Steve Curry: Are Barcelona the best side ever? They don't even make the top 10...
By Steve Curry
Last updated at 9:58 AM on 17th December 2010
Comments (49) Add to My Stories Barcelona’s dazzling display last Sunday left people wondering whether they are the best team ever to play the beautiful game. Not so, according to Steve Curry, who here picks his all-time top 10...
1 Brazil (1970)This was the team of all talents who defeated Italy 4-1 in the final in Mexico City, captained by Carlos Alberto and brimming with the top names in the game — Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho, Tostao and Rivelino. The fourth goal, scored by Carlos Alberto, came at the end of a move involving eight outfield players. Spectacular entertainers.
2 Hungary (1953)They came, we saw, they conquered. Has been labelled the Match of the Century, England’s first home defeat by a side from foreign soil. This Hungarian side of Ferenc Puskas and Nandor Hidegkuti mesmerised an England side captained by Billy Wright with the sheer geometry of their play. Their 6-3 Wembley win was followed later that season by a 7-1 drubbing in Budapest.
3 Real Madrid (1955-60)This was the side who won the first five European Cups. Structured around the remarkable Alfredo Di Stefano, they also had other outstanding players in Santamaria, Rial and Gento. Di Stefano, nicknamed Saeta Rubia or Blond Arrow, supplied the wisdom but the whole side played in wonderful patterns and were truly the Kings of Europe.
4 AC Milan (1989-90)
This was a multi-talented side bristling with outstanding names and wonderful players. This was the side illuminated by the great Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten but who also boasted Italy’s top talent in Paolo Maldini, skipper Franco Baresi and Chelsea’s current manager Carlo Ancelotti. It was
hardly surprising they beat Benfica 1-0 in Vienna to win the 1990 European Cup.
5 Holland (1974)This was without doubt the team of Johan Cruyff, nominally the centre forward but who, in reality, was the axis around which this team of talents was built. Their midfield trio of Arie Haan, Johan Neeskens and Wim van Hanegem were decisive members of the side built by the great coach Rinus Michels and they really should have won the World Cup, losing in the final to West Germany.
6 Manchester United (1968)Sir Matt Busby was proud to have built a new United side after the Munich Air Crash 10 years earlier and the crowning glory for the veteran Scot was winning the European Cup at Wembley in 1968. By drafting in players like Paddy Crerand and Denis Law, United won the League in 1965 and 1967 and had three European Players of the Year — Bobby Charlton, Law and George Best — in their squad, although injured Law missed the 4-1 final win over Benfica.
7 Barcelona (2009)Josep Guardiola assembled a team of many talents after taking over at the Nou Camp, and they looked the complete unit in 2009 as they won the triple of La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League — immensely strong at the back, creative in midfield and lethal up front. With players of the stature of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol they had strength, Xavi and Andres Iniesta gave them midfield inspiration while nobody would have wanted to take on a front line of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.
8 Liverpool (1977)Not easy to choose between the Liverpool teams of the Seventies but this European Cup winning side edge it. Led by Emlyn Hughes and Tommy Smith at the back, Terry McDermott and Jimmy Case in midfield, two wide men in Ian Callaghan and Steve Heighway and Kevin Keegan in attack.
9 Manchester United (1999)Of all Sir Alex Ferguson’s winning sides the one that won the treble in 1998-99 has to be the strongest. With Peter Schmeichel in goal, Gary Neville and Denis Irwin as full
backs and Jaap Stam at centre half, little was conceded while David Beckham was in his prime and Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were scoring goals for fun, though it was subs Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who scored the goals to win the Champions League.
10 Tottenham Hotspur (1961)
Any Spurs fan worth his salt would reel off the names of this remarkable side from Bill Brown in goal to Terry Dyson at outside left. It was a team playing passing football inspired by Danny Blanchflower’s captaincy and Dave Mackay the enforcer and Bobby Smith the battering ram, not forgetting the little ghost of an inside forward in John White. Bill Nicholson’s side were a joy to watch.
So no Liverpool of 87-88 and no Ajax of the mid nineties either? Obviously the 2009 Barca side were special because of who they beat in the CL final but 2010 side is different?
By Steve Curry
Last updated at 9:58 AM on 17th December 2010
Comments (49) Add to My Stories Barcelona’s dazzling display last Sunday left people wondering whether they are the best team ever to play the beautiful game. Not so, according to Steve Curry, who here picks his all-time top 10...
1 Brazil (1970)This was the team of all talents who defeated Italy 4-1 in the final in Mexico City, captained by Carlos Alberto and brimming with the top names in the game — Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho, Tostao and Rivelino. The fourth goal, scored by Carlos Alberto, came at the end of a move involving eight outfield players. Spectacular entertainers.
2 Hungary (1953)They came, we saw, they conquered. Has been labelled the Match of the Century, England’s first home defeat by a side from foreign soil. This Hungarian side of Ferenc Puskas and Nandor Hidegkuti mesmerised an England side captained by Billy Wright with the sheer geometry of their play. Their 6-3 Wembley win was followed later that season by a 7-1 drubbing in Budapest.
3 Real Madrid (1955-60)This was the side who won the first five European Cups. Structured around the remarkable Alfredo Di Stefano, they also had other outstanding players in Santamaria, Rial and Gento. Di Stefano, nicknamed Saeta Rubia or Blond Arrow, supplied the wisdom but the whole side played in wonderful patterns and were truly the Kings of Europe.
4 AC Milan (1989-90)
This was a multi-talented side bristling with outstanding names and wonderful players. This was the side illuminated by the great Dutch trio of Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten but who also boasted Italy’s top talent in Paolo Maldini, skipper Franco Baresi and Chelsea’s current manager Carlo Ancelotti. It was
hardly surprising they beat Benfica 1-0 in Vienna to win the 1990 European Cup.
5 Holland (1974)This was without doubt the team of Johan Cruyff, nominally the centre forward but who, in reality, was the axis around which this team of talents was built. Their midfield trio of Arie Haan, Johan Neeskens and Wim van Hanegem were decisive members of the side built by the great coach Rinus Michels and they really should have won the World Cup, losing in the final to West Germany.
6 Manchester United (1968)Sir Matt Busby was proud to have built a new United side after the Munich Air Crash 10 years earlier and the crowning glory for the veteran Scot was winning the European Cup at Wembley in 1968. By drafting in players like Paddy Crerand and Denis Law, United won the League in 1965 and 1967 and had three European Players of the Year — Bobby Charlton, Law and George Best — in their squad, although injured Law missed the 4-1 final win over Benfica.
7 Barcelona (2009)Josep Guardiola assembled a team of many talents after taking over at the Nou Camp, and they looked the complete unit in 2009 as they won the triple of La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League — immensely strong at the back, creative in midfield and lethal up front. With players of the stature of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol they had strength, Xavi and Andres Iniesta gave them midfield inspiration while nobody would have wanted to take on a front line of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.
8 Liverpool (1977)Not easy to choose between the Liverpool teams of the Seventies but this European Cup winning side edge it. Led by Emlyn Hughes and Tommy Smith at the back, Terry McDermott and Jimmy Case in midfield, two wide men in Ian Callaghan and Steve Heighway and Kevin Keegan in attack.
9 Manchester United (1999)Of all Sir Alex Ferguson’s winning sides the one that won the treble in 1998-99 has to be the strongest. With Peter Schmeichel in goal, Gary Neville and Denis Irwin as full
backs and Jaap Stam at centre half, little was conceded while David Beckham was in his prime and Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke were scoring goals for fun, though it was subs Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who scored the goals to win the Champions League.
10 Tottenham Hotspur (1961)
Any Spurs fan worth his salt would reel off the names of this remarkable side from Bill Brown in goal to Terry Dyson at outside left. It was a team playing passing football inspired by Danny Blanchflower’s captaincy and Dave Mackay the enforcer and Bobby Smith the battering ram, not forgetting the little ghost of an inside forward in John White. Bill Nicholson’s side were a joy to watch.
So no Liverpool of 87-88 and no Ajax of the mid nineties either? Obviously the 2009 Barca side were special because of who they beat in the CL final but 2010 side is different?
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