This summer's World Cup will be the sixth that I will have watched in any great detail. My love affair with it began one June afternoon round at my childminder's house aged nine when I watched the first game of Italia 90 - Cameroon v Argentina. Of course, the Argies were hot favourites – they were the defending champions, had the best player of his generation, Diego Maradona, in their ranks and were up against a Cameroon side that was thought to be at best naïve and at worst well out of their depth.In one of the biggest World Cup shocks ever up until that point, the Indomitable Lions overcame the dismissal of two players for kicking Claudio Cannigia across Northern Italy to win the game 1-0. Francois Omam Biyik’s header being fumbled over the line by the luckless Nery Pompido. I was hooked. Players began to make a real impression on me and lodge themselves in my memory bank. As a result, here is my Cult Hero World Cup XI made up of players who, whilst not necessarily being worthy of a place in anyone's 'best ever' sides, are definitely well worth a place in my ‘Favourite Ever XI’...
Goalkeeper – Jan Stejskal (Czechoslovakia 1990)
As a budding nine year old goalkeeper who was just approaching his first season in youth football, I was completely bewitched by the blond Czech goalkeeper’s performance in their 1-0 defeat against West Germany in the Quarter Finals of Italia '90. It seemed to me that he single handedly repelled wave after wave of German attacks, beaten only by Matthaus’ 25th minute penalty. After that performance, I spent all summer being Stejskal as I threw myself around the back garden in tribute. It was also enough to slot him into second place just behind Nigel Spink in my list of all time favourite goalkeepers. You can imagine how delighted I was when he signed for QPR later in 1990 and despite never quite capturing my imagination as he had that day in Milan, he went on to make 107 appearances at Loftus Road over 4 years.
Near Misses: Sergio Goycochea (Argentina 1990), Oliver Kahn (Germany 2002)
Right Back – Lilian Thuram (France 1998)
The moment he thumped in his second goal against Croatia in the Semi Finals of France ’98 the big man with the girls name sealed a place in my heart. I’m no natural Francophile and would usually take Slaven Bilic over Laurent Blanc, but from the moment the Croatian hard man crumpled in a heap after Blanc tried to give him a snog I wanted France to win. His first goal came immediately after Suker had put the Croatians ahead just after half time, his first in international football and his second, and last in international football, came about 20 minutes later, both of them superbly taken as he attacked from right back. There was a moment as he is mobbed after one of the goals (I’m not sure which one) where if you look at the footage he seems to be in another world completely, goggle eyed and not reacting the rumpus around him. That moment in particular made me want to be him. Such a colossus for France and Juventus over the following couple of years, he is one of the best defenders I’ve had the pleasure to watch.
Near Misses: Cafu (Brazil 1998, 2002), Paul Parker (England 1990), Jorginho (Brazil 1994)
Left Back – Arthur Boka (Ivory Coast 2006)
Described by ITV’s very own maverick commentator Peter Drury as a ‘Quart in a pint pot’ moments after claiming that Ivory Coast weren’t at the World Cup to be patronised, the diminutive full-back left an indelible impression on me, still a man easily persuaded by the awesome at the age of 25, with his adventurous and tigerish performances on the left. For me, along with Yaya Toure, he was their outstanding performer. Standing just taller than my mother at 5’5”, he is a purist’s full back. Quick, attacking and with a dream of a left foot, his nickname ‘The African Roberto Carlos’ is pretty appropriate – the only real difference being Boka’s reluctance to smash 40 yard free kicks high, wide and handsomely into row P behind the goal. I am keenly looking forward to seeing him fly up the left flank again this summer, and so should you.
Near Misses: Andreas Brehme (West Germany 1990), Stuart Pearce (England 1990)
Centre Back – Marco Materazzi (Italy 2006)
Good old Marco is one of those players you love to hate, or perhaps hate to love. In my case I love to love the big fella. It would be fair to say that the man o’ tattoos had an eventful 2006 tournament for the eventual champions Italy, ending of course with the great Zinedine Zidane’s head in his chest after a bit of a wind up. That’s part of the reason I love him - he was able to needle players, get under their skins and provoke a reaction – even from the greatest of his generation. Add to that a goal against the Czechs in the group stages, the equaliser in the final having conceded the penalty that gave France the lead, a slightly unfortunate red card in the second round against Australia and you have yourself the finest pantomime villain around. Jens Lehmann and Didier Drogba aren’t fit to lace the big man’s drinks.
Near Misses: Rigobert Song (Cameroon 1994, 1998), Sol Campbell (England 1998)
Centre Back – Roberto Ayala (Argentina 1998, 2006)
I love Roberto Ayala. I always have done and I always will do. I have immense respect for a centre half who can make it to the very top whilst standing no higher than Shaun Wright-Phillips to Peter Crouch. Fabio Cannavaro comes into the same bracket and very nearly pipped Bobby to partner Mad Marco in defence. The main reason for Roberto’s inclusion is as a result of his actions in the fantastic second round game at France ’98 against England. As David Beckham slotted the ball through midfield for Michael Owen to run onto past Jose Chamot, it looked as if he was clear of the last defender. As he approached the penalty area there was a figure so deep behind Chamot, I assumed it was the goalkeeper, Carlos Roa, making a madcap dash out of his penalty area. It wasn’t, it was Ayala, playing in that niche position of ‘extreme-sweeper’ where he was allowed no further up the pitch than the edge of the D. Of course, we know the rest is history but that moment stood with me and gave Ayala a place in my heart. Although in the squad in 2002, he wasn’t called upon but returned 4 years ago in Germany to perform superbly until their defeat against the host nation in the quarter final.
Near Misses: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy 2006), Trifon Ivanov (Bulgaria 1994)
Right Midfield – Ray Houghton (Ireland 1994)
I remember sitting in the living room rooting for Italy. I was hooked at the time on Channel 4’s coverage of Serie A and was looking forward to my heroes thumping Jack Charlton’s assorted creation of Englishmen, Scotsmen and Tony Cascarino. Just eleven minutes in and Ray Houghton lazily clipped the ball left footed towards goal from just outside the box. Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca (inexplicably preferred to the great Angelo Peruzzi) bounced gently off the floor and instead of plucking the ball out of the air, actually waved at it as it passed over his head into the centre of the net. I was off my seat, half in despair and half in delight. Pagliuca had been made to look a goon and Ray Houghton embarked on one of the most half-arsed celebrations in history. A pathetic roly-poly before being accosted by the man in chimp form Terry Phelan and he instantly became a living legend. A great great moment from a great great man.
Near Misses: Junior Senaya (Togo 2006), Claudio Cannigia (Argentina 1990)
Left Midfield – Denilson (Brazil 1998, 2002)
I never said this was a team packed with players who were any good, I just want to make that very clear. Denilson was quite something. Brazil haven’t exactly been blessed with out and out wingers over recent times and if Denilson’s performances were anything to go by, it will be quite some time before we see another one. Signed by Betis for a world record fee of about $50million from Sao Paulo, he treated the world to stepover after stepover after stepover. Not intent on beating his marker once, he had to do it four or five times – by which time he seemed to be dizzier than the defender judging by the quality (or otherwise) of his final ball. In spite of this, I loved the big lummox. I even bought myself a fake Brazil top with his name on the back in the streets of Barcelona in 1999 (before swapping it at the Reading Festival for a Soulfly T-Shirt a couple of years later). He made me feel secure in the knowledge that I wasn’t the only person on God’s earth that couldn’t beat his marker with dizzying and confused footwork. A true legend.
Near Misses: Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal 2006), Enzo Scifo (Belgium 1990)
Centre Midfield – Stig Tofting / Thomas Gravesen (Denmark 2002)
Never before have two physically identical people created a partnership of such beautiful contrasts, a partnership that on the face of it was doomed to failure but in reality simply blossomed. Both men balder than Jim Smith and with a better physique than Scotty Too Hotty, like Phil and Grant Mitchell, they were only distinguishable by the cut of their jib. Tofting played the midfield bouncer to perfection, breaking up the attacks of Uruguay, Senegal and France before giving the ball to Gravesen to weave his magic in the middle of the park. Fans of Everton can attest to the quality of Gravesen’s passing, and it was that passing out to the pacy wingers, or Tomasson further forward, that was integral to the ease with which they qualified from Group A. Unfortunately, as with all great partnerships, it all ended in tears as a Nicky Butt inspired England side beat the Danes comfortably in the second round much to the despair of football purists the world over.
Near Misses: Frank Rijkaard (Holland 1990), David Platt (England 1990)
Attacking Midfield – Gheorgie Hagi (Romania 1994)
Part one of the pair of mercurial Eastern European legends that lit up the 1994 tournament in the USA, Hagi was the key man behind their march to the Quarter Finals, making those around him, such as Ilie Dumitrescu and Florin Raduciou look so good, that Harry Redknapp took note and ended up with both men lighting up Upton Park for all of 15 minutes. He will always be remembered for the outstanding strike against Colombia from way out wide on the left flank in the group stages. Indeed, he almost scored similarly in the same game from about 40 yards, more centrally this time but saw his shot tipped away by Cordoba. Just one of many virtuoso talismen to grace that World Cup and one of two who made me wish I had a half decent left foot.
Near Misses: Dragan Stojkovic (Yugoslavia 1990), Rivaldo (Brazil 1998/2002)
Centre Forward – Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria 1994)
The other of course being Hristo Stoichkov. Part of a two man dream team for the Bulgarians (along with the criminally underused Bontcho Guentchev), the moody number eight set the competition alight with his lethal left foot. The highlights were undoubtedly his powerful finish against Mexico that beat Campos at his near post, and his impeccable free kick against the Germans in the Quarter Final. A man at the very peak of his powers, who did as much to take Bulgaria to an unprecedented Semi Final appearance as Hagi did for Romania, Baggio did for Italy and Romario did for Brazil.
Near Misses: Romario (Brazil 1994), Ronaldo (Brazil 1998/2002), Roberto Baggio (Italy 1994)
Centre Forward – Rasheed Yekini (Nigeria 1994)
I was aware of Rasheed Yekini before the 1994 tournament began having read about his impressive strike rate for Vitoria Setubal in Portugal (90 goals in 108 games) and was excited about witnessing him on the world stage. He didn’t disappoint, scoring Nigeria’s first goal at a World Cup in a 3-0 win over Bulgaria. It wasn’t so much the quality of the finish – I’d have backed David N’Gog to have stuck it away, but the amazing celebration. Clenching his fists through the goal net, crying, shouting and screaming. I always wanted to know what he was saying - indeed trying to lip read it just looked like he was screaming his own name, something that seemed a little conceited. He never really scaled those heights again, but it was enough to have me screaming by own name inside the net whenever I converted an unmissable chance at the park. What more can you ask for?
Near Misses: Toto Schillachi (Italy 1990), Roger Milla (Cameroon 1990)
by John Rogers
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