Dr. Soccer holds forth (slighty long) . Review on Ten Best Football Teams

The term ’’football’’ is used to refer to both american football (NFL et al) and good ol’ soccer. Purely due to my sporting tendencies, cultural and national affiliations and an abject lack of knowledge about American Football, I assume that we are talking about Soccer.

Before I start babbling about the 10 best teams, may I also provide the following preliminary comments. Firstly, I have included both club and national teams in my review. Yeah, some players may appear on more than one team in the review for exactly the same reason. I have tried to give as objective a comparision as possible of the club and national sides. Secondly, I am writing a review on the 10 best teams as of the present(6/7/2003). (this is going to be slightly long.... but its SOCCER!!!)

1. AC Milan - (4-3-3)

You just can’t take any team which wins the champions league lightly. AC Milan, along with Juventus completely rubbished the long standing allegation that Italian teams were boring and defensive. AC finally got rid of the staple italian style of Cattenaccio (having 9 defenders stretched out in a line or variations thereof) by starting to play good attacking soccer and no one could stop them. Maybe the players aren’t as expensive as the Reals, but theres Nesta patrolling the defense, Gattuso and Seedorf doing dirty work in the midfield, Shevchenko for that burst of speed in attack, Inzhagi for puncing on the occassional loose ball (ok, hes a wimp, but he SCORES) and always Rivaldo off the bench. Add midfield magician Rui Costa in the hoole and Maldini for experience, and you have quiet a heady mix.... and the best team on the planet.

1. Brazil World Cup winning team (5-3-2)

Possibly one of the most entertaining teams I have ever seen.... this team has got it all. They played a 5-3-2 formation with speedy wingers, two holding midfielders, one attacking midfielder, Rivaldo in the hoole and Ronaldo as target man. Maybe the best part of this team is the fact that they improved their defence and had a good goalie in Marcos.... and we all know that the Brazilian team is well nigh unbeatable if they defend well. These guys play a very attacking game with Roberto Carlos and Cafu pounding down the wings and putting in crosses, Ronaldinho playing attacking midfielder to perfection and Rivaldo and Ronaldo complementing each other with a bit of magic and amazing pace respectively. With two defensive midfielders to tackle the living daylights out of the opponents in the middle of the park and stable defence in Lucio, the Brazilian team gets in at No.2.

3.Real Madrid (4-4-2)

If I had as much money as them I would have made better use of it..... but barbs apart, you can’t deny the fact that Real Madrid is a soccer powerhouse. Real Madrid maintain their position in world soccer by gobbling up the biggest names in world soccer for mind blowing amounts.... refer to Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo and to some extent Beckham (he’s not that good, is he?). However you can’t deny that they have good home grown talent in Raul, Casillas whos a good shot stopper, and an aging Hierro. Theres oodles of skill in the middle of the park and up front with Zidane and Figo doing their stuff and Raul to score the most delectable goals. Roberto Carlos, who never seems to get injured plays left back, left winger and third striker with aplomb thanks to his stamina. However, sometimes the chemistry goes all wrong (like in this season) and the defence is horrible. Maybe they’ll become better if they got some good defenders... and thank god, Hierros already been packed off.

1. Juventus

The second of the teams which led the Italian renaissance. Sound in all departments but experts of using a maestro in the hoole to control the flow of play. The most significant aspect of their play is the use of the long haired wizard Pavel Nedved behind the strikers.... but they depend too much on him. Special metion for the worlds best (and most expensive) goal keeper in Buffon. Theres a bit of steel and velvet here and there with Davids, Montero and Del Piero. Thuram plays up to his normal excellent standards and Trezeguets good when hes on song. But again, thank god they stopped defending me to boredom.

1. German World Cup Runners up Team

Absolutely non-flashy, but solid and dependable. Can get defensive, but with Ballack, an absolute gem around, u can afford to do that. Kahn in goal, which is better that what most teams have. A tactical minded midfield with Jens Jeremies and decent strikers led by Klose. Schneider does the dirty work and theres always big, strong german defenders to fall back upon.

1. Real Sociadad

The biggest climbers of the season. Nearly grabbed the La Liga title. Maybe u’ve never heard on Nihat, Xabi Alonso, Del Pedro and Karpin.... but lemme tell u... they’re goooood. Good team work, Bjorn Kwarme in defence is pure class and Sander Westerveld makes himself very big in goal.

1. Ajax Amsterdam

Maybe this choice is a bit of a surprise, but I couldn’t find a better team as far as team play is concerned. Hats off to Ronald Koeman, once the papa of all stoppers and now the papa of all coaches. Showed all those stinking rich clubs what could be done with good young players, an amazing youth system and sound tactics and coaching. I predict a semifinal berth in the Champs Leaugue within 2 years. Look out for Chivu, Sikora, Galasek unless they sell out to Real.

1. Valencia

A fall from their days of excellence 1 season back... but they still ooze class. Canizares is there is goal and he absolutely psyches out opposing forwards. Their defence, marshalled by Ayala is one of the best in the world and their midfield with the untiring and fast Kily Gonzales, Baraja and Albelda can run most midfields ragged. Masters of the counter-attacking game. Sell Carew and get a decent striker and I see them finally cracking the Champs League.

1. Barcelona

These guys get here purely on the basis of their Champions League form..... they were horrible in the spanish league. The only thing they lack is the killer instinct.... and a front office / management with any sense. The teams good, though they took time to adjust to life without Rivaldo. Play a good short passing game... in spite of 2 coaches every season. A few gems in Saviola, Overmars, Puyol and Enrique and some players are absolute trash. If you saw their Champs League game with Liverpool last season (it was a footballing lesson for those english punks) where Liddlypool hardly got to touch the ball, u’ll know how good they are. Do me a favour... win the UEFA cup and justify your existence.

1. Manchester United

This is exactly where they belong. I don’t need to say anything as everyone knows a bit too much about ManU.