Neymar

[Mame Biram Diouf]

Player DoB/Age Caps Club
1 GK Bernard Lama 7 April 1963 (aged 35) 37 France Paris Saint Germain
2 DF Vincent Candela 24 October 1973 (aged 24) 10 Italy Roma
3 DF Bixente Lizarazu 9 December 1969 (aged 28) 32 Germany Bayern Munich
4 MF Patrick Vieira 23 June 1976 (aged 21) 7 England Arsenal
5 DF Laurent Blanc 19 November 1965 (aged 32) 68 France Marseille
6 FW Youri Djorkaeff 9 March 1968 (aged 30) 37 Italy Internazionale
7 MF Didier Deschamps © 15 October 1968 (aged 29) 69 Italy Juventus
8 DF Marcel Desailly 7 September 1968 (aged 29) 41 Italy Milan
9 FW Stéphane Guivarc'h 6 September 1970 (aged 27) 6 France Auxerre
10 MF Zinedine Zidane 23 June 1972 (aged 25) 33 Italy Juventus
11 MF Robert Pirès 29 October 1973 (aged 24) 13 France Metz
12 FW Thierry Henry 17 August 1977 (aged 20) 3 France AS Monaco
13 MF Bernard Diomède 23 January 1974 (aged 24) 6 France Auxerre
14 MF Alain Boghossian 27 October 1970 (aged 27) 6 Italy Sampdoria
15 DF Lilian Thuram 1 January 1972 (aged 26) 32 Italy Parma
16 GK Fabien Barthez 28 June 1971 (aged 26) 12 France AS Monaco
17 MF Emmanuel Petit 22 September 1970 (aged 27) 17 England Arsenal
18 DF Frank Lebœuf 22 January 1968 (aged 30) 13 England Chelsea
19 MF Christian Karembeu 3 December 1970 (aged 27) 31 Spain Real Madrid
20 FW David Trezeguet 15 October 1977 (aged 20) 4 France AS Monaco
21 FW Christophe Dugarry 24 March 1972 (aged 26) 23 France Marseille
22 GK Lionel Charbonnier 25 October 1966 (aged 31)

[darkman]

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

There's a big difference between expecting and achieving

[Yeshua]

The French know what the rest of the world deny.

 

I dont think theres a been a player this millennium that has had to drag a team like he has tbh, and that includes Gerrard (Yes I know you aint meant to mention Gerrard in the same breath).

 

I mean all this talk of Iniesta, CR7, R9, Messi, and Dinho, but the thing is at any time those players have been surrounded by top 5 to 10 players in the world.

 

Iniesta's success, though I'm more than aware how amazing he is, is team based success. He aint winning Europe without Messi and Xavi, and he aint winning world cups without Xavi and Fabregas.

 

CR7 had Scholes (We know what Zizou thinks of him by now), Rooney and Tevez at the peak of their powers, but hasnt even been to any major final since. (You know what I mean when I say major final, dont be douches).

 

Messi at club level suffers the same problem. Its harder to fail when you are surrounded by what he's been surrounded by. Put him around the likes of whatever is going on with Argentina's defence and the man looks (not quite) ordinary.

 

I wont argue R9 cos his talent was undeniable but you have to admit he was surrounded by greatness, especially at international level.

 

But look what Zidane did with players that were either over the hill or were yet to realise potentials that should have been reached years before. How has man like Ribery only just recently won Europe?

 

With the exception of R9, its bloody disrespectful to put these names above Zidane's. He's achieved things with teams, surrounded by players that werent on par with opposition.

 

 

 

Cant believe people are putting Iniesta above Zidane. SMFH 

 

 

The French know what the rest of the world deny.

 

I dont think theres a been a player this millennium that has had to drag a team like he has tbh, and that includes Gerrard (Yes I know you aint meant to mention Gerrard in the same breath).

 

I mean all this talk of Iniesta, CR7, R9, Messi, and Dinho, but the thing is at any time those players have been surrounded by top 5 to 10 players in the world.

 

Iniesta's success, though I'm more than aware how amazing he is, is team based success. He aint winning Europe without Messi and Xavi, and he aint winning world cups without Xavi and Fabregas.

 

CR7 had Scholes (We know what Zizou thinks of him by now), Rooney and Tevez at the peak of their powers, but hasnt even been to any major final since. (You know what I mean when I say major final, dont be douches).

 

Messi at club level suffers the same problem. Its harder to fail when you are surrounded by what he's been surrounded by. Put him around the likes of whatever is going on with Argentina's defence and the man looks (not quite) ordinary.

 

I wont argue R9 cos his talent was undeniable but you have to admit he was surrounded by greatness, especially at international level.

 

But look what Zidane did with players that were either over the hill or were yet to realise potentials that should have been reached years before. How has man like Ribery only just recently won Europe?

 

With the exception of R9, its bloody disrespectful to put these names above Zidane's. He's achieved things with teams, surrounded by players that werent on par with opposition.

 

 

 

Cant believe people are putting Iniesta above Zidane. SMFH 

 

Are you serious?

 

The France team of 98-2000 was full of world class players, what is this revisionist history?

 

In terms of dragging mediocre players, Gerrards performance of 05 outweigh Zidanes of 98, Gerrard was surrounded by Biscan, Traore, Baros,  Zidane surrounded by Deschamps, Barthez, Desailly, Lizarazu, Petit, Thuram come on huge world of difference.

 

Obviously World Cup>>>CL and Zidane>>>>>>>Gerrard, so i'm not trying to go there before anyone tries jump.

[Yeshua]

France had a fucking incredible defence!!!

[Yeshua]

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

[darkman]

World Cup 2006?

[Yeshua]

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

[Mame Biram Diouf]

1 GK Mickaël Landreau 14 May 1979 (aged 27) 3 France Nantes [69]

2 DF Jean-Alain Boumsong 14 December 1979 (aged 26) 19 England Newcastle United

3 DF Éric Abidal 11 September 1979 (aged 26) 8 France Lyon

4 MF Patrick Vieira 23 June 1976 (aged 29) 87 Italy Juventus

5 DF William Gallas 17 August 1977 (aged 28) 40 England Chelsea

6 MF Claude Makélélé 18 February 1973 (aged 33) 43 England Chelsea

7 MF Florent Malouda 13 June 1980 (aged 25) 13 France Lyon

8 MF Vikash Dhorasoo 10 October 1973 (aged 32) 16 France Paris Saint-Germain

9 FW Sidney Govou 27 July 1979 (aged 26) 19 France Lyon[70]

10 MF Zinedine Zidane © 23 June 1972 (aged 33) 102 Spain Real Madrid[71]

11 FW Sylvain Wiltord 10 May 1974 (aged 32) 80 France Lyon

12 FW Thierry Henry 17 August 1977 (aged 28) 78 England Arsenal

13 DF Mikaël Silvestre 9 August 1977 (aged 28) 39 England Manchester United

14 FW Louis Saha 8 August 1978 (aged 27) 9 England Manchester United

15 DF Lilian Thuram 1 January 1972 (aged 34) 114 Italy Juventus

16 GK Fabien Barthez 28 June 1971 (aged 34) 80 France Marseille [72]

17 DF Gaël Givet 9 October 1981 (aged 24) 11 France AS Monaco

18 MF Alou Diarra 15 July 1981 (aged 24) 9 France Lens

19 DF Willy Sagnol 18 March 1977 (aged 29) 38 Germany Bayern Munich

20 FW David Trézéguet 15 October 1977 (aged 28) 63 Italy Juventus

21 DF Pascal Chimbonda 21 February 1979 (aged 27) 1 England Wigan Athletic

22 MF Franck Ribéry 7 April 1983 (aged 23) 3 France Marseille

23 GK Grégory Coupet 31 December 1972 (aged 33)

 

Team wasn't amazing but you would still expect last 8 from them yet again

 

And youd then say you would look at your Henry and Zidane to make a difference 

 

Obviously one went down one of the biggest all time big game players, one went down an arsenal hero

[Mame Biram Diouf]

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

This you couldn't put it next to the German, Dutch, Brazillian and Spanish squad and say look how much worse off they are

 

Argentina and Italy probably went their with the most talent

[Yeshua]

Put Messi in France 98 team and what do you think would happen?

 

Messi has suffered from Argentinas incompetent managers and lack of structure/balance, one thing that Zidanes French team has always always had is great balance, he's always been surrounded by some of the toughest African Dms and Defenders in the world lol, in 06 he was playing behind Makelele and Viera!!

[Mame Biram Diouf]

Put Messi in France 98 team and what do you think would happen?

 

Messi has suffered from Argentinas incompetent managers and lack of structure/balance, one thing that Zidanes French team has always always had is great balance, he's always been surrounded by some of the toughest African Dms and Defenders in the world lol, in 06 he was playing behind Makelele and Viera!!

 

Good point too

 

Team was built around Zidance

 

Swear Maradona was trying to balance Millto, Messi, Lavezzi and co rather than just building it all around Messi like he should have

[Yeshua]

1 GK Mickaël Landreau 14 May 1979 (aged 27) 3 France Nantes [69]

2 DF Jean-Alain Boumsong 14 December 1979 (aged 26) 19 England Newcastle United

3 DF Éric Abidal 11 September 1979 (aged 26) 8 France Lyon

4 MF Patrick Vieira 23 June 1976 (aged 29) 87 Italy Juventus

5 DF William Gallas 17 August 1977 (aged 28) 40 England Chelsea

6 MF Claude Makélélé 18 February 1973 (aged 33) 43 England Chelsea

7 MF Florent Malouda 13 June 1980 (aged 25) 13 France Lyon

8 MF Vikash Dhorasoo 10 October 1973 (aged 32) 16 France Paris Saint-Germain

9 FW Sidney Govou 27 July 1979 (aged 26) 19 France Lyon[70]

10 MF Zinedine Zidane © 23 June 1972 (aged 33) 102 Spain Real Madrid[71]

11 FW Sylvain Wiltord 10 May 1974 (aged 32) 80 France Lyon

12 FW Thierry Henry 17 August 1977 (aged 28) 78 England Arsenal

13 DF Mikaël Silvestre 9 August 1977 (aged 28) 39 England Manchester United

14 FW Louis Saha 8 August 1978 (aged 27) 9 England Manchester United

15 DF Lilian Thuram 1 January 1972 (aged 34) 114 Italy Juventus

16 GK Fabien Barthez 28 June 1971 (aged 34) 80 France Marseille [72]

17 DF Gaël Givet 9 October 1981 (aged 24) 11 France AS Monaco

18 MF Alou Diarra 15 July 1981 (aged 24) 9 France Lens

19 DF Willy Sagnol 18 March 1977 (aged 29) 38 Germany Bayern Munich

20 FW David Trézéguet 15 October 1977 (aged 28) 63 Italy Juventus

21 DF Pascal Chimbonda 21 February 1979 (aged 27) 1 England Wigan Athletic

22 MF Franck Ribéry 7 April 1983 (aged 23) 3 France Marseille

23 GK Grégory Coupet 31 December 1972 (aged 33)

 

Team wasn't amazing but you would still expect last 8 from them yet again

 

And youd then say you would look at your Henry and Zidane to make a difference 

 

Obviously one went down one of the biggest all time big game players, one went down an arsenal hero

 

Ribery, Malouda, Viera, Makelele, Henry, Gallas, Abidal make up a very good team.

 

Was it really that less impressive than Italys?

[darkman]

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

[Mame Biram Diouf]

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

 

...But we aren't discussing him being touted as the stand out player

 

We are saying people say he carried a woeful France team, which is becoming a bit of an urban legend

[Yeshua]

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

 

Pirlo was a standout player in 06 as well and he actually won the whole thing.

 

Iniesta was a standout player in 2010.

[darkman]

 

1 GK Mickaël Landreau 14 May 1979 (aged 27) 3 France Nantes [69]

2 DF Jean-Alain Boumsong 14 December 1979 (aged 26) 19 England Newcastle United

3 DF Éric Abidal 11 September 1979 (aged 26) 8 France Lyon

4 MF Patrick Vieira 23 June 1976 (aged 29) 87 Italy Juventus

5 DF William Gallas 17 August 1977 (aged 28) 40 England Chelsea

6 MF Claude Makélélé 18 February 1973 (aged 33) 43 England Chelsea

7 MF Florent Malouda 13 June 1980 (aged 25) 13 France Lyon

8 MF Vikash Dhorasoo 10 October 1973 (aged 32) 16 France Paris Saint-Germain

9 FW Sidney Govou 27 July 1979 (aged 26) 19 France Lyon[70]

10 MF Zinedine Zidane © 23 June 1972 (aged 33) 102 Spain Real Madrid[71]

11 FW Sylvain Wiltord 10 May 1974 (aged 32) 80 France Lyon

12 FW Thierry Henry 17 August 1977 (aged 28) 78 England Arsenal

13 DF Mikaël Silvestre 9 August 1977 (aged 28) 39 England Manchester United

14 FW Louis Saha 8 August 1978 (aged 27) 9 England Manchester United

15 DF Lilian Thuram 1 January 1972 (aged 34) 114 Italy Juventus

16 GK Fabien Barthez 28 June 1971 (aged 34) 80 France Marseille [72]

17 DF Gaël Givet 9 October 1981 (aged 24) 11 France AS Monaco

18 MF Alou Diarra 15 July 1981 (aged 24) 9 France Lens

19 DF Willy Sagnol 18 March 1977 (aged 29) 38 Germany Bayern Munich

20 FW David Trézéguet 15 October 1977 (aged 28) 63 Italy Juventus

21 DF Pascal Chimbonda 21 February 1979 (aged 27) 1 England Wigan Athletic

22 MF Franck Ribéry 7 April 1983 (aged 23) 3 France Marseille

23 GK Grégory Coupet 31 December 1972 (aged 33)

 

Team wasn't amazing but you would still expect last 8 from them yet again

 

And youd then say you would look at your Henry and Zidane to make a difference 

 

Obviously one went down one of the biggest all time big game players, one went down an arsenal hero

 

Ribery, Malouda, Viera, Makelele, Henry, Gallas, Abidal make up a very good team.

 

Was it really that less impressive than Italys?

 

By name yes but alot of these man didn't perform on the international stage

[Yeshua]

 

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

>> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

 

...But we aren't discussing him being touted as the stand out player

 

We are saying people say he carried a woeful France team, which is becoming a bit of an urban legend

 

[darkman]

 

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

>> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

 

...But we aren't discussing him being touted as the stand out player

 

We are saying people say he carried a woeful France team, which is becoming a bit of an urban legend

 

 

The team was poor though. Forget names, look at performances

[darkman]

 

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

>> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not have it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

 

Pirlo was a standout player in 06 as well and he actually won the whole thing.

 

Iniesta was a standout player in 2010.

 

 

Cannavaro was actually Italy's best player. Would they have won had Zidane not got sent off? We'll never know

 

You could say the whole Spain team was excellent. You couldn't say the same for France

 

Xavi in particular made Spain tick. Without him there's no Iniesta

 

Zidane relied on nobody

[Yeshua]

 

 

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

>> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not ha

ve it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

Pirlo was a standout player in 06 as well and he actually won the whole thing.

 

Iniesta was a standout player in 2010.

 

 

Cannavaro was actually Italy's best player. Would they have won had Zidane not got sent off? We'll never know

 

You could say the whole Spain team was excellent. You couldn't say the same for France

 

Xavi in particular made Spain tick. Without him there's no Iniesta

 

Zidane relied on nobody

 

 

Tbh in 2012 Iniesta was more important to Spain than Xavi, and nearly every person who observed the team was saying this.

 

Xavi made the team tick but Iniesta was the matchwinner, in the same way France in 98 had Deschamps and Petit doing Zidanes dirty work with Zidane being the matchwinner.

 

In 2006 i actually remember Viera being decent as well.

 

You say Zidane relied on nobody, but he only had some of the best defenders and DMs in the last 20 years behind him, having them there allowed Zidane to truly function well, and if you don't believe me ask Zidane himself how highly he rates Makelele.

 

The rewriting of history is crazy, Thuram, Desailly, Blanc, will all go down as the best defenders on the last 2 decades, all of them were with Zidane throughout most of his national success.

 

Zidane has never done a Napoli, he has always, like Iniesta been surrounded by some of the best players in the world, whether were talking about his France, Juventus or Madrid days.

[Mame Biram Diouf]

 

 

 

People love to talk like he carried Algeria to a world cup win

 

Without him youd still expect 1/4s or 1/2s (fro, an optimist) from that France team

 

Youd expect one of the goats to make a difference

 

imo

 

They would have still got to the final without him tbh.

 

No chance and they certianly wouldn't have won it

 

>> 

World Cup 2006?

 

This is the most impressive feat, but go look at that team again and some of the names in it.

 

People are trying to rewrite history like Zidane did a Maradona, no way in hell, i will not ha

ve it.

 

Names don't mean anything. Performances coun't and Zidane was clearly the stand out player

 

A man said look at Henry to make the difference This aint the premier league pal

 

Pirlo was a standout player in 06 as well and he actually won the whole thing.

 

Iniesta was a standout player in 2010.

 

 

 

 

Xavi in particular made Spain tick. Without him there's no Iniesta

 

 

[Yeshua]

I really don't see what Zidane has done to be far ahead of Platini, Iniesta, Laudrup, tbh all of them have had some national and club success, Messi to be honest is considered better than all the aforementioned, so i don't see why anyone should put him ahead of Messi.

 

If you do, then be consistent, and put those others ahead of Messi or near Messi's level too, it is only right, you certainly can't argue that Zidane was much more gifted than any of those players as well.

[Yeshua]

Platini especially was considered Maradonas nemesis in the 80's, and just imagine Laudrup weren't born a dane, and got to play behind players like Makele Thuram Blanc Viera,  the fact that Denmark won the the Euro 92 is testament to his(and Schemichels) talent.