Johan Cruyff
Country: Holland
DOB: 25/04/1947
World Cups: 1974
A Total Footballer
Perhaps the greatest player the continent of Europe has ever
produced, Johan Cruyff was as much of a maverick off the pitch as he was
mercurial on it. Under the guidance of Rinus Michels and later the Romanian
Stefan Kovacs, he helped develop a brand new system of play known simply as
‘Total Football’, where players of exemplary technique would constantly swap
positions and cover one another all over the pitch when in attack.
This free-flowing, elegant approach to the game earned
global plaudits during the World Cup in West Germany in 1974, but unfortunately
not the coveted trophy. After the deep disappointment of failure to the hosts,
Cruyff’s footballing genius never returned to the world stage. He later said,
“It’s better to fail with your own vision rather than following another man’s
vision.”
Instead of wearing three black stripes, the adidas design
that all Dutch players wore down the famous orange shirt, Cruyff had a habit of
wearing a shirt with just two stripes. It is assumed he did this because of his
personal affiliations with the Puma brand.
Eusebio
Country: Portugal
DOB: 25/1/1942
World Cups: 1966
Black Panther with a predatory instinct
A junior sprint champion who would literally run errands
through the streets of Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) in Portuguese East Africa,
at 19 Eusebio was whisked away to play for the mighty Benfica, then reigning
European Champions. He quickly rose to the first team scoring twice against
Real Madrid in the 1962 European Cup Final.
An explosive athlete with one of the most powerful shots in
the world, Eusebio could also blaze past defenders with the ball at his feet,
making him the ultimate attacking footballer. He was the top scorer in 1966,
finishing the tournament with 9 goals and a new legion of admirers. Such was
his popularity his replica was added to the Madame Tussaud’s gallery in London.
“The 1966 World Cup was the high point of my career,” he said. “We may have lost
the semi-final, but Portuguese football was a big winner.”
Did you know?
Despite his newfound affiliation with English football fans,
Wembley was not the happiest of venues for Eusebio. He lost two European Cups
and a World Cup semi-final there.
Fabio Cannavaro
Country: Italy
DOB: 13/09/1973
World Cups: 1998, 2002, 2006
Leading by example
After the legendary Paolo Maldini eventually retired, Fabio
Cannavaro had some rather large boots to fill as both captain and
defender-in-chief of the mighty Azzurri. But fill them he did with some
courageous and inspiring performances that culminated in a rousing Italian
victory in the World Cup of 2006. That same year Cannavaro also won the FIFA
World Player of the Year, the first, and so far only, defender to be given the
honour.
Did you know?
His crowning moment, holding aloft the World Cup on 9 July
2006 in Berlin, also marked the occasion of his 100th cap for his country. He
is now Italy’s most capped player.
Zinedine Zidane
Country: France
DOB: 23/06/1972
World Cups: 1998, 2002, 2006
A head of the game
Despite the ignominy of being sent off in the World Cup
final of 2006 for headbutting Marco Materazzi, Zidane is rightly remembered as
one of football’s all-time greats. A visionary midfielder, Zidane could pull the
strings from the midfield, take control of set-pieces and weigh in with his
fair share of goals. The 1998 France team won the World Cup on home soil and
the orchestrating Zidane scored twice in the final.
Did you know?
In 2006, after scoring a sixth-minute penalty against Italy,
Zidane became only the fourth player in World Cup history to score in two
different finals, along with Pele, Paul Breitner, and Brazil’s Vava.
Jurgen Klinsmann
Country: Germany
World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998
Theatrics on the biggest stages
Famed for his theatrics in the box as much as his acrobatic
marksmanship, Jurgen Klinsmann is the second most capped player in Germany’s
illustrious World Cup history with 108 caps, reinforcing his consistency as
both a goalscorer and contributor of some repute. Where Klinsmann was involved,
drama always prevailed.
Did you know?
He was the first player to score at least three goals in
three World Cups, later joined by Brazil’s Ronaldo.
Gheorghe Hagi
Country: Romania
DOB: 05/02/1965
World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998
The Maradona of the Carpathians
As well as scoring one of the most memorable goals of the
1994 tournament against Colombia with a 40-yard lob, Hagi was generally viewed
as one of the most gifted attacking midfielders of his generation, his deft
left boot drawing comparisons with Diego Maradona himself. A staunch proponent
of the playmaker behind the front two.
Did you know?
Gheorghe Hagi was recently named Romanian Footballer of the
Century.
Geoff Hurst
Country: England
DOB: 08/12/1941
World Cups: 1966, 1970
Gentleman Geoff – the King of Wembley
Sharp-shooting English gent, Geoff Hurst, scored the most
controversial goal in World Cup history with the was-it wasn’t-it “goal”
against West Germany in the final of 1966, and added two more to make him the
only player in history to score a hat-trick in the final. By no means a first
choice England striker, Hurst broke into the squad just before sir Alf named
his 22, and then the first eleven when Jimmy Greaves was injured prior to the
quarter final against Argentina.
Did you know?
As Hurst made no effort to retain the 1966 match ball,
Helmut Haller, Germany’s first goalscorer, claimed it. He returned it to Hurst
30 years later.
Paolo Rossi
Country: Italy
DOB: 23/09/1956
World Cups: 1982
Bad boy comes good
A unpalatable match-fixing conviction meant Rossi’s
preparation for the 1982 World Cup consisted of a paltry three matches in two
years. This period in the international wilderness didn’t deter him though and
his instincts in front of goal eventually led to Italy lifting the trophy and
Rossi the Golden Boot, with six goals.
Did you know?
Rossi did not score any of his 1982 goal tally in the first
round games.
Leonidas
Country: Brazil
DOB: 06/09/1912
World Cups: 1934, 1938
The Black Diamond
Leonidas is credited with creating the “bicycle” kick; he says a player named Ptronilho de Brito invented it, he just “perfected
it”. A showman footballer who often played in bare feet, Leonidas was a true
footballing maverick who played at the 1934 and 1938 World Cups and stood out
due to his uber-flamboyant approach to the game. He was the seven-goal top
scorer in 1938, also becoming the first player to score four goals in one World
Cup match. Rather stupidly, Brazilian coach Ademar Pimenta decided to rest him
for the semi-final against Italy. The Italians won the game 2-1 and went on to
win the tournament.
Did you know?
A chocolate manufacturer in Brazil created the bar Diamante
Negro (Black Diamond) in his honour. The chocolate is still produced as of
2009.
Dennis Bergkamp
Country: Netherlands
DOB: 10/05/1969
World Cups: 1994, 1998
High-flying aviophobic
Revered for his touch and incredible vision, Bergkamp was
one of the foremost proponents of playing in the “hole”, his masterly control
and finish against the Argentinians in the quarter-final of 1998 regarded as
one of the World Cup’s best ever goals.
Did you know?
The Dutch sculptor Jeroen Henneman said of the way Bergkamp
can split opposition defences: “It’s a miracle. One moment the pitch is crowded
and narrow. Suddenly it is huge and wide.”
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