The 1st Eleven to beat 'em all

The Defence.

Without solid foundations, every endeavour is doomed to fail.

No. 1

Gianluigi Buffon

Nationality: Italian

D.O.B: 28/01/78 (age 30)

Playing Career: 1995 -present

The Italian giant is the most consistent keeper in my memory. Making his Serie A debut at 17 in 1995 for Parma, he then went on to become the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, moving to Juventus for €52million. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany he kept 5 clean sheets, helping Italy become world champions.

All of this and he is only 30. The italian stallion cuts a huge figure between the posts and easily gets the No. 1 shirt.

No. 2

Cafu

Nationality: Brazilian

D.O.B: 07/06/1970 (age 38)

Playing Career: 1989 - present

What's this? A Brazilian defender? Are you mugging me off mate? Well believe it or not the former Brazil captain was a stalwart of the Brazil defence in the mid to late 90's, becoming Brazil's most capped player at 156 caps, winning 2 world cups in 1994 and 2002, appearing in 3 consecutive world cup finals over this time. This wing back was famed for his attacking prowess and overlapping full back play. Playing his football in Brazil earlier in his career, he moved to spain and then onto the Italian Serie A playing for both Roma and AC Milan. Cafu was born in the favelas of São Paulo and learnt his trade playing football in the streets, eventually making it into the São Paulo team in 1989. A good team plays good football from the back, and his Brazilian composure and technique would allow this team to press forward from the defence.

No. 3

Paolo Maldini

Nationality: Italian

D.O.B: 26/06/1968 (age 40)

Playing Career: 1984 - present

Another Italian, and what would a defence be without an Italian? Maldini has played for only one club in his 24 year top flight career, AC Milan. The legendary centre half made one solitary appearance for AC in 1984 when he was just 16 yrs old. After that year, he became a member of the starting 11 for every successive season. He is now 40yrs old and is the embodiment of the healthy Italian lifestyle allowing many Italian players to play well into their late 30's.

Maldini featured in 8 European Cup finals for Milan and holds 5 European Cup winner's medals. Spending 8 of 16yrs as an International player as the captain shows the consistency and rock solid defensive capabilities of this defensive heavyweight. Maldini makes up the first part of a 3 man defence, gaining the No. 3 shirt.

No. 5

Bobby Moore

Nationality: English

Born: 12/04/1941 Died: 24/02/1993 (age 51)

Playing Career: 1958 - 1978

Bobby Moore was born just down the road from me in Barking, East London, where my dad grew up. He started playing for the local team West Ham United when he was 17.

Moore captained England in the 1966 world cup final, becoming the first and only man to captain a winning English side. He was famed for his supreme footballing abilities, at a time when defenders were classically rough, tough and brutal. Moore was able to read the game, enabling him to make timely tackles and show complete composure with the ball at his feet when defending. Pele described Moore as the fairest defender he played against, which is a testament to Moore's characteristic good nature. I believe he was one of the few defenders of the past who could play at the top level today, making up for his lack of pace with intelligience, something which seems to have evaded many modern players.

This quote from Alf Ramsey, the England manager when England won the '66 world cup, sums up Moore as a player and a person.

"My captain, my leader, my right-hand man. He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the team. A cool, calculating footballer I could trust with my life. He was the supreme professional, the best I ever worked with. Without him England would never have won the World Cup."

We love you Bobby, R.I.P.

............And that concludes the defence.......... Midfield next, tomorrow......... x