the hearts of football fans worldwide. One that really shone out was the embrace between Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland and England’s Jude Bellingham at the end of the quarter final between their two sides. The two had played together, indeed grown up together, at Borussia Dortmund and had clearly become good mates. When the game finished, with England recording a narrow and (let’s be honest) fortunate win, Haaland came over to hug and congratulate Bellingham, despite what must have been his own crushing disappointment. Haaland, in fact, became an even bigger star at WC26 than he had been beforehand. With a series of light-hearted posts and an increased profile in the biggest market of all, he added a staggering 32.1m new followers to his Instragram profile. In this, at least, he beat his mate Bellingham, who could manage ‘only’ an extra 12m.
Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino
Need I say more. Seeing the two of these sitting together at the World Cup final was stomach-churning. It was something of a relief, not to mention a surprise, that POTUS managed to bring himself to let the Spaniards take the trophy after he had presented it. We half expected him to parade it around the ground himself, claiming he had won the cup for being the greatest president of all time. At least we have a couple of years now to prepare ourselves for Trump’s next unsavoury instalment at the 2028 Olympics.
STOP PRESS – It also looks as though Infantino may meet his come-uppance, after his ill-advised attempts to hijack the world game, although most will only believe it when they see it.
And the best team won
On 22 March 2024 Spain played Colombia in a friendly match at, of all places, the London Stadium. The match was billed as “an exciting opportunity for Spanish football to shine on the international stage.” In the event, it was something of a snoozefest as Spain lost 0-1 to their South American opponents. This defeat, a rarity even then, has become even more of a collector’s item since – Spain have now not lost a single game (outside of penalties) for over two years and a record 38 games.
Strange to recount that they started the World Cup with a bit of scare, a 0-0 draw against unheralded Cabo Verde, but from that point on they were unstoppable. The key, as it often is with Spain, was their control of midfield, backed by a well-organised and skilful defence. They dominated possession in every match, conceded fewer shots on target than anyone else, and conceded only one goal throughout the whole tournament – to De Ketelaere of Belgium in the quarter final. When they did score, it was pretty much a guarantee that they would win. The final saw them utterly dominate Argentina, restricting the South Americans to not a single shot on goal in normal time. They were the best team with the best players (Rodri won the Golden Ball, Unai Simon the Golden Glove and Pau Cubarsi the award for Best Young Player) and thoroughly deserved their title.
Goalkeeper, Edwin Van Der Sar – Standing 6’6” tall, Edwin van der Sar was the cool and commanding presence at the back in the hugely successful Man United side of the late noughties. A sweeper-keeper before the term had really been coined, he patrolled the space in and around his box, and was one of the first of the ballplaying keepers. He won numerous league titles, including his last as the oldest player (40 yrs and 205 days) to win one. He also holds a seemingly unbreakable PL record for the most minutes without conceding a goal – an incredible 1,311 minutes or c.14 matches).
Left-back, Nathan Ake – A Dutchman who has spent all of his pro career in England, Ake is a versatile defender who can play anywhere across the back line. He is more defensively-minded than some full backs, prepared to stick to his attacker and shepherd them out of trouble rather than leaping into risky tackles. This is reflected in stats showing him to be one of the cleanest, least booked top-level defenders in Europe. Perhaps not the most adventurous in going forward, we can live with that in this strong attacking XI.
Right-back, Mario Melchiot – Right back is the only position on the field where the Netherlands cannot boast a truly world-class performer who’s played in the Premier League. Jurrien Timber may well become one, but has yet to prove he can remain injury-free. So, we’ve picked Melchiot, a solid and consistent performer in many seasons for Chelsea, Birmingham and Wigan. Melchiot was big and strong, but also surprisingly quick, and made himself extremely difficult to get past for opposition wingers. He seems like a thoroughly good bloke as well.
Centre-back, Virgil van Dijk – Perhaps the key piece in the Liverpool jigsaw that saw them return to Premier League glory in 2019/20 then again in 2024/25, Virgil van Dijk is the complete central defender. Standing 6’5” tall, van Dijk is an intimidating physical presence, very hard to beat on the ground and almost unbeatable in the air. His positional sense and game awareness are world-class, closing down space for the opposition, cutting out through balls and tackling for fun. When you add in his goalscoring threat at the other end of the pitch, you have a superb all-rounder. More than all of this, however, he’s a natural leader, with a confidence and composure that emboldens his team to produce their best performance.
Centre-back, Jaap Stam – One of the most physically imposing players in PL history, Stam, must have been a terrifying prospect for opposition strikers to face. 6’3” tall and almost as wide, he was surprisingly quick on his feet, and was an aggressive, committed tackler. In one-on-ones, he was almost impossible to beat, and if attackers did find a way round him, he was quick to recover or, failing that, not averse to the cynical foul. He won three league titles and the historic treble with United, but then, unfortunately, fell out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and was sold to Lazio. Ferguson, not a man with many regrets, later admitted it was his greatest mistake to let him go, a tribute to the quality of the Dutch defender.
Defensive midfield, Nigel de Jong – Just getting the nod over my personal favourite, George Boateng, de Jong does the dirty work in this XI to provide the defensive platform for the creative and goal-scoring threats in front of him. Famous, unfortunately for him, for his appalling chest-high challenge on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final, de Jong deserves better recognition for his high work rate, aggressive tackling and tactical discipline. Not for de Jong the glamour of the long-range goal or the assist, more the satisfaction of having snuffed out the threat of the opposition.
Centre midfield, Georginio Wijnaldum – Another, like van Dijk, who was central to the resurgence of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, Wijnaldum was a box-to-box midfielder who contributed handsomely at both ends of the pitch. In defence he was hard-working, and once on the ball, incredibly difficult to shake off it. In attack he provided great balance for Liverpool’s overlapping full-backs, and was noted for his well-timed, incisive late runs into the box to create chances. He may, perhaps, have played it a tiny bit safe, but that’s ok with the wealth of attacking talent alongside him in this XI.
Attacking midfield, Dennis Bergkamp – Probably the greatest Dutch import into English football, Bergkamp shone for more than a decade in the most successful Arsenal side of recent times. Possessed of a superb first touch and clinical in the art of finishing, Bergkamp scored some of the most memorable goals ever seen for both Arsenal and Holland. His footballing intelligence was off the scale, with an ability always to find space for himself, and to see space for others before they had seen it themselves. His partnership with Thierry Henry was one for the ages.
Attacking midfield, Arjen Robben – It’s a tough call between Robben and Marc Overmars, but Robben just edges it on account of his stellar career at Bayern Munich after leaving Chelsea in 2007. Robben was notoriously one-footed, but, boy oh boy, what a foot. A brilliant dribbler at pace, defenders knew that Robben would cut in from the right to get onto his favoured left foot, but were powerless to stop him. He simply terrorised opposition full backs, beating them for fun and making assists and scoring in almost equal measure. His ability to break down stubborn defences was key to Chelsea’s breakthrough league title in 2004/05 and to retaining it in the following season.
Centre forward, Ruud Van Nistelrooy – Ruud van Nistelrooy was an ‘old fashioned’ striker who scored almost all of his goals for Man United from inside the box. Utterly cold-blooded, he was a clinical finisher who could score with either of his feet and with his head. His super-strength, like all great goalscorers, was his instinct for where the ball was going to fall, and his ability to put himself in the right position at the right time. His scoring record at United was phenomenal – 150 goals in 219 games – and he maintained a record of more than a goal every two games throughout his career.
Centre forward, Robin Van Persie – A more rounded player than van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie may have been not quite as clinical a finisher, but he probably contributes more overall to the team. Technically gifted, van Persie had an exquisite first touch and a wand of a left-foot. He was prepared to drop deep if necessary to link up play and create space for his wingers, but had the speed and awareness to move forward fast to get onto the end of chances. He could score from close and from distance, often producing spectacular goals. Whilst his most famous goal came in the 2014 World Cup with his flying header against Spain, his best came as part of a hat-trick against Villa in 2013 – a stunning left foot volley from outside the box on the end of a long Rooney pass. Utter class.
Unlucky not to make the team
There are many players from the Netherlands who would make it into any other country’s top PL XI, but the competition is unbelievably tough for this one. Here’s a high-quality XI of some of superb players we couldn’t find a place for.
Goalkeeper – Ed de Goey
Defenders – Micky van de Ven, John Heitinga, Giovanni van Bronkhorst, Patrick van Aanholt
Midfield – Ryan Gravenberch, George Boateng, Rafael van der Vaart, Marc Overmars
Attack – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dirk Kuyt
And some of the worst to play in the Premier League
Winston Bogarde – Signed on a lucrative four-year contract by Chelsea, but soon discarded by new manager, Claudio Ranieri, Bogarde famously refused to leave the club or take a pay cut for four very long years. He ‘earned’ £40k a week while doing sod all. The ultimate parasite, or simply someone who knew his rights?
Wout Weghorst – An unconvincing striker at Burnley, Weghorst was mystifyingly taken on loan by Man United in 2023. Not a single goal came in his 17 appearances. His record for his country is actually pretty respectable, so his skills were obviously not a fit for the English game.
Donny van de Beek – A hugely promising midfielder at Ajax, van de Beek was signed for £35m by Man United in 2020. His confidence seemed to fall off a cliff, not helped by the turnover of managers at the club, and things did not improve when he was loaned to Everton. It must have been a blessed relief to him when United sold him, to Spanish side Girona, in 2024.
Marco Boogers – Signed by Harry Redknapp despite having not seen him play, Boogers joined West Ham for £1m in 1995. Sent off in only his second appearance for a ‘horror tackle’ on Gary Neville, Boogers never started a match for the Hammers. Falsely rumoured to have returned to Holland to live in a caravan, the real story was little less interesting (he had gone back to have an injured knee treated), but Boogers’ stay was not a happy one.
Goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois – One of the best goalkeepers in the world, Courtois has an exceptional winning record, having won league titles for four clubs in three different countries, and with two Champions League titles to his name. At 6’7” he’s a commanding presence in the box, plucking balls out of the air with aplomb, but he’s also surprisingly agile with great reflexes and is a master of one-on-ones with attackers. If he has a weakness, it’s not obvious.
Left-back, Jan Vertonghen – Primarily a centre-back, left-footed Vertonghen often filled in at left-back for his country. In his eight seasons at Tottenham, he was a model of consistency and durability, rarely injured and never out of form. A great reader of the game with superb positional sense, he enjoyed pushing forward to cut out space and break up opposition play. A skilled ball-player who would often start his own side’s forward moves, he is Belgium’s most capped player ever with a phenomenal 157 appearances.
Right-back, Toby Alderweireld – Like his long-time defensive partner, Vertonghen (they played 366 times together for Ajax, Spurs and Belgium), Alderweireld was mainly a centre-back, but he could fill in on the right-hand side. He was a more traditional defender than Vertonghen, a little less mobile but a high-class tackler who was happy to stick to his striker like glue. If he lacked a little pace, he made up for it in his defend-at-all-costs determination. 127 caps for Belgium.
Centre-back, Vincent Kompany – The ultimate leader, Kompany was for a decade the backbone of the best team in the Premier League, Manchester City. With great organisational and communication skills allied to exceptional reading of the game, he led a defence that conceded fewer goals than any other side. Strong in the tackle and in the air, Kompany often popped up in the opposition box to score with his head and occasionally with his feet. Captain of this XI.
Centre-back, Thomas Vermaelen – Quick, nimble, strong on the ground and in the air, and skilful with the ball at his feet, Vermaelen seemed to have it all. In his first season for Arsenal in 2009/10 he defended aggressively and contributing handsomely at the other end of the pitch with seven league goals. Unfortunately, his weakness was his durability and he spent much of his time at the club and thereafter on the treatment table. Comfortable at left-back, he could switch with Vertonghen if necessary, or to the left-side if the team moved to a back three.
Defensive midfield, Moussa Dembele – Supremely strong and with a high work rate, Dembele was loved by fans and teammates alike for his all-round contribution to Spurs best side of the 2010s. He possessed the close control and nimble footwork of a futsal player, and combined this with the upper-body strength and balance of a judoka. He was seemingly impossible to dispossess once he got on the ball. Sitting in front of the back four, Dembele was the master of turning defence into attack, sucking up and neutralising opposition pressure before releasing his more creative midfielders into space. Sadly, his hyper-physical style took its toll on his body and injuries plagued him, but he remains a cult hero at Spurs, and an essential member of this XI.
Centre midfield, Youri Tielemans – Tielemans wins a place in this XI sitting in front of the defensive solidity of Dembele and a step or two behind the attacking flair of De Bruyne. Tielemans is a tempo-setter, constantly finding space and demanding the ball, mainly passing short, but also delivering the long, incisive through ball when required. As such, he’s particularly strong on the transition, sparking attacks from deep. He also has a knack of scoring critical goals – for Leicester to win their only FA Cup final, for Villa in the Europa league final, and, most recently, two for Belgium to get past Senegal in the World Cup.
Attacking midfield, Kevin De Bruyne – The ‘jewel in the crown’ in this XI, De Bruyne lit up the Premier League for a decade and helped his Man City team become the best team in England. De Bruyne’s super-skill was his spatial awareness and 360⁰ vision – the ‘eyes in the back of his head’ – which allowed him to find passes that others would not even have thought of. He was a master of the incisive through ball, but his armoury including pinpoint crossing and long range shots from both feet. In 288 PL appearances he managed 191 goal involvements (119 assists and 72 goals) but his contribution went a long way further than mere statistics.
Left wing, Jeremy Doku – It’s a close call between Doku and Leandro Trossard for the left wing slot, but Doku wins a place for his sheer mischief and entertainment value. Whilst his end product can sometimes be a let-down, Doku is always trying to do something and, unlike many modern players, it’s usually at pace. He creates relentless stress for defenders, and because it often requires more than one to cover him, this creates space for others. He’s maturing into a goalscorer as well as a creator, so now you have even more to worry about as a defender.
Right wing, Eden Hazard – At his peak with Chelsea, Hazard was simply unplayable. Blessed with explosive acceleration and a low centre of gravity, he was a master of one-on-ones (indeed one-on-twos or threes as well) taking the ball past defenders as if they were not there. He found space where there was none, and fashioned chance after chance both for himself and for others. His assist rate at Chelsea was good – 92 in 352 games – but his scoring was even better. Including penalties he amassed 110 goals, 85 in the Premier League.
Centre forward, Romelu Lukaku – Whilst his later moves may not have hit the heights of his spells at West Brom and, particularly, Everton, Romelo Lukaku is still one of the most prolific marksmen in PL history. At his peak, Lukaku combined immense physical power with great pace and the instinctive eye for the finish that separates out the truly great striker from the rest. Even now, not fully fit and carrying considerable extra timber, he continues to intimidate defenders and turn up in the right place at the right time for his country, Belgium. In fact, he sits behind only Cristiano Ronaldo in the list of top all-time European international goalscorers.
Unlucky not to make the team
It’s difficult to make a full second XI of PL Belgians, so below are some of the players who missed out on selection for the first XI.
And some of the worst Belgians to play in the Premier League
Adnan Januzaj – Not really awful, but a young player who failed to live up to astronomical early expectations. Scoring two in his first start for Man United was sadly the high point for the teenager, who was allocated the #11 shirt worn by Ryan Giggs. Sadly for Januzaj he was no Giggs, probably not even Ryan’s brother, Rhodri.
Michy Batshuayi – Another who was not awful, just not suited to the pace and physicality of the English game. In his six years at Chelsea the £33m striker spent most of his time out on loan.
Laurent Depoitre – Signed for a record fee by Premier League newcomers Huddersfield Town, Depoitre arrived as a seemingly reliable goalscorer having scored every two or three games. He did bag a couple of important goals in his first season for the Terriers, but couldn’t manage a single, solitary goal in his second. A transfer back to Belgium followed soon after.
Goalkeeper, Rui Patricio – Capped over 100 times for his country, Patricio was part of the Portuguese ‘take-over’ of Wolves from the mid-2010s. Something of an ‘old school’ keeper, the 6’3” Portuguese was no wannabe outfielder, but was instead an acrobatic shot stopper with great reflexes, who was also strong in one-on-ones with attackers. Wolves finished comfortably in mid-table in each of his three seasons at the club, a tribute both to his goalkeeping skills and to the confidence he gave to his team’s defence.
Left-back, Joao Cancelo – A natural right back, Cancelo played his best football for Man City when switched to left back during the 2020/1 and 2021/22 title-winning seasons. A pioneer of the ‘inverted’ full-back role, he routinely drifted into central midfield to help his team build their attacks and create space for his left-sided midfielders. Holds the unusual distinction (with only two others) of winning two league titles in two different countries in the same season.
Right-back, Paulo Ferreira – Brought to Chelsea by his former manager at Porto, Jose Mourinho, Ferreira won 10 major titles whilst at the club. A defender’s defender, Ferreira was supremely consistent, described by Mourinho as never dropping below a seven or eight out of 10. He was also a great team man, accepting squad rotation with grace, and also stepping up to the mark when called upon.
Centre-back, Ruben Dias – Ruben Dias been the cornerstone of the Man City defence since he arrived at the club in 2020. Dias has Bobby Moore-like reading of game enabling him to intercept or block passing lanes, but is also strong in the tackle when needed. His comfort on the ball and accurate, incisive passing from either foot means he can easily turn defence into attack. A natural leader and organiser of the defence, Dias has led both club and country to great success.
Centre-back, Ricardo Carvalho – Carvalho came to Chelsea in 2004 having won the Champions League with Porto and been named in the Team of the Tournament at the 2004 Euros. At Chelsea he formed an impassable partnership with John Terry that contributed to three PL titles (and five other major trophies) as well as the best defensive season in PL history – in 2004/5 when the team conceded only 15 goals in 38 matches. A hugely ‘intelligent’ footballer, Carvalho knew what the opposition were going to do before they did, and on the rare occasions when he did get it wrong, his short-burst pace allowed him to make up space or position. Not averse to the ‘dark arts’, Carvalho was strong and cynical when required. The definition of the smart centre-half.
Defensive midfield, Ruben Neves – A deep-lying playmaker and setter of tempo, Neves was another Porto player recruited to play in England by a Portuguese manager, in this case Nuno Espirito Santo. After helping Wolves regain a place in the PL, he helped keep them there for their longest run in recent years. Always demanding the ball in midfield, his trademark was the long searching pass to find a forward runner in space. Also capable of scoring from long-range shots and free kicks, he should add another goalscoring threat to this team.
Attacking midfield, Bruno Fernandes – In a period when their team has not always (or indeed often) performed well, Bruno Fernandes has stood out as a beacon of quality and consistency for Manchester United. A player who always looks to make things happen, his pass completion stats can look poor, but he creates more chances than most, notably in 2025/26 when he broke the PL record for assists. He brings energy and passion to the side, leading by example in the high press and constantly harrying opposition midfielders. A reliable penalty-taker he also brings a goal-scoring threat both from outside the box and with his late runs into the six-yard area.
Attacking midfield, Bernardo Silva – When he retired from Man City in May 2026 Bernardo Silva had the most career appearances for a Portuguese player in the Premier League. Silva combines world-class technical ability with an incredible work rate. He adds value all over the pitch – creating goal-scoring chances with his superb close control and uncanny ability to find his strikers in space, and supporting his defence with his relentless running. Silva was almost an ever-present under the most demanding of managers (Pep Guardiola), a tribute to his skill, versatility and contribution to the team.
Defensive midfield, Joao Palhinha – With something of a lack of size and strength elsewhere in this selection, we need a big, strong midfielder and Palhinha is that man. Palhinha simply loves to tackle, and in his three seasons in the PL he always came near or at the top of the division’s tackle count. He also scored highly on interceptions and heading duels won. His high-intensity, aggressive approach could lead to trouble – he racked up an alarming 36 yellow cards (although remarkably no reds) in only 101 games – but as a defensive disruptor few were better.
Centre forward, Diogo Jota – When his life was tragically cut short at the age of only 28, it was clear that Diogo Jota was held in tremendously high regard by everyone whose path he had crossed. A versatile forward who could play across the front-line, he had an uncanny ability to read space, often appearing in the box at just the right time and in the right place to convert a chance. He had a strong shot off both feet and, despite being only 5’10” was a great header of the ball. He was also supremely hard-working, an integral part of the high press much loved by Jurgen Klopp, but also appearing deep in his own half to stem opposition attacks. By all accounts a nice guy and great team mate, his death was a genuine human tragedy.
Centre forward, Cristiano Ronaldo – Still going strong at 41 and approaching an extraordinary total of 1,000 first class goals, Ronaldo is one of the all-time greats of world football history. He came to the Premier League as a promising teenager and left as one of the best players in the world, still only 24. There’s not a lot you can say about him that hasn’t already been said, but he really has everything as a forward – technical skill, pace, strength, a phenomenal shot, incredible heading ability, and perhaps above all incredible belief in himself. Most admirably, it’s clear that despite his natural gifts he has worked incredibly hard to have what he has, still fit, strong and good enough to play for in the World Cup, his sixth, at 41. An undisputed GOAT.
Unlucky not to make the team
Whilst there has not perhaps been the depth of Portuguese talent in the Premier League as, say France or Spain, you could nevertheless make a decent team out of those who did not make our starting XI.
Goalkeeper – Jose Sa
Defenders – LB Diogo Dalot (filling in), CB Jose Fonte, CB Toti Gomes, RB Jose Bosingwa
And some of the worst Portuguese to play in the Premier League
Bebe – Sir Alex Ferguson broke his own rule when signing Bebe on a recommendation (from Carlos Queiroz) without having seen him play. It could have been a real good news story for someone who had been abandoned as a boy and had lived in a homeless shelter. Sadly, though, he looked a fish out of water at United and played only two league games before being loaned out then released.
Helder Postiga – Signed as a 20-year-old by Spurs, Postiga completely failed to adapt to the physicality of English football, and saw out only one year of his five-year contract before being returned to Porto. He did turnout to be a pretty decent player, only not in England.
Hugo Viana – The most expensive teenager in Britain when he came to Newcastle, Viana was not strong enough to warrant his favoured position in centre midfield, and found himself shunted out to the left wing. He never cemented a place in the team. He’s had more success in the PL since retiring, as Director of Football at Man City.
Renato Sanches – Another player, like Bebe, who grew up in straightened circumstances, Sanches was a prodigy signed at 18 by Bayern Munich for a huge fee. He lost confidence badly at Bayern so was loaned to Swansea to get more game time. Things did not improve much in South Wales, the low point being a pass to the advertising hoardings which he apparently mistook for a teammate.
Goalkeeper, David de Gea – David de Gea arrived in England to play for Man United aged only 20. When he left he was 32. A phenomenal shot-stopper, de Gea was particularly adept at saving with his feet. He was perhaps not the most commanding of his six-yard box, and merely ‘average’ with his distribution, but these did not stop him being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year five times, including four in succession. It’s a narrow call over Pepe Reina in this selection but de Gea’s loyalty and longevity help him edge it.
Left-back, Marc Cucurella – Marc Cucurella rose to prominence in his first season in England, his all-action game and seemingly limitless stamina perfect for his team, Brighton’s, high-energy pressing style. He got off to a slow start after his big transfer to Chelsea, but has come through it to blossom into one of the best left-sided defenders in the PL, and a first choice for his country. He always seems to be there, whether in defence, midfield or getting up the left flank to support his attack or apply the press. He’s also a determined tackler, not averse to the occasional tactical foul where necessary, a true Spaniard.
Right-back, Cesar Azpilicueta – Another, like de Gea who has shown great loyalty, Azpilicueta made more than 500 appearances for Chelsea, playing at right and left back and as a right-sided centre half. Not blessed with elite speed, he relied more on his reading of the game and being in the right place at the right time. Always supremely committed and tenacious, with superb timing of the tackle, his disciplinary record was excellent. He was perhaps not the best at getting forward, but there is enough goalscoring threat in this team to compensate.
Centre-back, Aymeric Laporte – Laporte played at youth level for France, but chose in his early 20’s to play for the country where he started his senior career, Spain. He came to Man City in 2018 for a fee of £57m and earned a winner’s medal in his first season, the first of four. A left-sided central defender, he was supremely cool under pressure, both without the ball, responding to opposition attacks, and with the ball, possessing great control and passing ability. A little vulnerable to more aggressive centre forwards and annoyingly injury prone, he is nevertheless a shoo-in for this team.
Centre-back, Ivan Campo – A cult hero of 2000s football, Campo wins a place in this team for his old-school approach to defending. A real ‘thou shalt not pass’ type of player, his relish for the physical side of the game occasionally slipped into recklessness (his disciplinary record was poor to say the least – a yellow card every 3.7 matches) but meant he was well-suited to the demanding nature of the Premier League. A little susceptible to pace and prone to losses of concentration (and confidence), he nevertheless brings well-needed grit and determination to this side.
Defensive midfield, Rodri – There have been very few footballers playing in England who have won the Ballon d’Or in the last 25 years. (To be fair, Messi and Ronaldo did somewhat monopolise it). Rodri broke a 16-year drought when he was awarded the most prestigious award in football in 2024. He is the complete modern defensive midfielder, the ‘glue‘ that has held together both his national side and a hugely successful Man City team. He combines physical prowess, world-class reading of the game, technical ability and vision. He both protects his defence and supports his attack. If he has a weakness, it’s that he’s so good his teams ‘learn’ to rely on him too much. He’s the first name on this teamsheet.
Centre midfield, Xabi Alonso – It’s not surprise that Xabi Alonso has shown himself to be a top-class manager since he retired from playing. On the pitch, he was a natural leader who took charge and dictated the tempo that his team played to. Incredibly composed on the ball, he seemed to have more time than others, and always chose the right passing option. His long passing, or indeed shooting (he scored twice from inside his own half) was exceptional, and he himself posed a genuine threat from set-pieces.
Attacking midfield, Cesc Fabregas – A graduate of La Masia, Barcelona’s esteemed youth academy, Fabregas came to Arsenal aged only 16. He became a first-team regular while still in his teens, and was handed the captaincy at just 21 years old. When he returned to England after a spell at Barcelona, he won two league titles and two three trophies with Chelsea. His main strength was going forward, with great vision in his passing, superb close control to create space for himself and others, and a Lampard-like instinct for arriving late in the box to get his shot on target.
Attacking midfield, David Silva – Arguably the best Spaniard ever to play in the Premier League, David Silva was a central player in the rise to dominance of his Man City club from 2010-2020. Silva possessed incredible spatial awareness allied to exceptional ball control. Known as El Mago (the magician) he seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, always aware of where the defenders were, and where space could be found for his teammates. His speed of thought and deed created opportunities not just for others, but for himself as well – alongside his 93 assists in the PL he also managed to net 60 goals.
Centre forward, Fernando Torres – Fernando Torres arrived at Liverpool in 2007 aged 23 having already played over 200 games for Atletico Madrid. He announced himself in his first season, reaching 24 goals in only 33 games, including successive hat-tricks in two home matches. His combination of breathtaking pace, physical power, and clinical, instinctive finishing made him the most lethal forward in England for three years, scoring at a rate of more than a goal every other game (65 in 102 in the PL). After his record-breaking £50m transfer to Chelsea, Torres never quite reached these heights again, but he remained a player for the big occasion. A scorer for Spain in two successive Euros Finals, he scored crucial goals in the Europa League final of 2013 and the 2012 Champions League semi-final.
Centre forward, Diego Costa – A feisty, combative ‘old-fashioned’ centre forward, Diego Costa was certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. Standing 6’2” and built like a light-middleweight boxer, Costa loved the physical side of the game, setting out to intimidate and bully his opponents into submission. His strength enabled him to hold the ball up well, and he was smart at bringing his midfielders into play. He was also surprisingly quick off the mark, with a great eye for finding space with diagonal or direct runs. Inside the box he was lethal, with an utter determination to get his foot or head onto the ball if a chance presented itself. His fiery nature meant that his career was marked by disciplinary issues and occasional fallings-out with managers, but he was undeniably effective at his peak, winning two titles in his three years at Chelsea.
Unlucky not to make the team
Spanish talent in English football has tended to be strongest in midfield, so it’s here that you can create a very high quality bench. It’s not quite as strong elsewhere on the pitch, but this XI would certainly not disgrace themselves.
Midfield – Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata, Mikel Arteta, Luis Garcia
Attack – Ayoze Perez, Jose Antonio Reyes
And some of the worst Spaniards to play in the Premier League
Fernando Morientes – A top-rated forward in Spain and three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Morientes was one of those strikers just not suited to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. With only eight goals in 41 PL appearances, his spell in England was mercifully (for all parties) shortlived
Albert Luque – Luque’s five year contract with Newcastle United proved to be about three years too long. Injured early on in his stay, he never really came out of the traps, and returned to Spain with only one goal in his 21 appearances over two seasons.
Marcelino – Another expensive mistake for Newcastle, central defender Marcelino spent most of his time at St James Park on the treatment table, with a string of dubious injuries.
Iago Aspas – A legend at Celta Vigo where has over 200 goals to his name, Aspas could not break into a Liverpool side with Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling in situ. He never learnt English which proved a sensible time saving given his limited spell in the country.
Chico Flores – Not the worst player, but the centre-back courted much controversy during his time at Swansea. He received a straight red a fortnight into his stay, was later accused of diving to get Andy Carroll sent off and was alleged to have picked up a brick in an angry exchange with teammate Garry Monk. His two-year stay was surprisingly long in the circumstances.
The arrival of Arsene Wenger into English football was the catalyst for a mass influx of French players into the Premier League, a flow that has not been much stemmed in thirty years. In this blog I’ve selected an XI of the best French players ever to play in the Premier League. I’ve gone for a 4-3-3 formation to fit the players picked but there are, of course, other options. See whether you agree or disagree with the selection.
Goalkeeper – Hugo Lloris
There are two French keepers who have played in the Premier League AND won the World Cup with their country, but Hugo Lloris gets the nod over Fabien Barthez. Lloris arrived at Tottenham from Lyon in 2012 and spent more than a decade as the club’s undisputed number one, and sometime club captain.
Lloris was first and foremost a great shot stopper, with great reflexes and a cat-like spring. If he was perhaps a little weaker than some with the ball at his feet, he was nevertheless very quick to leave his line to clear possible threats. In a team which, let’s be honest, did not win very much, he managed to keep a clean sheet in more than a third of all matches (35.2%).
His peak for Spurs was in 2016/17 when his team finished runners-up and conceded only 24 goals, the lowest that season. His peak for France was, of course, the 2018 World Cup where he lifted the trophy as team captain. When he retired from international football he had played a phenomenal 145 times for his country, more than anyone else.
Left-back, Patrice Evra
Between 2006 and 2014 Patrice Evra played 273 times for Manchester United. In this period United won five Premier League titles, three Football League Cups and the 2008 UEFA Champions League.
Evra was the complete package at left back, tenacious and strong in defence, and with incredible energy and stamina to get forward and support his attackers, then get back and snuff out any danger. His solidity provided a platform for the creative play of two all-time great left-sided players, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Right-back, Bacary Sagna
When he arrived at Arsenal in 2007 Bacary Sagna had extremely big boots to fill – those of Ashley Cole, perhaps England’s best ever right back. He managed to fill those boots and more, becoming one of the first names on Arsene Wenger’s teamsheet, and arguably the most reliable right-back in the Premier League.
Sagna was Mr Consistency, defensively very solid, both on the ground and in the air. He had great positional sense and anticipation, and rarely mistimed his tackles. Well disciplined, he was booked only once in every nine games. Sadly for him, he won little silverware in his time in England (just one FA Cup and one League Cup) but he nevertheless earns his place comfortably in this team.
Centre-back, William Saliba
It could be argued that it’s too soon to include William Saliba in this XI (particularly when leaving out Marcel Desailly), but his contribution to his team’s 2025/6 Premier League title wins him a place in this team.
Arsenal’s triumph was built on defensive solidity and, in particular, the centre back partnership of Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. The two bring together almost the perfect contrast of styles – where Gabriel is feisty and aggressive, Saliba is calm, calculated and disciplined. Saliba is also the better ball carrier and passer. His statistics are remarkable. In 2025/6 he ranked first in the Premier League for possession recoveries, in the bottom 10% for fouls committed, top 15% for defensive aerial duel success and top 3% for pass completion. Most importantly, his team, Arsenal, ranked first for team clean sheets.
Centre-back, William Gallas
William Gallas holds the rare distinction of having played for all three of the big London teams (apologies to Fulham and QPR) – Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. It was his time at Chelsea (2001-06) that was to bring most success. He formed strong defensive partnerships with Marcel Desailly and John Terry and was a key component of the Premier League winning sides of 2004/5 and 2005/6. Famously, his side conceded only 15 goals in 04/05, the lowest ever in the top division.
Gallas had the skills to play anywhere across the back four, and was a renowned reader of the game. He was also, at his peak, remarkably fast so could cover for other defenders when necessary.
Defensive midfield, Claude Makelele – Claude Makelele was so good he effectively created an entirely new position in English football, the ‘Makelele role’. Sitting just in front of the back four (and rarely venturing too far forward), Makelele’s world-class reading of the game enabled him to snuff out danger before it had a chance to develop. He was seemingly always in the right place at the right time.
With Makelele in the side, his more attacking teammates could go forward at will, secure in the knowledge that he would do the less glamorous work behind them.
Centre midfield, N’Golo Kante – When Leicester City won the Premier League title in 2016 to create the biggest shock in English football history, forwards Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez deservedly took many of the plaudits. Those in the know, however, singled out one player as the critical ingredient in their surprise success – N’Golo Kante. The diminutive, quiet Frenchman was the glue that held the whole team together.
Unbelievably hard working, the defensive midfielder made more tackles and interceptions (far more) than any other player in the league, and also found time to support the attack. When he moved the following season to Chelsea, he helped them to league glory, becoming the only player to win successive PL titles with two different teams.
Centre midfield, Patrick Vieira – Vieira was the ultimate box-to-box midfielder, combining rare physical power with world-class technical skill. Signed by Arsene Wenger in 1996 he played nine seasons for Arsenal, and led his team to their greatest ever achievements winning four FA Cups and three league titles including the unique ‘invincibles’ season.
Perhaps the thing that marked him out more than his physical attributes and skill was his intense competitiveness. His fierce will to win could occasionally boil over, but more often than not he rose to the occasion and inspired his team to do likewise.
Number 10, Eric Cantona – The most charismatic player of the Premier League era, Cantona was the catalyst for Manchester United’s dominance of England football in the 1990s. Having inspired Leeds to an unlikely Division One title in 1992, he moved to United where he helped them won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and Cup doubles.
Statistics and records, though, tell only part of the Cantona story. His flair, creativity, arrogance, style and off-field activities made him the most watchable, talked-about player in Premier League history. There has never been anyone like him.
Centre forward, Thierry Henry – Another signed by fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry was, alongside Patrick Vieira, the key component in Arsenal’s most successful side in recent history. Scorer of 175 league goals, he was blessed with explosive pace and an instinctive understanding of how to beat the keeper. He could score in many different ways, but if he had a trademark, it was to pick the ball up in space on the left, then run at back-pedalling defenders, before opening his body to curl the ball with his right foot past the keeper and into the net.
A player who looked great and sounded great as well as playing great, Henry was so good he attracted admiration from fans of other clubs as well as Arsenal, famously being given standing ovations at both Portsmouth and Sunderland.
Left winger, Robert Pires – Another member of the Arsenal ‘invincibles’, Robert Pires combined elegance, creativity and speed to become one of the most effective wingers in Premier League history. Capable of great speed with and without the ball, he used subtle changes of pace and running lines to create space and beat defenders. He formed a deadly partnership with Thierry Henry that took Arsenal, France (and this team) to great success.
Pires was not just a provider, he also contributed more than his fair share of goals. In fact, in his Arsenal career he scored more goals (84) than he made assists (77).
Nearly made the team
There have been so many excellent Frenchmen to play in the Premier League, you could make another XI that would put up a pretty good game against the selection above. The side below, for example, amassed 660 caps for France:
Midfield – Emmanuel Petit, Samir Nasri, Moussa Sissoko, David Ginola
Attack – Olivier Giroud, Nicolas Anelka
And some of the worst Frenchmen to play in the Premier League
Stephane Guivarc’h – When Stephane Guivarc’h signed for Newcastle in July 1998 he was fresh from a starting place in France’s World Cup winning side, and a record of slightly more than a goal every other game in the French leagues. He looked utterly out of his depth in the Premier League and was sold to Rangers after less than four months having played only four games and scored one goal.
Tanguy Ndombele – Signed by Tottenham for a record €62m plus add-ons in 2019, Ndombele got off to a promising start with an assist within one minutes of coming on for his debut. That was to be a high point in what was a disappointing spell characterised by lack of professionalism and effort. As successive managers quickly tired of him, he spent much of his time at the club out on loan before he was released after five largely fruitless years.
Eliaquim Mangala – The most expensive defender in British transfer history when he came to Man City in 2014, Mangala found the speed and physical intensity of the PL to be a little too much for him. He was frequently found out of position and made a series of high-profile errors to lose the confidence of his manager and teammates.
Tiemoue Bakayoko – After a stellar season at Monaco, 22-year-old Bakayoko signed for Chelsea for £40m in 2017. Like several others before him, he found the pace and physicality of the England game a little too demanding, and it was not long before Chelsea had him out on loan to French and Italian teams.
Paul Pogba – Paul Pogba actually began his senior career at Manchester United, but made his name as a world-class central midfielder at Juventus. When he rejoined United in 2016 it was for a world record transfer fee of €105m. He got off to a decent start, but never seemed fully committed to the United cause. His time at United was peppered with golden moments, but nowhere near enough to justify his status as the most expensive player in the game.
William Prunier – An experienced sweeper-cum-libero defender, Prunier was brought to Man United in late 1995 on a two-month trial. He played a mere two matches in central defence, alongside an out-of-position Gary Neville, before Alex Ferguson clinically discarded him. He was actually a decent player, but Prunier rather unjustly now sits on a list of United’s worst ever signings.
Pegguy Arphexad – Pegguy Arphexad won the League Cup with Leicester and six medals with Liverpool, but all were as an unused substitute. He might actually have been a pretty decent keeper, but he rarely left the subs bench. In 16 years as a pro he made a mere 53 first-team appearances.
The wonder goal – Michael Owen, England 2-2 Argentina, Round of 16
It was clear from his earliest days that Michael Owen was a very special talent. A prolific scorer at all levels as a junior, he made his debut for Liverpool’s senior team aged only 17 yrs 143 days, a game in which he also became his club’s youngest ever goalscorer. Blessed with searing pace and an instinct for the most direct route to goal, he looked instantly at home in the Premier League, and a call-up to the national side seemed inevitable. He was a mere 18 yrs 59 days when Glenn Hoddle first picked him for England, then only weeks later he was selected for the 1998 World Cup squad.
Owen did not start either of England’s first two games, but came on as a substitute in both, getting an equaliser against Romania (England then conceded late on to lose), before being selected to start against Colombia. It was in the round of 16, however, where he came to the attention of the world. England were up against their old and bitter adversaries, Argentina, a team that had not conceded in their three group matches. England got off to a poor start when David Seaman unnecessarily upended Diego Simeone to give Argentina a penalty in the fifth minute. Batistuta converted, but Owen was to make a rapid riposte. Picking up the ball in the Argentina half he made a rapid and direct run into the opposition box, before going down under, what has to be said to be the faintest of touches from defender Ayala. Referee Nielsen bought it, and awarded a penalty that Alan Shearer slotted home for 1-1.
The best from Owen, though, was yet to come. In the 16th minute David Beckham picked up the ball and fed it through to the 18-year-old just inside the centre circle. Owen immediately charged upfield, leaving Jose Chamot in his wake, then rounded Roberto Ayala as though he was standing still. Without breaking stride, he proceeded to chip a precise shot across keeper Roa and into the back of the net. It was so quick you had to check to confirm that it had actually happened. Owen’s astonishing goal had put England 2-1 ahead.
We all know that it was not to last (see below) but Owen had made the sort of impact as a teenager that a certain Pele had made in 1958.
Once a cheat … – Diego Simeone & David Beckham, England 2-2 Argentina, Round of 16
England’s round of 16 tussle against Argentina was notable not only for the astonishing emergence of Michael Owen (see above), but also for one of the most regrettable incidents in England’s chequered World Cup history.
The first half had been a cracker, with England coming agonisingly close to going 3-1 up, before a clever free-kick routine saw Zanetti equalize for Argentina on the stroke of half time. At 2-2 the game was evenly poised going into the second half, but the balance changed decisively within the first couple of minutes. A ball was played to David Beckham near the half way line but, as he trapped it, he was flattened from behind by an atrocious challenge from Argentinian enforcer Diego Simeone. With Beckham still down, Simeone added a little ‘afters‘ by pushing the Englishman in the small of the back to keep face down on the turf. Beckham, on the ground, reacted angrily, flicking his boot at the Argentinian. His studs glanced Simeone lightly on the calf, but this was ‘enough’ to send the hard man toppling to the ground as though he’d been kicked by a mule.
Unfortunately for Beckham this all happened right in front of Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen. Nielsen booked Simeone for the original challenge, then pulled out the red card for Beckham for violent conduct. A small act of petulance saw England’s talisman ejected from the game.
England battled gamely for the remainder of the game and into extra time, indeed they should have won it when Sol Campbell nodded in a goal that the referee mystifyingly disallowed. The game went to penalties… and we all know what happens when England go to penalties.
When Beckham returned to England he suffered intolerable abuse. The Daily Mirror famously ran the headline: “10 Heroic Lions, One Stupid Boy” and the other tabloids were equally unreasonable. The former golden boy was booed wherever he went. It’s testament to his strength of character (and also to the support given to him by club manager Alex Ferguson) that he was not destroyed by it. He gradually rehabilitated himself, and capped his return to popularity by smashing home the penalty that beat Argentina, and his nemesis Simeone, in the 2002 Group stage.
The Ronaldo mystery – World Cup final
In 1994 a 17-year-old Brazilian, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima or simply Ronaldo, was chosen by his country for their World Cup squad. Although the teenager did not play, his reputation as the most promising youngster in the world went before him, and he was soon making his way to Europe, signed by PSV in the Netherlands. Four years later, still only 21, he was judged to be the best player in the world, having commanded a world-record transfer fee (from Barcelona to Inter Milan) and already won the Ballon D’Or. For Brazil, he was seen as the lynchpin of their attempt to retain the title that they had won in the USA. As Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian wrote “no one was as ferociously talented as Ronaldo … at the age of 21, the hopes and dreams of a nation rested on his shoulders”.
With Ronaldo in place, Brazil looked a stronger proposition in 1998 than they had when winning in 1994, and they made it through the final, although not without some hiccups. They prevailed narrowly in a tough quarter final against Denmark (3-2), then were lucky to get past Netherlands on penalties in the semi. Ronaldo’s contribution was measured in four goals and three assists.
The final was played on 12th July at the Stade de France. Brazil were set to face tournament hosts, France, a team that had risen to the occasion in their home tournament. A massive bombshell was dropped 72 minutes before the match when the Brazilian teamsheet was submitted to FIFA without Ronaldo’s name on it. Pundits, media and fans went into overdrive trying to work out what was going on. They were left equally, if not more shocked and bemused, when no more than 30 minutes later, and with less than three quarters of an hour to kick-off, Brazilian officials submitted a modified teamsheet with Ronaldo back on it.
Ronaldo ended up playing all 90 minutes of the final, but was a shadow of the player he had been throughout the tournament. His lack of energy and inspiration transmitted itself to his teammates, on top of which it seemed as though they had been impacted by the ‘will he, won’t he’ uncertainty surrounding his participation. In reality, it was more likely to have been concern for their teammate’s welfare that affected them. In emerged out some time later that Ronaldo had suffered a convulsive fit in the team hotel on the morning of the match, and had lost consciousness before being rushed to hospital for tests. He was released after three hours, but none of his colleagues would have imagined he would be fit to play.
The final finished, of course, with a convincing 3-0 victory for France, who captured their first World Cup title. Brazil, and Ronaldo, would have to wait another four years for their next chance.
The overacting Croatian– Laurent Blanc & Slaven Bilic, France 2-1 Croatia, Semi-final
In England we like to think that it’s us who get all the bad luck that is going in World Cup competitions. Unjust sendings off, disallowed goals (for us), lucky goals (for them), missed penalties, bad draws. Well, it’s not just us.
In 1998 France rose to the occasion of their home World Cup. Ranked only 18th in the world coming into the competition, they finished top of their group with three wins, before somewhat scraping through the first two knock-out rounds to reach the semi-final. To make it through to the final they would have to overcome the surprise package of the finals, a Croatia side who combined technically strength with a robust approach to stopping their opposition.
France’s defence was led by the experienced centre-back Laurent Blanc, already well on his way to almost a century of caps, but playing in his first (and only) World Cup. His misfortune in 1998 was to butt up against Croatia’s Slaven Bilic. With France leading 2-1 and only 16 minutes of normal time remaining, Blanc came forward for a France free kick on the edge of the box. As Blanc approached the box, Bilic tried to impede him. To shake the Croatian off, Blanc pushed him in the face. To be fair, it was a stupid thing to do, and may well have resulted in a red card anyway, but Bilic’s play-acting certainly sealed the deal. He clutched the top of his face, above the eye, well north of where Blanc had pushed him, and sank to his knees yelling. Blanc was shown a straight red and knew instantly he would miss the final.
In the event, France did not miss him much in the final, and his replacement Franck Leboeuf played well, man-marking the off-colour Ronaldo. France won and Blanc did receive his medal, but his sending off (and Bilic’s exaggerated reaction) had denied him the chance to play in the biggest game in his country’s history.
The sublime finish – Dennis Bergkamp, Netherland 2-1 Argentina, Quarter-final
In 1997, Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp, playing for Arsenal against Leicester, scored one of the most memorable hat-tricks ever seen in the Premier League. The trio of goals was completed with an audacious piece of skill, controlling a ball in mid-air before flicking it with his other foot to leave the defender on their backside, then maintaining perfect balance while switching feet again to fire across keeper Kasey Keller.
In 1998 he produced a similar piece of skill, but this time it was in national colours, and it was to clinch a place in the World Cup semi-final. The quarter-final between Netherlands and Argentina was tied at 1-1 with the clock running down on normal time. Frank de Boer, from inside his own half, sent a long hopeful ball upfield. There looked to be little danger, but Bergkamp ran hard towards the falling ball, trapped it in mid-air with his right foot, took another touch inside to floor his defender, Ayala, then shot precisely with the outside of his boot to beat the keeper, Roa. It would have been a great finish in any circumstances, but to do it in the final minute of a World Cup quarter-final was truly remarkable.
The golden goal – Laurent Blanc, France 1-0 (aet) Paraguay, Round of 16
French central defender Laurent Blanc was not to have the happiest finish to his home World Cup campaign (see above), but he could nevertheless reflect on the contribution he had made to his country’s triumph. Blanc had not only been a steadfast member of one of the tightest defences in the competition, he had also made a critical difference at the other end of the pitch. Blanc, indeed, had become the first player ever to achieve something in the World Cup finals.
1998 saw the introduction of the ‘golden goal’ for knockout matches. The sudden-death extra-time format was a short-lived innovation, surviving only the 2002 tournament before being discarded, but it was significant to France’s progress in 1998. They faced Paraguay in the round of 16 or, to be more precise, they faced the South American’s seemingly impassable goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert. Chilavert had been voted World’s Best Goalkeeper by the IFFHS in 1995 and 1997 and was well on his way to a third award in 1998. He had gained notoriety for his prowess in taking attacking free-kicks but his real value was at the back. Against France in the round-of-16 match he was utterly inspired. As the home side swarmed forward and created chance after chance, Chilavert made save after save. France simply could not get past the “impenetrable wall” put up by the South Americans, and the game looked to be heading for penalties with time running out in extra-time and the game still goalless. The dam finally broke in the 114th minute. A short cross from Pires was headed down by Trezeguet, and it found the surprising figure of Blanc running towards the edge of the six yard box. Blanc fired a first-time shot past the approaching Chilavert.
Paraguay and Chilavert were devastated, France and Blanc jubilant. France manager Aime Jacquet said of the ‘golden goal’ concept “It’s awful, but for once, the ball fell in our favour”.
The all-too rapid reality check– Scotland 1-2 Brazil, Group stage
Scotland is a relatively small country, with a population of around 5.5m. For their size, they have generally punched above their weight in football, producing great footballers such as Kenny Dalglish and Dennis Law, and a series of world-class managers including Alex Ferguson, Jock Stein and Matt Busby. Where they have perhaps punched below their weight is in their performances in World Cups. Prior to 1998 they had appeared in seven World Cup finals and failed to get past the group stage in any of them. They had come close in 1974, 1978 and 1982, failing only on goal difference, but they had never made the knock-out stages.
Would 1998 be any different? The Scots were one of the lower-ranked teams so were never going to get an easy ride in their group, but they must have groaned inwardly when they were drawn with champions Brazil (ranked #1), Norway (#7) and Morocco (#13). They must have really felt that fate was against them when they learnt that their first game was to be the tournament opener against Brazil.
It took a mere five minutes for the Scottish bubble to burst when a corner was nodded in at the near post by Cesar Sampaio. Brazil came close to adding to their lead, but in the 38th minute something unexpected happened. Scotland equalized, John Collins converting a penalty after Kevin Gallacher had gone down rather easily in the box.
Scotland held firm until calamity struck in the 74th minute. Brazil attacked down the right, and an overlapping Cafu found himself with an opportunity to flick the ball past keeper Jim Leighton. Leighton did well to block it, but the ball flew out to defender Tom Boyd who was covering back and rebounded back from him into his own goal.
The Scots performed well in their next game, coming back to draw 1-1 with Norway, but fell apart in the crucial game against Morocco, having Craig Burley sent off and conceding three goals. For the eighth time in eight (an unwanted record) they had failed to get out of their group. Will 2026 be different? We should find out soon enough.
The lucky bald head – Fabian Barthez, France
In his early days as a professional footballer Fabian Barthez had a lustrous full head of hair, but when it began thinning in his early 20s, he decided to shave it off completely. In the days before such a look was commonplace, this made Barthez stand out and he quickly became known as ‘Le Divin Chauve’ (The Divine Bald One). By 1998 Le Divin Chauve was first choice keeper for his country France and rated amongst the best in the world.
He showed this to great effect in the finals, with his team conceding just one goal in their group, then only one more in their four subsequent knockout matches. Skill was certainly a major factor, but superstition may also have played a part. It took hold early in the tournament when central defender Laurent Blanc took Barthez’s head in his hands before a match and kissed his bald pate. As the tournament progressed, other teammates had got in on the act.
Barthez took it all in good faith. An eccentric and superstitious character himself, he may well have believed it was actually lucky, and he no doubt saw that it enhanced team spirit. The end result was an historic win for France, so maybe there was something in it?
Romanians prefer blondes – Romania 1-1 Tunisia, Group Stage
For many English fans, their main memory of the Romanian side of 1998 will be of a painful last-minute defeat in the second group match, inflicted by Chelsea’s Dan Petrescu. (Fans will also recall another last-minute defeat two years later that knocked England out of the Euros). For the rest of the world, though, the thing they remember most about the team of Hagi, Popescu and Dumitrescu in 1998 is their appearance as they took the field in their final group game vs Tunisia.
Creating one of the most striking and memorable images of any World Cup, the whole 23-man playing squad (with the exception of shaven-headed keeper Bogdan Stelea) stepped onto the pitch at the Stade de France sporting bleached blonde hair. The team had bet with manager Anghel Iordanescu that they could win their first two games – against Colombia and, of course, England. When they achieved this, their manager’s forfeit was to shave off his particularly luxuriant locks. The team’s forfeit, even though they had won the bet, was to dye their hair a yellowy shade of blonde. It may not have helped their game very much (they drew with Tunisia before exiting at the first knock-out stage) but created an image that will not be forgotten.
It took the Republic of Ireland many, many attempts before they managed to qualify for the World Cup. Indeed, it was 13th time lucky when they finally made it in 1990 under the singular leadership of Jack Charlton. When Charlton led them again to the finals in 1994, his star player was a 22-year-old from Cork, Manchester United’s Roy Keane.
Keane was to become the beating heart of the most successful team ever in English football, winning seven league titles with United. A natural leader, Keane was hugely talented, but his real point of difference was his intense competitiveness and will to win. This drive was normally positive, but could also boil over into excessive aggression and borderline violence.
Keane was someone who set extremely high standards for himself and for his teammates, and from his early days it was clear that he did not think Ireland football lived up to these standards. At his first call up, for the Irish U-21s, he described the set-up as “a bit of a joke”, and relationships between Keane and the Ireland football authorities remained frosty throughout his international career. He was critical of travel arrangements, diet, training and match tactics, and Keane had little or no respect for manager Mick McCarthy whom he felt was clueless.
Keane’s frustrations reached boiling point in 2002, when Ireland, having qualified for their third World Cup finals, flew to the island of Saipan (in the Mariana Islands) for a pre-finals camp. The FAI and management saw the camp as an opportunity for R&R and to reboot after a tough club season; Keane wanted it taken far more seriously. Annoyed and fed up on the island, he determined to leave the squad and return home, but then changed his mind and stayed. Faced then with a negative press reaction in Ireland, which questioned his commitment to the national cause, he decided to grant an interview to the Irish Times to lay out his reasons for wanting to leave in the first place.
When the article was published, it led to a public confrontation between manager McCarthy and Keane. McCarthy brandished the newpaper article asking Keane what it was all about, then accusing his captain of feigning injury in a key play-off match. Keane lost it. His 10-minute rant is reported as including the following:
“Mick, you’re a liar … you’re a fucking wanker. I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager, and I don’t rate you as a person. You’re a fucking wanker and you can stick your World Cup up your arse. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your bollocks.“
McCarthy had no other choice but to send his best player home. Although many significant people, including the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, got involved, there was no way back for Keane. Without their captain and talisman, Ireland surprisingly did quite well, going unbeaten in the group stage and going out only on penalties in the round of 16.
As for Keane, he did return to the side once McCarthy had been replaced as manager a year or so later. And many of his criticisms of the national side’s set up and approach were later validated in a report commissioned by the FAI into the country’s football structure. But as far as the World Cup was concerned, it was too late for Keane – he never got the chance to play in one for his country.
Ronaldo’s redemption – Brazil 2-0 Germany, Final
The 1998 World Cup final produced a superb victory for the home nation, France. If there was any cloud in what was otherwise a bright blue sky of happiness, it was the unusual circumstances that had befallen their opponents, Brazil, on the day of the final. In short, their best player, Ronaldo, had suffered a convulsive fit hours before the match and had spent three hours in hospital. After being omitted initially from the teamsheet, he was sensationally reinstated into the starting XI. He played the match despite appearing unfit to play, and his ineffectual performance was certainly a factor in Brazil’s underperformance on the day.
There were numerous conspiracy theories relating to the incident. Had team sponsor Nike put undue pressure on Brazil manager Zagallo to include their marquee player? Had Ronaldo suffered a nervous breakdown that the team doctor had been reluctant to fully diagnose? Had Zagallo simply bowed to player power? Whatever was really behind it, it raised a number of question marks about the player who was regarded as the finest forward of his generation (and indeed was still voted player of the tournament).
The years following 1998 were not kind to the Brazilian. He suffered a bad knee injury in 1999 while playing for Inter Milan, then an even worse setback only minutes into his comeback match six months later. He missed the entire 2000/1 season and much of the following one, and did not play at all in Brazil’s (unconvincing) World Cup qualification campaign. He did recover sufficiently to be included in his team’s squad for the 2002 finals, and it soon became clear that his powers had not waned. South American football expert Tim Vickery wrote that “Without Ronaldo, Brazil were a shambles, fortunate even to get to the tournament. With him it was a different story.”
Playing alongside Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in one of the most dangerous front threes ever assembled, Ronaldo was unstoppable. He scored in each of the group games, in the round of 16 and again in the semi-final. (The only game he did not score in was against England.) After four years he was back in the final, and this time he seemed in prime fitness and form. And so it proved. With the final goalless on 67 minutes, Ronaldo won the ball near the German box and found Rivaldo in the box. When Rivaldo’s shot was spilled horribly by German keeper Oliver Kahn, Ronaldo anticipated perfectly and was right on the spot to capitalise and roll it coolly into the goal. 12 minutes later he received the ball on the edge of the box and made a yard of space for a right-footed shot that found the bottom corner of the net. Two goals to Ronaldo and 2-0 to Brazil. The great striker had come back from the disappointment and controversy of 1998 and from many months when he might have thought he would never play again at the top level, to win his country their fifth World Cup.
Goldenballs to the rescue – England 2-2 Greece, final qualifier
England in recent years have made qualification for major tournaments look extremely straightforward. It was not ever thus. In 1994 we failed to qualify at all, in 1998 it required a heroic rearguard in Rome, and in 2002 we really did push it to the wire.
The qualification started in dismal fashion with a 0-1 defeat at home to Germany, a match that prompted the emotional resignation of manager Kevin Keegan (in a Wembley stadium toilet). When England then failed to beat lowly Finland in Helsinki things looked about as grim as they could be. England, though, did bounce back. The appointment of their first foreign manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, brought about an upturn in fortunes and wins were achieved at home to Finland and away to both Albania and Greece.
The game that looked likely to be the group decider came on 1st September 2001 in Munich. It will go down as one of the most epic wins in England’s history. After conceding an early goal, England found a magic and glorious scoring touch. Michael Owen slotted in a hat-trick, Steven Gerrard got another, and there was even one from Emile Heskey. Despite taking fewer shots and having less possession, the match finished with the unimaginable scoreline of Germany 1 England 5. Even then, England were not guaranteed qualification, and they came to their final game, at home to Greece, needing to win to finish top of the group.
In the first half, England were simply abysmal. The pressure of the situation seemed to get to everyone, and the Greeks were superior in all areas of the pitch. The away team’s dominance was rewarded on 36 minutes when Charisteas put them ahead with a cross-shot from the right. England came out stronger in the second half, but still struggled to fashion much in the way of chances. When they did get the ball on target Greek keeper Nikopolidis (a dead ringer for George Clooney) was on hand to keep it out of the net. A breakthrough, though, came on 67 minutes when substitute Teddy Sheringham, on the pitch for only 15 seconds, glanced in a header from a Beckham free kick. But the Old Trafford crowd was silenced two minutes later when Nikolaidis wriggled his way to a shot in the box to restore the Greek’s lead.
If there was one bright spark in England’s performance it was in the performance of captain David Beckham. Beckham was everywhere, tracking back when required and surging forward at every opportunity, demanding the ball, taking players on, leading by example. It’s estimated that he covered 16.1km in the match, well above even his own high average. As the clock ticked on and the game entered added time, he alone seemed to think that the game could be rescued. And so it could. In the third minute of added time a free kick was awarded 25-yards out for a foul on Sheringham. Beckham set himself to take it, then curved the ball over the net and into the top left-hand corner of the net. It was an incredible and unforgettable strike, and with Germany (perhaps equally incredibly) failing to beat Finland at home, England had scraped their way through to the 2002 World Cup finals.
Another unfortunate exit – England 1-2 Brazil, Quarter Final
Was it a shot or a cross? We will never know for sure, but what we do know is that Ronaldinho’s free-kick from 35 yards out finished in the back of England’s net, and that it was the decisive goal in a 1-2 defeat that once again saw England knocked out of the World Cup.
It was not perhaps a vintage England side – Danny Mills, Trevor Sinclair and Nicky Butt all started against Brazil – but they had, under Sven Goran-Eriksson, proved hard to beat. They qualified narrowly from their group – the highlight being a 1-0 win against old enemy, Argentina – before a convincing 3-0 demolition over Denmark in the round of 16. Perhaps they were peaking at the right time.
They faced in the quarter final a Brazil sporting a fearsome front line of the three R’s, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, as well as two superb attacking full backs, Cafu and Roberto Carlos. While Brazil could be relied upon to score, they were fallible at the back. And, so it proved when England took the lead after 23 minutes, a mistake from Lucio allowing Michael Owen space to fire past Brazilian keeper Marcos. The lead lasted until just before half time. Ronaldinho picked up possession in his own half, then burst through the England half before picking out a pass to an unmarked Rivaldo who passed it coolly into the net.
Although Brazil had looked the better side and had certainly posed more of a threat, the game looked reasonably well balanced going into the second half. It took, however, only five minutes for the customary catastrophe to strike. A clumsy challenge by Paul Scholes (a tautology if ever there was one) gave Brazil a free-kick 35 yards from goal on the right. Ronaldinho grabbed the ball and set it down. His only sensible option was a cross to the back post, and that’s clearly what David Seaman was expecting. The veteran keeper set himself a couple of yards from his goal line as Ronaldinho sent the ball towards the box. The flight of the ball though was more direct than anticipated, and Seaman suddenly realised it was headed goalwards. He tried to step back to cover it, but looking all of his 39 years and more, and with his boots seemed stuck in treacle, he could not make up the ground. If you were ever to look for a definition of the word ‘floundering’ you would find it here. The ball floated agonisingly over his flapping arms and into the top corner of the goal. Brazil were 2-1 up.
There were still 40 minutes remaining, and Brazil had to play the last 30 without the goalscorer, who got himself sent off for an incompetent rather than malicious tackle. England, however, were a little off key all match and never really looked likely to do it. While Brazil would go on to win the title, England, once again, would be flying home early.
The ‘home town referee’ – South Korea vs Italy, Round of 16
In September 2010 Ecuadorian national Byron Moreno was arrested at JFK International Airport in New York City while attempting to smuggle 6kg of heroin into the US. He pleaded guilty, was convicted and imprisoned for 2½ years after which time he returned to Ecuador. His crime might have gone unnoticed – just another criminal trying to bring in drugs from South America – were it not for the fact that, to many people’s eyes, Moreno had committed a more egregious ‘crime’ eight years earlier at the 2002 World Cup. His offence then had been to do seemingly whatever he could to ensure that home nation South Korea beat Italy in their World Cup knock-out match.
In 2002 Moreno was a referee at the World Cup. His debut came in the group game between USA and Portugal. While this match finished in a massive shock, a 3-2 victory for the Americans, there was no sense that Moreno’s officiating had been in any way off. He was duly selected to referee the big Round-of-16 tie between home nation South Korea, ranked a lowly 40th in the world, and Italy, a powerhouse of European football and one of the favourites for the tournament.
The match turned out to one of the most explosive, dramatic and controversial in World Cup history. It was intensely physical from the start and the Italians, no shrinking violets themselves, clearly felt that the referee let too many illegal Korean challenges go unpunished. It was, however, their defender, Coco who was first to go into the book in only the 3rd minute for a very late tackle on Park Ji-Sung. When the ensuing free kick was floated into the box, Moreno awarded a very soft penalty after a Korean attacker fell to the floor. Although the penalty was saved (brilliantly by Buffon) the Italian flame of injustice had been lit.
They were especially aggrieved when in the 49th minute, a clear elbow in face of Alessandro del Piero went unpunished, not least because their own Francesco Totti had received a card for a similar if less obvious offence minutes before half time. Totti’s card was to come back to haunt Italy in extra time, when he was pulled down in the Korean box, but was adjudged not to have been fouled but instead to have dived. Moreno pulled out a second yellow to controversially send off the star midfielder.
10-man Italy battled hard, and thought they might have done it when Damiano Tommasi broke through the Korean defence and rounded the keeper. The linesman, however, had flagged for a marginal offside and, in the days before VAR, this was enough to rule out the goal. In a tournament using the ‘golden goal’ rule, this would have been enough to see Italy through, but instead it was the Koreans who benefited when Ahn Jung-Hwan scored at the other end in the 26th minute of extra time. A huge upset had been completed.
Watching the game again, and seeing it not through Italian goggles, some of Moreno’s decisions seem questionable but not ridiculously one-sided. For example, five Koreans were booked vs five for Italy. Moreno gave 28 free kicks against Korea vs 22 against the Italians. When FIFA investigated, they could find no evidence of fixing. That did not, of course, stop Italian fans and media from claiming (to this day) that everything was corrupt and weighted in favour the home side.
In reality, it was South Korea’s next opponents, Spain, who had more cause for grievance. In their quarter final, Spain had two seemingly legitimate goals disallowed, and numerous offside flags raised in dubious circumstances. The Koreans, to be honest, couldn’t have cared less, and neither could most of the watching public around the world. Their unexpected journey to the semi-finals was the most magical of the 2002 World Cup, as long, of course, as you weren’t Spanish or Italian.
France’s failure – Group stage
In 1998, France, playing on home soil, gloriously won their first ever World Cup trophy. A great side, featuring Zidane, Desailly, Vieira, Thuram, Djorkaeff and Thierry Henry, delivered on the biggest stage of all, convincingly defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final. In 2000, they reinforced their position as one of the top teams in the world by winning the European Championships. They arrived at World Cup 2002 as defending champions and ranked number one in the world.
They suffered two big blows before the tournament. First, star left-sided midfielder Robert Pires was ruled out with a knee injury. Then, a bigger blow, when star player and overall talisman, Zinedine Zidane, suffered a thigh injury in a pre-tournament friendly. Their poor showing in Asia was nevertheless unexpected. Perhaps too many players were a little past their best, and many were drained after a tough club season. Perhaps they had become complacent. Perhaps manager Roger Lemerre had lost his edge (although he did go on to lead Tunisia to their first and only AFCON title). Whatever the reasons, their World Cup campaign was disastrous.
They kicked off the tournament with a massive shock, a 1-0 defeat to unfancied Senegal playing in their first ever finals. This was followed this up by a dull goalless draw against Uruguay. They still had a chance if they could beat Denmark, but they failed miserably to do this, going down 2-0. They exited the tournament at the group stage, bottom of their group without having scored a single goal. France would go on to rebuild and recover, making the final in 2006, but their defence of the title in 2002 was indisputably not their finest hour.
Give that man an Oscar – Rivaldo, Brazil 2-1 Turkey, Group stage
If there has ever been a more disgraceful act of playacting than that perpetrated by Rivaldo in the 2002 World Cup in the match against Turkey I have yet to witness it.
The game, the opener in Group C, had been surprisingly tight but seemed to have been settled in the 87th minute when Rivaldo stepped up to convert a (somewhat dubiously awarded) penalty to give Brazil a 2-1 lead. The minutes ticked on and as the clock was ran down in added time, Brazil won a corner for what would almost certainly be the game’s final action. Rivaldo strolled over to take it but, in no rush to do anything, made no move to collect the ball. A frustrated Turkish player, Hakan Unsal, kicked it firmly towards him where it struck the Brazilian on the thigh. Somehow this was enough to see Rivaldo collapse to the floor clutching his face as though he’d been punched hard in the face.
Korean referee Kim Young-joo was probably looking elsewhere at the time, because he fell hook line and sinker for the Brazilian’s cheating. He was not helped by his linesman, who was standing next to the corner spot and really should have seen it, so sent off Unsal for a second yellow card.
It was an utter disgrace, so much so that it prompted FIFA to give themselves new powers to fine players retrospectively for simulation. Rivaldo was fined (c.£5,000) but FIFA took no further punishment, leaving him available for future matches. He went on to play a key role in Brazil’s run to the title which, famously, included a re-match against Turkey in the semi-final. Remarkably their players did not target Rivaldo or seek retribution. I can think of many who would not have been quite as restrained.
The golden ball for the golden gloves – Oliver Kahn
The German side that made it through to the World Cup final of 2002 was not, perhaps, one of their vintage line-ups. They had qualified for the finals only via a play-off with Ukraine, and had entered the tournament in the unaccustomed position of being ranked outside the top 10 teams in the world. They were, as always, solid and well organised at the back and hard working in midfield but, despite the emergence of Miroslav Klose, were not especially potent in attack.
One area where they were world-class was between the sticks. First-choice keeper was Bayern Munich’s Oliver Kahn, big, strong and aggressive, a man who saw the six-yard box as his private fiefdom and was determined to protect it from outsiders. A good shot-stopper, he had saved three penalties in the 2000/1 Champions League final shoot-out to take his team Bayern to the title.
In South Korea and Japan for Germany, Kahn was almost unbeatable. He conceded only one goal in the group stage – a last-minute equaliser to Robbie Keane of Ireland – but thereafter made save after save and block after block to keep his goal intact. In each of the knock-out rounds – the round-of-16 vs Paraguay, the quarter final vs USA and the semi vs South Korea – he made critical saves to ensure a shut-out for the opposition. One goal at the other end in each game was enough to see Germany through. It was not single-handed (although some of his saves were), but Kahn’s keeping was perhaps the key factor in his team reaching the final.
It was unfortunate for Kahn that his only significant blemish in the tournament should come in the final against Brazil. And it was hugely significant. A shot on the turn from Rivaldo in the 69th minute should have been collected, but it bounced out of Kahn’s hands into the path of Ronaldo who fired it in for Brazil’s opener. Ronaldo, of course, went on to score a second and the title went to Brazil. Such was the quality of Kahn’s performances up to that point, however, that despite the high-profile error, ‘Der Titan’ was still voted player of the tournament and received the coveted Golden Ball. Kahn remains the only goalkeeper ever to have won the award.
The moment of madness – Zinedine Zidane, Final, 9 July 2006
One of the greatest footballers of all-time, Zinedine Zidane was a midfield playmaker who could do everything. Blessed with immense skill, great vision and a unquenchable desire to win, he dominated the midfield, making every team he played for both dangerous and difficult to beat. In 1998 he was France’s star player as they won the World Cup for the first time, then in 2000 he was player of the tournament as he led his country to the European Championship. He helped Juventus and Real Madrid to countless trophies, and scored one of the best goals ever seen to win the 2002 Champions League Final. Thrice FIFA World Player of the Year (1998. 2000 and 2003) he was named in 2004 the best European footballer of the preceding 50 years.
If he a weakness, it was his fiery temper, which could occasionally boil over on the pitch. Sadly, for both Zidane and for France, this was to cause his downfall in the 2006 World Cup Final. Zidane had actually retired from international football in 2004, but was persuaded to return for the 2006 tournament. This proved to be a masterstroke as he drove his team to the final, scoring in the round of 16 vs Spain, providing the assist for the winning goal in the quarter-final, then converting the winning penalty in the semi-final. He scored again in the final – a cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty in the 7th minute – but an equaliser from Italy meant the game went to extra time.
It was in extra time that the red mist descended. In the 110th minute a French attack was cleared and Zidane was jogging back up the pitch with Italian defender Marco Materazzi a step or two behind him. The two were exchanging ‘pleasantries’ when Zidane suddenly stopped, turned and headbutted Materazzi hard in the chest. The Italian went straight down, possibly more in shock than pain, and the referee had no choice but to give Zidane a straight red card. The Frenchman later claimed that Materazzi had grievously insulted his sister, but it was still inexcusably unprofessional to react like this.
Insult was added to injury when Italy won the penalty shoot-out to deny France a second World Cup. This was to be, in fact, Zidane’s final game as a professional, a less-than-fitting way for one of the all-time greats to sign off.
The wonder strike – Joe Cole, England 2-2 Sweden, Group Stage
Joe Cole was a player who, despite never quite living up to his immense early promise, still managed to win three Premier League titles with Chelsea and make over half a century of appearances for his country. A regular, if not prolific, goalscorer, he produced a moment of magic in 2006 that is still remembered as one of the great England World Cup goals.
Cole’s wonder strike came in the final group match, against Sweden. England had already qualified for the knock-out stage, but wanted a win or draw to top the group. The game was goalless when, in the 33rd minute, a Beckham cross was just about dealt with by the Swedish defenders who headed the ball out of the box. It took one bounce before it reached Cole, in space, 30 yards out from goal. He controlled the ball perfectly on his chest, then unleashed a right-foot volley. The perfectly-struck ball flew towards the Swedish goal, over the flailing keeper Isaksson before dipping at the last to find the top right-hand corner of the net. A sensational and unforgettable goal.
As good as it was, it was not enough to propel England to victory against their bogey side. The game finished 2-2, the 12th consecutive game, dating back to 1979, in which England had failed to beat the Swedes. It actually took another five years – with a 1-0 victory in 2011 – to break what had become an incredible 43-year hoodoo against the Scandinavians.
Fabio Grosso was something of a late developer as a footballer. Having begun his senior career at his local club, effectively in the Italian fifth division, it took him until the relatively advanced age of 23 before he made the move up to Serie A. Originally an attacking midfielder, he found his true calling as a left back, and after only two years in Serie A he had been selected for his country. By 2006 he was a regular member of Marcello Lippi’s side.
He contributed in Germany as part of a typically stingy Italian defence, but it was at the other end of the pitch where he made a more unexpected impact. In the round of 16, his team, down to 10 men after Materazzi was sent off, were struggling to get past a resilient Australia. In the 95th minute, with the game still goalless, Grosso made one last attack down the left. He beat one Australian defender then took the ball into the box. When Aussie captain, Lucas Neill, went to ground a touch early in the box, Grosso was alert enough to fall over him to win a last-gasp penalty. Totti converted to send Italy through.
The semi-final saw him make another critical impact. The game, against home favourites Germany, was again tied 0-0 and was well into extra time. With the clock running down, a corner was nodded out to Andrea Pirlo on the edge of the area. Pirlo found Grosso, unusually appearing on the right, and his first-time shot curled beautifully around German keeper Lehmann to decisively break the deadlock. Italy were into the final.
Grosso was not yet done. The final, against France, finished 1-1, so went to penalties. With one French effort missed, Grosso stepped up at 4-3 with the chance to secure the title for his country. His nerveless strike sent Barthez the wrong way and Italy had won their fourth World Cup. The left back had played a decisive role at the ‘wrong’ end of the pitch in three key matches, and would forever be a national hero.
The ref who forgot who he booked – Graham Poll, Croatia 2-2 Australia, Group Match
England sent only one referee to the 2006 World Cup, 42 year-old Graham Poll, at that time our most experienced and competent match official. Unfortunately for Poll, he made an error at the tournament that may well be the thing he is most remembered for from his long and otherwise distinguished career.
It was in his third match, a Group F game between Croatia and Australia. There was a huge amount at stake in the match – a win for Croatia would see them qualify from the group, a win or draw would be good enough for Australia. Poll had a decent first half, although he did wave away a strong penalty claim from Australia. His second half was not so good. He missed a blatant Croatian handball for another Aussie penalty, and should probably have ruled out Kewell’s 79th minute equaliser for offside. Then, as the game became more frantic in its later stages, he began brandishing yellow cards like confetti. There were three for Croatia, including a second for Dario Simic in the 85th minute, and two for Brett Emerton of Australia, the second in the 87th minute. His fatal error came in the 90th minute when he booked Josip Simunic for the second time in the match, but failed, to the shock of everyone watching, to send off the Croatian. Simunic somehow managed to get himself booked for a third time three minutes later, at which point Poll did send him off. But the damage to the referee’s reputation had been done.
In the confusion, Poll did have a tiny bit of mitigation. Simunic had been born and brought up in Australia, so spoke English with an Aussie accent. When Poll put the number 3 in the book for the second time, he recorded him as the Australian number 3, Craig Moore. It was not enough for FIFA to forgive him – Poll and his two assistant referees, also from England, were dropped for the knock-out stages and had to return home in some dudgeon.
Yet another shootout shocker – England 0-0 (a.e.t) Portugal (Portugal win 3-1 on penalties), Quarter final
In 2006 England boasted a pretty decent team. The back four was as good as any in the country’s history – Terry, Ferdinand, Cole and Neville – the midfield featured Beckham, Lampard and Gerrard, and up front we had the 20-year-old wunderkind who would go on to become England’s record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney. For once, we qualified without any drama from our group, then we earned a scrappy win over Ecuador to reach the quarter finals. Standing in our way to the semis was a talented and tough Portugal side featuring their own young superstar, Rooney’s Manchester United teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The game was pretty even with both sides creating plenty of chances. A turning point came, however, in the 62nd minute when Rooney tussled for a ball in the centre of the pitch with Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho. Both went to ground, but as Rooney clambered to his feet, he was judged by the referee to have deliberately stamped on Carvalho. With the Portuguese writhing around in apparent agony and his colleagues assailing the ref, Rooney was shown a straight red card. It looked extremely unjust, and seemed even more so, when Ronaldo winked towards the Portugal bench, suggesting his team had hoodwinked the ref. To their credit, England continued to try to win the game and made several chances but the game finished goalless after extra-time, meaning England had to face their tournament nightmare – a penalty shoot-out.
Portugal tried to help us out by missing with two of their first three attempts, but we returned the favour, when our two most dependable players, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, also missed to leave the scores tied at 1-1. When Postiga scored with Portugal’s fourth, it was up to defender Jamie Carragher to keep us level. Rumour has it that Carragher was brought on specifically for the shoot-out by England’s Assistant Manager, Tord Grip, who had been impressed by the Liverpudlian’s cool finish in the 2005 Champions League final. There was one teensy weensy little issue with this – Carragher had not actually taken a penalty in the final – but, to be fair, he was competent and confident from the spot. Unfortunately, his confidence deserted him in Gelsenkirchen and his weak penalty was saved. This left none other than cartoon villain, Ronaldo, to put us out of our misery. He duly obliged and, once again, England had failed (miserably) on penalties. We would have to wait another four years for a chance to redeem ourselves.
The great one cometh – Lionel Messi, Argentina 6-0 Serbia & Montenegro, Group Stage
In 2001 a tiny 13-year-old Argentinian boy enrolled at Barcelona’s famous youth academy, La Masia. So small that he had been put on a course of human growth hormone, and so shy that some of his fellow teammates thought he was mute, it took the teenager some months to settle. Once he did, he soon showed that he was the most talented player of a ‘baby dream team’. So began a career that at time of writing (25 years on) is one of the greatest of all time. The boy was, of course, Lionel Messi.
He made his World Cup debut in 2006 at the age of 18. He was already the hottest young property in world football, and had played a handful of times for his country, but he was not yet a fixture in the first XI. In fact, it took until the 75th minute of the second group game for him to be called onto the pitch, as a sub, with his side already comfortably ahead at 3-0. His impact was immediate. He slotted into what is now his familiar number 10 position, demanding the ball, showing superb control and finding smart passes. Within five minutes he made an attacking run down the right and pulled a ball across the six-yard box for Crespo to score at the far post. His first assist. 10 minutes later his first goal. This time he found space on the right and rifled a shot past the demoralised Serbian keeper. Not a bad start for the teenager.
Sadly for Messi, his team went out at the quarter final stage in 2006. Indeed Argentina’s repeated failings at the finals were to be a rare blot on his otherwise stellar record. That was, of course, until 2022, when his genius was finally rewarded with the trophy. Few who saw his debut in 2006 thought it would take that long.
The Battle of Nuremburg – Portugal v Netherlands, Round of 16, 25 June 2006
In April 1945 a real battle was waged in Nuremburg as the American army fought fiercely with German forces to capture the city. 81 years later came a football contest that, whilst obviously of hugely less significance, also became known as the Battle of Nuremburg.
The two protagonists this time were the footballing sides of Portugal and the Netherlands, the occasion the Round-of-16 knockout match in the 2006 World Cup. The two had met in the 2004 Euros semi-final, a game won 2-1 by Portugal, but that had been a relatively civilised affair. This was not.
It took a mere two minutes for a player to go into the referee’s notebook, Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel deliberately taking down Cristiano Ronaldo. Defender Khalid Boulahrouz soon followed, for a cynical foul that eventually forced Ronaldo to leave the game. Portugal midfielder, Maniche, then became the first from his team to get booked, before scoring the only goal of the game, then his teammate Costinha somehow managed to get booked twice in 15 minutes to receive a red card.
The second half was, if anything, even worse. There were a further 11 yellow cards shown, three of which resulted in reds. There should, in fact, have been four reds, but Portugal captain Luis Figo somehow avoided one for an appalling headbutt. Both sides finished with only nine players on the pitch and with a heap of bad feeling between them.
It took another 16 years for the record for most yellow cards to be broken. The teams involved, Argentina and, once again, Netherlands.
