What lineup would be the hardest to score on that you can come up with (not necessarily the best lineup, just the best defensively), keeping everyone in plausible positions? Here's my attempt: 4-5-1 GK Oliver Kahn LB Paolo Maldini CB Jaap Stam CB Sol Campbell RB Fabio Cannavaro DM Ivan Helguera DM Patrick Vieira LM Gaizka Mendieta CM Edgar Davids RM Geremi CF Brian McBride
How can you say this and then disregard it in your selection? Cannavaro is a centre back, not a right back. Thuram would be the ideal right back for your team. Maldini and Helguera haven't played in the positions you've put them in for ages. How about Helguera's team-mate Claude Makele in the defensive midfield position and Juve's Birindelli at left back? Apart from that, perfect!
Re: Re: The Extreme Catenaccio XI? What I mean by plausible positions is not necessarily the positions they normally play, but positions that they are capable of playing. I've seen Cannavaro play right back for Italy on a couple occasions, and considering that he rarely pushes forward... Maldini and Helguera are put in those positions for similar reasons: at the present time they are purely defensive players.
OK, I'll give it a go. GK Buffon SW Maldini RB Puyol RCB Thuram CB Nesta LCB Chivu LB Kaladze DM Gattuso LM Nedved RM J. Zanetti F Hierro