I am male, age 30. from Croatia.I really could say that I eat,sleep and breathe football.
Not a single day passes in my life that I don't do something very related to the most beautiful sport in the history of the world.
Juggling in my backyard,watching some highlights of epic matches in the past, or while having dinner I cought myself thinking of some great starting eleven of some club in Europe .
When I was a kid I was great at playing mostly futsal, or playing on concrete playgrounds as we had them alot in Croatia.
I loved the most in football the creativity, dribbling under pressure and I find it fascinating that every game or every training discoveres something new.
Some new move you can use.Some new trick that you can show.
I love it all.The pressure, the sweat, dirty and blooded knees.
The sound of the ball, the sound when it touches the net.
Or even the crossbar while you shoot it hard. :)
I love it when I m playing while it rains, when it s sun and warm, even when it is snow.
When I was 14-15 years old I was going on the field running laps, shooting the crossbar as much as I can and things like that.
Football all day all night, dreaming of football. So I can say it is really my passion.
Although I never become a football player the passion never left me.
Even now at this age the fire in me is the same.
So... :)
I wanted to write down my football XI of players I have watched live or on TV that I adore and find very special to me.
Some are world wide recognized, while some maybe are not.But they are special to me.
I will try to explaine why are they on the list. It is 4-4-2.
Here it is:
Goalkeeper: Angelo Peruzzi
Juventus was with AC Milan maybe the greatest team in the 90s era and this goalie was really good.
And a big reason why Juve made those great results is Angelo.
As Juve was playing three consecutive CL finals I find that Juve one of the greatest teams ever.
Central defender "1 : Slaven Bilić
Croatian legendary defender is the best example of a hard working player, playing with a lot of heart but still with very intelligent thinking.
He was strong, he could score, he would "die" on the pitch for his team.First foreign captain in Bundesliga while in Karlsruhe playing with Hassler and Kahn.
One of the best paid defenders in EPL while signing for Everton.
Central defender "2 : Paolo Maldini
We all know him.One of the greatest defenders in the history.Great tehnique for a defender,tall, strong.
Smart.Played and won many mayor trophies with and Milan.
Left defender : Robert Jarni
Juventus ,Real Madrid although in Betis he played maybe his best football.
A dream player for that position.He could repeteadly run up and down and his assists were amazing, aggresive at defending.
Croatia never found his replacement as he left.And he was a key player for Croatia in Euro 96 and WC 98.
Right defender: Cafu
As for Maldini we all know him, some say he is maybe one of the best in the history of football in that position.
Left wing : Milan Rapajic
By talent he could play for any big club in the world.Although he didn t.
But jusk ask any fan of Hajduk Split,Perugia,Fenerbahce and others what kind of player he was.
His left foot is always half a goal. :)
Defensive midfielder : Edgar Davids
Can you imagine a skilled player with great defensive abillities better than him ?
I really can t.Not because of the glasses. :) Pure legend.
Central midfielder: Robert Prosinecki
Ok now, I have some names that I could write here, but..
A player that can not lose a ball, with perfect view where his players are on the field , and he could assist them anytime.That is Prosinecki. And he can do some stuff you simpy can t believe it is possible.That s Prosinecki.
Played for Real and Barca but a CL winner with Red Star Belgrade when he was about 20 years old.
Btw ask Pompey (Portsmouth) fans ;)
Rigt wing : Luis Figo
Skilled 5 stars and he could do anything.Enjoy to watch him it was.
Striker "1 : Gabriel Batistuta
Batigol. You know we all love a forward when he doesn t complicate too much and just score.
That is Batistuta, and he ll score all right.A bomb. :)
Striker "2 : Dennis Bergkamp
They say the striker duo have to be combined of a two different kind of player.
So the other should assist, hold the ball and be creative.
Magic Dennis.