Road to Africa...

John Barnes' World Cup XI

	When I lived in Jamaica my father came back from the Munich Olympics with my first pair of football boots – a pair of adidas Gerd Muller. I became an avid West Germany fan

1 Dino Zoff (Italy, GK)
“An inspirational figure who won the World Cup at 40 and lead Italy valiantly. Peter Shilton could have got a mention , but he didn’t achieve the same highs in the World Cup itself.”

2 Carlos Alberto (Brazil, RB)
“A part of that great 1970 Brazilian side who was as good defending as he was attacking. Everyone remembers Pele and Rivelino, but Carlos Alberto really was the inspirational figure in that side.”

3 Junior (Brazil, LB)
“While he never won the World Cup, the 1982 Brazil side were probably the best side never to have done it, and he played a big part in the geniu attacking nature of that side.”

4 Bobby Moore (England, CB)
“He was a leader and a captain and won England’s only World Cup, so he has to be in there.”

5 Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany, CB)
“Another World Cup winner who was an elegant player on the ball and could play in midfield also. An incredible footballer.”

6 Wolfgang Overath (West Germany, CM)
“A bit unusual selection this one, but in 1974 when I lived in Jamaica my father came back from the Munich Olympics with my first pair of football boots – a pair of adidas Gerd Muller. So West Germany became my favourite team. Wolfgang Overath was their left-footed central midfield player, and I was left-footed too, and he had long hair and tight shorts, which I had too. He was excellent. He played for Cologne. He’s an unusual choice, but he gets in my team.”

7 Michel Platini (France, CM)
“What is there to say about Platini? He was sublime, just fantastic. And another great leader of men.”

8 Diego Maradona (Argentina, ML)
“For me he is the best player in the world ever, without question. And to accommodate some strikers, for me he’d occupy the left-midfield spot.”

9 Pele (Brazil, FW)
“Mr World Cup. He may have been an elder statesman in the 1970 side, but that team epitomised what he was all about. He and Maradona are the two greatest players in the world ever. He has to be in my team, he just has to.”

10 Ferenc Puskas (Hungary, FW)
"I’m tempted by Urugauy’s Juan Schiaffino, he was a superstar in the 1950 Uruguay team. But Puskas’s thumping left foot would give a good balance up front, so I’ll go for him."

11 Johan Cruyff (Netherlands, MR)
"Another charismatic player who could carry a team single-handedly. This particular side would be awesome going forward, and Wolfgang would have to do a bit of defending, but seeing Cruyff and Maradona breaking forward into the attack would be a little bit special.”

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John Barnes has teamed up with the NHS to launch Smokefree United, a virtual club of quitters that provides coaching and support to help football fans and players to stop smoking.   

In addition to quitting advice, footballers and fans who sign up for Smokefree United will receive motivational emails from football hero Ian Wright encouraging them to stop smoking, as well as the chance to win money-can’t- buy prizes such as the chance to play a game on the pitch of the team they support.

Check it out at www.nhs.uk/smokefreeunited