UEFA Hall of Fame - source of great debate

[rangers00]

UEFA is going to put up a Hall of Fame to celebrate the golden jubilee, and ask for each association to nominate its best player in the last 50 years, using whatever criteria it desires.

Wow, this will spring non-stop debate, as it has already been on the 606 board after the news release on Thursday:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/2892853.stm

For starter, these the no-brainers, IMO:

Germany - Beckenbauer
Poland - Boniek; it could have been Lubanski had he not been injured in 1973 and missed the World Cup
Holland - Cruyff
Russia - Yashin
Bulgaria - Stoichkov
Rumania - Hagi
Serbia & Montenegro - Dragan Dzajic
Northern Ireland - Best
Portugal - Eusebio
Hungary - Puskas
Finland - Litmanen
Czech - Masopust

Now, these countries have more than 1 contenders that it's not so clear cut:

France - should be Platini, but Zidane should give him a fight
Spain - should be Gento, but people may vote for Raul; I don't think enough people remember Luis Suarez
Italy - a tough one between Zoff, Rivera, Maldini, Baresi and Baggio; Baresi was voted as the best Italian player of the century, but...
Austria - Krankl? Happel? Ocwirk?
England - many on the 606 board said Bobby Moore by a mile, which is a surprise to me, how about Sir Stanley, Sir Bobby and Keegan?
Scotland - 606 board said Kenny Dalgish, but I think it can be Dennis Law
Wales - 606 board says John Charles is a lock, but how about Ian Rush?
Sweden - it's a tough one; Gunnar Nordahl is almost over the 50 year limit (1950 World Cup), and the Edstroems, Dahlins, Brolins, etc. aren't in that class yet, I suppose the best choice is Nils Liedholm.
Belgium - Jean-Marie Pfaff? Franky Van der Elst?
Jan Ceulmanns? Paul Van Himst?
Denmark - Schmeichel? Laudrup? Simonsen?

Of course, there are countries that I don't know enough about:

Greece, Norway, Turkey, Switzerland

although I guess it would be Hakan Suker for Turkey.

That pretty much covers all the major countries. Of course, there are minnows like

Malta, Cyprus, Luxemburg, Iceland, etc.

that I really don't know anything about their players.

Now, the tricky part is the new countries that popped up in the early 90s. They were part of a bigger country, but could a player from that region be the greatest player of that new country, albeit he played under the bigger, old establishment?

The obvious case is Ukraine. We all know Schevy is the best player under the Ukrainian national team, but of players of Ukrainian origin, is he the best in the past 50 years? how about Oleg Blokhin and Igor Belanov, both won the European Football of the Year under the USSR.

Another new country is Slovakia. Under Czechoslovia, Jan Popular was an integral part of the 1962 World Cup defense. And many players on the 1976 Euro Champs were of Slovakia origins. If I have to name one from Slovakia, it would be Popular.

And then there are Estonia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, ....

You really have to know the history of Azerbaijan football to possibly know who was the best Azerbaijan player in the USSR system. Any player of Azerbaijan origin stood out in the USSR national team?

[minorthreat]

Originally posted by rangers00
UEFA is going to put up a Hall of Fame to celebrate the golden jubilee, and ask for each association to nominate its best player in the last 50 years, using whatever criteria it desires.

Spain - should be Gento, but people may vote for Raul; I don't think enough people remember Luis SuarezSince we still have yet to see Raul's best years, I don't think the RFEF will end up choosing him. The no-brainer choice, if he's eligible, is di Stefano, cause he did play for Spain at one point. It'll probably end up as a toss-up between Gento and Suarez if he isn't, though. A very strong case could be made for Zamora, but I believe he loses out due to the 50 year limit.

[astabooty]

this looks like it will be fun. kind of a downer that some countries with multiple greats only are allowed one player while lesser countries may give lesser players

[lanman]

If we're allowed re-nationalised players then Italy could nominate Sivori, and Spain would have the difficult choice of Puskas, Di Stefano or Kubala.

My England nomination would be Bobby Charlton - Matthews best days were pre-1953 and I think Moore has been somewhat over-rated since his untimely death (I would actually put Banks ahead f him as well)

Platini will no doubt win the French vote from Zidane, but Kopa should also get some serious consideration.

For Wales I don't think that it can be anyone other than John Charles. Ian Rush might have had a great career, but Charles should win by virtue of him being a world class centre-back and centre forward.

[lanman]

Originally posted by C-towner
A very strong case could be made for Zamora, but I believe he loses out due to the 50 year limit.


All-time I don't think there would be any doubt, unfortunately for him to be eligible he would have had to be playing when he was 52.

[Clan]

I'll bet the Irish are cringing right about now.
Just when they thought the Keane saga would abate.

[rangers00]

Originally posted by astabo0t
this looks like it will be fun. kind of a downer that some countries with multiple greats only are allowed one player while lesser countries may give lesser players

That's exactly the problem.

I can see Gerd Muller and Lothar Mattheus to be the nominees in most of the other countries, but they wouldn't be because they are Germans.

Ditto for Marco Van Basten because he's Dutch.

[worldsoccer-Jeff]

I dont have any problem with each nation getting one person in the hall. And the way their doing it is ok as well. Maybe next year and years later, UEFA could set up a committee to choice new members, like other halls.

[SJFC4ever]

Originally posted by rangers00

France - should be Platini, but Zidane should give him a fight

Platini by a mile.

Scotland - 606 board said Kenny Dalgish, but I think it can be Dennis Law

Dalglish. Maybe Jim Baxter or Law, but probably Dalglish. Only Scotland player with 100+ caps, considered true great even by English so he must have been good, ;)

Wales - 606 board says John Charles is a lock, but how about Ian Rush?

Charles was a legend with Juventus in the 60s. I think he is still pretty much revered by their older fans. To me he is a certainty.

Sweden - it's a tough one;

Henrik Larsson, :D

Well, that is if you believe everything said by Celtic fans.

Norway, Turkey, Switzerland


Norway would probably pick a modern player (1990s. not sure who though)

Turkey - Hakan Sukur
Swiss - maybe Chapuisat



Malta, Cyprus, Luxemburg, Iceland, etc.

Iceland would be Eidur Gudjohnsen, definitely.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Originally posted by SJFC4ever
Platini by a mile.



Dalglish. Maybe Jim Baxter or Law, but probably Dalglish. Only Scotland player with 100+ caps, considered true great even by English so he must have been good





Henrik Larsson,

Well, that is if you believe everything said by Celtic fans.

[/b]



Billy Bremner, Jimmy Johnstone or Billy McNeill could also find themselves in contention, Personally I think Johnstone is the best scottish player ever to play the game, with Baxter second. Dalglish was never the same player at international level as he was a club level,a true legend but Johnstone for me was the best. I remember real madrid players frightened to go near him in a testimonial after our European cup win, he was running rings round them all and they didnt want to be humiliated, the crowd shouted "Ole" every time he did one, the stuff of legends.

I might be a bit baised here but of all the class players sweden have had like the dahlin's etc. Larsson is easily of that class. :)

[Bauser]

Sweden will most likely vote for Gunnar Nordahl. Second highest goalscorer in history of Serie A.

[dmar]

For Spain I suppose they would pick Luis Suarez, since he's our only player to have a Golden Ball and suceed abrod. But Gento's 6 European Cups are a big point.

[minorthreat]

Originally posted by Clanblue
I'll bet the Irish are cringing right about now.
Just when they thought the Keane saga would abate. Not really. I would rate Liam Brady above Roy Keane.

[Clan]

Originally posted by C-towner
Not really. I would rate Liam Brady above Roy Keane.

I saw Brady play for many years-in the flesh, also another great Irish stalwart Frank Stapleton and Mark Lawrenson as well.All great players.

IMHO keane is the better player pound for pound than any of them.

But you seem to have missed the point of my post mate.
I'm sure they would rather not have it draged up at all.

[Dandal]

From Sweden definitely someone from the golden decade 1948-58. Nordahl is a good choice, but he left to Italy already 49 and was not part of the successfull 1958 WC-team. His team mates in Milan, Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm, might be contenders. And if it comes to a popular vote, it's interesting to know that goalkeeper Kalle Svensson and left wing Nacka Skoglund are the only ones that has got statues of themselves.

From Norway should be someone from the 90's, in my opinion Rekdal, but Tore Andre Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are contenders.

From Denmark it should be Michael Laudrup, but there are others from the 80's team; Allan Nielsen, Morten Olsen. Olsen though probably handicaped by managing Denmark's current national team.

[Bauser]

Originally posted by Dandal
From Norway should be someone from the 90's, in my opinion Rekdal, but Tore Andre Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are contenders.

Flo could have been the best choice, but his career surprisingly stalled a few years ago and he has gone backwards lately. Too bad. He had the talent to become much better than he is today. Solskjær and Rekdal are other candidates, but my choice would be Rune Bratseth who enjoyed much success in Germany around 1987-94. Franz Beckenbauer said he would have made Bratseth his starting sweeper for the 1990 World Cup team had he been German.