Loading summary
Sponsor/Ad Voice
This episode of the Athletic FC is sponsored by Kohler Smart Toilets. For many of you listening, the bathroom is the most important room in the home. The average adult male spends around 370 days of their lives on the toilet. And in the year 2026, it's about time we all rethink just what a toilet can be. Blending modern design and advanced technology, Kola Smart toilets can transform your bathroom and your bathroom routine. Take the Kola Vail Smart Toilet. With its sculptural curved silhouette, it's a work of art with stunning design that never sacrifices funct. It's got amazing features like a motion activated lid and automatic flush, auto deodorization and LED nightlight as well as customizable cleansing features for elevated cleanliness, comfort and convenience. Kola Smart Toilets can transform your bathroom routine into something extraordinary. That's the power of design. Discover the difference of Kola Smart Toilets. Find out more@kola.com that's K O H L E R. Marketers no matter what pitch you play on, a big win feels the same electric. It's that moment when you read the play before the trend even starts. Beat the clock on a campaign with a little help from AI and connect with customers in real time like you've trained for it your whole career. That's Contentful. World class digital experiences built fast, built beautifully create and launch personalized content in an instant across every channel your customers are watching. No chaos, no limits, just open field. Take your shot@contentful.com. This episode of the Athletic FC is brought to you by Hotels.com when you're booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com it really is all in the name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world and and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout dates. So when you want to travel, your rewards are ready to go. So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer, or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to book@hotels.com and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, you it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name. The Athletic FC
Adam Leventhal
welcome to the Athletic FC Podcast with me, Adam Leventhal. So our World cup coverage starts right here we're going to be bringing you the very best news and insight into the biggest show on earth all the way up until the final in New Jersey. And we've got plenty between now and the start of the tournament for you to enjoy. And just to get you prepared for that feast of football today, we're attempting to build an all time World cup draft. From Yelev Yashins to Joaquillian Mbappes, our expert writers are going to build the Ultimate 11 spanning all 32 editions of the competition. It's quite some undertaking. And taking you through it is your host, Duncan Alexander.
Duncan Alexander
With me are four brilliant minds from the athletic Olly Kay.
Olly Kay
Hello.
Duncan Alexander
Jet Lang.
Jack Lang
Hi.
Duncan Alexander
Karl Anker.
Karl Anker
Hello there.
Duncan Alexander
And Felipe Cardness.
Felipe Cardness
Hello, gents.
Duncan Alexander
First off, let's discuss the order we're gonna do this draft. I think given we're sat in a rough horseshoe shape here, probably fairest to go back one way and then back the other. So that means starting with Karl, through to Ollie, to Felipe, to Jack or vice versa. So I think given you two are on the end, why don't we do Rock Paper scissors to decide who starts between Karl and Jack. Ready?
Jack Lang
On after three.
Duncan Alexander
After three.
Karl Anker
One, two, three, shoot.
Jack Lang
The gentleman's method.
Duncan Alexander
Okay.
Karl Anker
One, two, three, shoot.
Duncan Alexander
So we start with Jack.
Felipe Cardness
Oh, wow.
Karl Anker
Oh no.
Duncan Alexander
Unlucky Carl.
Felipe Cardness
Jack.
Karl Anker
Okay.
Felipe Cardness
I cannot wait to see who he chooses first.
Duncan Alexander
There's a ripping of paper already. That's how decisive that moment was. Each participant is going to have 60 seconds per pick to lock in your player. Your picks are obviously going to be based on World cup performances from 1930 all the way through to 2022. There are no restrictions on the number of players you can have from any tournament or nation. So if you wanted to pick the entire Brazil 1950 team, you could, Jack, but I wouldn't necessarily advise it. I have the power as the commissioner to insert wild card rounds at any point. When I'm. I'll be honest, I'm planning to do so. So look out for those. Please pick a sensible formation and call out the player and their position as you go along. We don't want a team of eight midfielders. No. You know, tempting but wrong when it
Jack Lang
comes to the sensibleness of the.
Karl Anker
He's going 424, isn't he?
Jack Lang
No, I don't mind that. But I assume this is going to be self policing. Like if some. If someone ends up having Maradona at left wing back, the scorn within this room is gonna.
Karl Anker
I will, I will allow Maradona at left wing back.
Jack Lang
Oh, my God, it's gluttonous.
Karl Anker
I would. I would wonder why you're doing that. But if you want to. If you want to skip leg day and pack your entire team full of attackers to a 424, go for it.
Jack Lang
Okay. I'm gonna behave with class.
Duncan Alexander
I mean, obviously some of the formations available in the 1930s may be quite useful.
Olly Kay
And yeah, just as you say, it's about World cup performance. It's not necessarily the greatest players you've ever seen, Correct?
Duncan Alexander
Yeah. It's impact at World Cups or even just memories.
Olly Kay
Okay.
Duncan Alexander
And finally, don't forget to nominate a manager. We'll do those at the end of this very exciting process. So let's get into it. I'm going to put 60 seconds on the clock, slash, phone. And Jack, you're first up. So here we go.
Jack Lang
Drumroll. I'm going to pick the only player to have won the World cup three times, which is Pele, and he is a forward. I can decide later whether he is my number nine or playing just off my number nine.
Duncan Alexander
I see. Well, Pele's.
Felipe Cardness
What is your formation, Jack? What? What is Jack's formation?
Jack Lang
My formation is a fluid concept that develops over the course of the next two hours. Felipe.
Karl Anker
Oh, all right then. Okay.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, Felipe, you're next up.
Felipe Cardness
Oh, my gosh, I'm next. Oh, wow. Okay, so my formation is a 4, 4, 2. A very traditional, nice and classic 4, 4, 2. Okay. I mean, if he's. If he's taking Pele, I'm going to take Diego Armando Maradona. I'll take him. El Diaz, El Dios.
Duncan Alexander
I mean, who could have foreseen that Pele and Maradona have gone else, but they have ole left wing back.
Olly Kay
I am going to go more. A little more left field, I think. But. But there is a method behind my madness. I'm going to go for Franz Beckenbau.
Karl Anker
Wow.
Olly Kay
Who.
Karl Anker
Good call.
Olly Kay
Is one of the ultimate World cup players and has the advantage of being versatile.
Felipe Cardness
Ollie, you should also choose him as your manager.
Olly Kay
Just.
Felipe Cardness
Just. Why not?
Olly Kay
I have the option player manager, Carl.
Karl Anker
I honestly can't believe he'd still be available on the first pick. But for the first pick of the 2026 World cup draft, Carl Anchor Corporation selects Lionel Messi.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, all good, Good choice. And due to the vagaries of this system, you now have another choice.
Jack Lang
I sense the disagreements are going to come later, aren't they, Messi? Are you.
Duncan Alexander
This is very much the jogging round the stadium element now.
Karl Anker
I Have a genuine game changer up front. I need a tempo setting. Centre back. Beckenbauer is already gone. I am going for Fabio Carnavara.
Duncan Alexander
I'm playing himself.
Karl Anker
3.
Felipe Cardness
3.
Jack Lang
I'm amazed that you guys are choosing your formations so early. So many. So many variables.
Duncan Alexander
The people who have done that can, if they are left.
Jack Lang
Oh, yeah. I won't hold them to it with
Duncan Alexander
a litany of machines.
Felipe Cardness
It helped me in the planning phase. It actually helped me plan to stick to a formation. So.
Duncan Alexander
All right, back to you, Ollie.
Olly Kay
I will go for Johan Cruyff on the basis again, versatility. He's going to give me options later on.
Karl Anker
Is he going to listen to you though?
Olly Kay
He might not even join the camp. 1978, but one of the great footballers of all time. I'm happy to have got him.
Duncan Alexander
Excellent choice indeed. Felipe, you're next.
Felipe Cardness
I can't believe he's still on the board, But I'm taking R9 as one of my two center forwards. Ronaldo Nasario, phenomenal.
Karl Anker
Excellent choice.
Duncan Alexander
Very good choice, Jack.
Jack Lang
Two in a row, isn't it? And I had about six or seven players outlined that I would be happy to take. First two picks. One of them is still available and that is Garrincha.
Duncan Alexander
I mean, I've never seen a more inevitable thing.
Jack Lang
I'm so happy.
Olly Kay
Yeah.
Felipe Cardness
He's life.
Duncan Alexander
He's the music, my boy.
Karl Anker
I really feel Jack Lang's gonna create a mini fiefdom of Brazilian players here.
Jack Lang
Hey, wait till you see who I'm picking next.
Duncan Alexander
Do you want to give it a 20 second bio of this man for
Jack Lang
people that may not? Yeah. Born with one leg shorter than another twisted one leg twisted in one twisted outwards. 12 World Cups back to back with Brazil, and particularly in 1962 when Pele got injured halfway through, he was the star of the show and one of the great World cup entertainers.
Karl Anker
One of the theories was, well, going from the highlights. He could get incredible curve on the ball and apparently the difference in leg strength and height apparently might have been a reason behind this.
Jack Lang
I think that may be a stretch, but I'm happy with it.
Karl Anker
Was one of the legends. There's another legend that I will not repeat on this podcast.
Jack Lang
But y. But yeah, very an amazing World cup player. He was.
Karl Anker
Yes. The word goat has will be used a lot through this podcast.
Jack Lang
Okay. And I'm gonna get to go again.
Duncan Alexander
Well, hang on, hang on, hang on.
Karl Anker
Oh, it could.
Duncan Alexander
They're saying the rumors are flying that it could be wild card time. And yes, it is. So for this round, I want you to pick a Golden Boot or Golden Shoe winner.
Karl Anker
Oh, and Ronaldo's already off the board. No.
Jack Lang
So he was.
Karl Anker
He was a Golden Boot winner.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, he won it into the. In 2002.
Karl Anker
He was. Yes. Regional is off the board and we need a Golden Boot winner.
Jack Lang
Okay.
Felipe Cardness
Okay.
Duncan Alexander
So it is. It does go back to Jack, who has. Let's. Let's just reiterate, already chosen two Brazilians.
Jack Lang
I've got my little post it note of relevant Golden Boot winners here somewhere relevant. Someone else.
Karl Anker
Scathing review here.
Jack Lang
Okay. Gincha is also taken by me. Ronaldo is taken. So my next pick, I was planning to actually have a defender, but not many defenders on this list, let me tell you that.
Duncan Alexander
So I reckon Oleg Solenko could keep
Karl Anker
it out, give it a go.
Jack Lang
It's already, to me looking a lot like Pele will be playing off the front, which is fine because he did that very often. And so my Golden Boot winner is going to be.
Karl Anker
Do it. Be brave. Say his name.
Duncan Alexander
Remember, the minute you're. You're stretching very close.
Jack Lang
Okay, It's a coin toss between two, and I'm gonna go for Kylian Mbappe.
Karl Anker
Huge.
Jack Lang
12 goals in 14.
Felipe Cardness
You did not take my guy.
Lowe's Ad Voice
Yes.
Jack Lang
Matches with apologies to the other guy I could have had.
Karl Anker
Felipe's chilling.
Duncan Alexander
He's never too far happy by that decision.
Olly Kay
I'm happy with that.
Duncan Alexander
So I'm very happy with that decision.
Felipe Cardness
Yes, yes, I am very happy with that decision because I, you know, I was taking. I was going to choose this player regardless. And when you gave me the curveball of the, the, the, the wild card, I was like, oh, my gosh, yes, he still fits, right? So I'm taking the one and only Christros Stoichkov and I'm putting him up top. Like
Duncan Alexander
that is. That's naughty.
Karl Anker
That's lethal.
Duncan Alexander
That's a lovely choice. I didn't see that coming, I've got to say, but I, I like it.
Jack Lang
No, well, I think Ollie's happy.
Olly Kay
I'm. I'm happy. I'm. I'm. I'm gonna go with Eusebio, who was the, the Golden Boot winner of the 1966 World Cup. He scored 41 international goals in a. In a pre. Ferro Islands, San Marino, Liechtenstein. Era. One of the great goal scorers. One of the great World cup goal scorers. More than happy to have it.
Duncan Alexander
Nice. Carl, who you going for?
Karl Anker
I'm worried here because you can go for two flavors. You can either go for an attacking Player who can offer you stuff outside of the penalty area as well. Or you can just go for a pure penalty box. Animal, monster, demon.
Jack Lang
Remind us who you've got so far.
Karl Anker
I've got Lionel Messi in my team and if you've got Messi in there, that can supply a lot of bullets for someone. Or I could get someone into dovetail, drop into a 10 position and help out too. This is me stalling.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, very, very obvious.
Karl Anker
Very obvious stalling. I'm going for a penalty box demon. I'm going for Gerd Muller.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, okay. Lovely stuff.
Jack Lang
He was my other guy.
Karl Anker
10 goals in the 1970 World Cup. 1 of my favorite ever images of Muller is, I believe it's when he's playing. I can't remember the team he's playing for, but his team is in possession taking a free kick and the moment the ball is crossed over the wall, Muller is already bearing down on goal. Look, when his team was out of possession, he was in airplane mode. But when his team was in possession, he wanted the ball and he was going to smash it. Top bins or bottom bins?
Duncan Alexander
They all sometimes even middle bins. Yeah, there you go.
Karl Anker
Okay, elusive middle bins.
Duncan Alexander
Here's where we are. Everyone's chosen three players so far. Jack's got Pele, Garrincha and Kylian Mbappe. Felipe's got Maradona, Stoichkov and original Ronaldo, which is a very nice looking trio. Oli's got Beckenbauer, Eusebio and Johan Cruyff. And Karl's got Lionel Messi, Fabio Cannavaro and Gerd Muller. I mean, four teams already looking quite, you know, turns out there's some good players at work.
Jack Lang
I'm jealous of Ole because that's a spine. Yeah, you've got a spine right there.
Olly Kay
There we go.
Karl Anker
I'm interested. How is Felipe going to make this work in a 4, 4, 2? Where is Maradona playing now?
Duncan Alexander
He doesn't remember. He doesn't have to stick with his 4, 4, 2 if he wants to.
Felipe Cardness
But right now, I mean, I have a number 10 and more of a central attacking midfielder ahead of my 10. So right now that's where I have Maradona. All right, so I still need a 10.
Duncan Alexander
True.
Karl Anker
You've got Maradona. You need a 10.
Jack Lang
You need a 10, sir.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, right onto the fourth round of picks here and Carl, it's back to you.
Karl Anker
Free for all.
Duncan Alexander
Yep. This is an open round with the
Karl Anker
fourth selection of the 2016 26. I don't know, 16. I am going to go for. Can we get.
Felipe Cardness
Can we get time tapping?
Karl Anker
Yeah, I know, I know.
Duncan Alexander
You've got 10 seconds before the clock.
Karl Anker
I'm going for Luka Modric.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, Luka Modric.
Karl Anker
I'm going for Luka Modric. He's going to be my slightly deeper player. Big call there. 2020, 2018.
Duncan Alexander
Played in both the 1930 and 2022 World Cups.
Karl Anker
I'm flustered. Can you tell?
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, well, you know, it's in his head.
Olly Kay
Okay, Ollie, I'm gonna stick with my spinal focus and I'm gonna go for Franco Baresi.
Karl Anker
Oh, excellent.
Olly Kay
Who.
Felipe Cardness
Oh, took my gun.
Olly Kay
He's again, a classic World cup player. I mean, he was one of the stars in 1990 in particular, incredible performance in a final in 1994 against Brazil. Coming back from injury didn't deserve to suffer the same fate as Diana Ross by missing a penalty in the Rose Bowl. So, yeah, Fraca Baresi.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice. Felipe, you were audibly unhappy or sad at that choice from Oli there. So is that that snaffer one of your options?
Felipe Cardness
It does. I. I had Franco Bursi as one of my top defenders. 100%. Probably my top defender there. So with Ali having taken. Having taken the. The Italian legend, I'm going to drop down a little bit into my midfield. I need some muscle, I need some speed, some attitude and a bit of box to box movement here. So I am taking former German captain Lotar Mateos.
Karl Anker
Very good call.
Duncan Alexander
Oh, again, very versatile.
Karl Anker
All rounder. 8 out of 10. Everything you want for a midfielder.
Duncan Alexander
And I know we're not talking about the Euros at all here, but he did play in Euro 80 and Euro 2000, so that is genuine.
Olly Kay
Yeah.
Duncan Alexander
Okay. Good choice from Felipe there. Jack, it's back to you. What Brazilian are you going to pick this time?
Jack Lang
I'll tell you what. Yeah, I mean, the risk with these things is always that we're more biased towards the modern era. But my team may well get very biased towards the 1950s and 60s here because my midfield may get quite Brazilian. But do I also need a defender? In fact, what I'm going to do first is I'm going to take C. Sure. Played in five World Cups. One two Captain in one of them. One of the World cup greats. Are we going wild card or may I. No, may I continue?
Duncan Alexander
I mean, I'm hoping for a little bit more variety, but yeah, we can continue.
Karl Anker
Have you picked all Brazilians?
Duncan Alexander
No, he's got Mbappe.
Jack Lang
I've got Mbappe.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, look, the new Pele.
Jack Lang
If all these other guys are overlooking the Brazil, I would have taken Matthias actually. But now I can't do that. So I will. I think I need a defender at this stage and I will take probably One of the two standout defenders in Italy's successful 82 campaign. Played in a couple of others too. And that is Gaetano Shiraya.
Felipe Cardness
Oh, yes, good name.
Duncan Alexander
That is a hipster choice, but a good choice.
Karl Anker
It's the Jack Lang choice.
Felipe Cardness
Very hipster.
Karl Anker
You might not have heard of it, but the moment you're introduced to it, I take it you'll love it.
Jack Lang
Yeah, ask James Horncastle. I'll tell you all about my boy Shireya.
Duncan Alexander
Lovely stuff. Okay, Felipe, it's back to you.
Felipe Cardness
Okay, so I'm also, I'm also thinking defenders here and I'm actually in thinking Brazilian for my, my right back. But I also have an opportunity here to take an Italian. I love Christian Panucci, I think he's a great right back. But I'm going to go with 1994 World cup winner Jorginho as my right fullback.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice.
Olly Kay
And I am going. I'm staggered he hasn't been taken and I'm wondering whether I'm sort of spiting myself by taking by focusing yet again on defense. But I think I might do it in order to spite everybody else. Paolo Maldonian, just play, play him at left back. So there we go.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, I mean Carly seemed very pained by that.
Jack Lang
Our first head in hands moment is
Duncan Alexander
that he was my next choice.
Lowe's Ad Voice
He was right there.
Duncan Alexander
Oh no. You pick his dad.
Karl Anker
I could.
Olly Kay
Or his son.
Karl Anker
Yeah, yeah. Fair play. Well done.
Duncan Alexander
Okay.
Karl Anker
All right, I'm calm.
Duncan Alexander
You gonna go for.
Karl Anker
If you're picking a center back, you can go left back. I should pick a center back and go right back or am I just getting too trapped inside my head?
Duncan Alexander
Bad on deflections. But yeah,
Karl Anker
I've got a sneaky pick that a. A wild card is coming. So I need to pick good and nice. And now Lilian Thuram, you are up.
Duncan Alexander
Solid. Very good choice.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
When people hear that Mint Mobile plans are just $15 a month, a lot of people wonder what's the catch? Well, I can tell you from first hand experience, there isn't one. There are no gimmicks and no gotchas. Just unlimited talk, text and data, fast reliable coverage on the nation's largest 5G network and an award winning care team. I guess that makes Mint Mobile a catch. And since switching to Mint, I'm saving money every month. To spend on my teenage kids and I get really fantastic all round wireless service. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right with premium wireless for just $15 a month. Choose from 3, 6 or 12 month plans and you can even bring your current phone and your number with you. Activate an ESIM in minutes and you'll start saving immediately. No long term contracts, no hassle. What's not to love? To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com athleticfc that's mintmobile.com athleticfc cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com athleticfc that'S it. There's no catch. $45 upfront payment required, equivalent to $15 a month. New customers on first three month plan only speed slower than 40 gigabytes on unlimited plan. Additional taxes, fees and restrictions apply. Seedmintmobile.com. If your team's communication is messy, customers feel it. Missed messages, drop threads, slow replies. It's one of the easiest ways to lose momentum. And that's why today's episode of the Athletic FC is brought to you by Quo, spelt Q U o, the business communications system built so you never miss a call. With Quo, your entire team can handle calls and text from one shared number so there are no more missed messages or dropped conversations. Everyone sees the full thread, replies are faster and customers actually feel taken care of. Quo works wherever you are, right from your phone or computer. Keep your existing number, add teammates in minutes, sync your CRM and let the call routing handle itself as you scale. Money is on the line, so always say hello with quo. Try quo for free and get 20% off your first six months when you go to quo.com athleticfc that's q u o.com athleticfc with no spaces one last time quo.com athleticfc. This episode of the Athletic FC podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. For many people, summer is the best season. Warmer weather, more daylight and smiles on faces. But for others, juggling no kids at school for months on end, colleagues being away and the stress of a family home holiday can be overwhelming. Therapy can help people better understand their needs, feel more confident setting boundaries, and create a version of summer that actually feels good. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform with over 30,000 therapists having served over 6 million people globally. Just fill in a short questionnaire and BetterHelp will pair you with a therapist based on your preferences, needs and goals. If you aren't happy with your match, you can Switch to a different therapist at any time. Safer than knowledge that BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US you don't have to say yes to everything. This summer, find support in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com fcpodcast that's betterhelp.com fcpodcast all lowercase and without any spaces. One last time. Betterhelp.com fcpodcast.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, that completes everyone's fifth round. And what's that klaxon I can hear in the distance? Surely is. It's the. It's the wild card claxon. And this time, given that this year's World cup is going to be held in not only usa, Mexico, but also Canada, you've got to pick a CONCACAF player for this round.
Jack Lang
Oh, damn. And I'm last of the four.
Duncan Alexander
Oh, sorry, Jack.
Karl Anker
Oh, man.
Duncan Alexander
Have Brazil just entered concacaf? We can't be sure, but we don't think so.
Felipe Cardness
I mean, I'll help. I can help my colleagues here. As a CONCACAF ball knower, there's a lot of good names here, especially if you need a striker. There's a lot of good names.
Jack Lang
That's my issue. I don't need a striker.
Felipe Cardness
There's some. Well, no, I don't want to say.
Jack Lang
Yeah, there is. I mean, there's one.
Olly Kay
There are some good names, but there's also the likelihood that when people see our lineups that these are the players who stick out like a sore thumb.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, Carl, you have first pick for this wildcard CONCACAF special. Who are you going for?
Karl Anker
I'll be honest with you. Once this was landed on me, I immediately opened up a tab on my computer of just greatest Mexican players of all time. I think that's the obvious play to go there. I haven't picked a goalkeeper yet. And Mexico have two historically brilliant goalkeepers that have been to multiple World cup tournaments. I'm going to go for Antonio Carbajal. Felipe, please correct me if I got the pronunciation wrong there.
Felipe Cardness
Yes.
Karl Anker
Carvajal was the first gentleman to feature at five World Cups, according to what I'm reading right now. So I'm going to go for him. I'm going for a goalkeeper. I'm going for a goalkeeper who's been there, done that, and got the T shirt. And got the T shirt.
Duncan Alexander
Multiple T shirts.
Karl Anker
1966 World cup was his final World cup at the age of 37. We're talking a veteran experience here, so, yeah, solid. Let's do that.
Duncan Alexander
All right, Oli you're up.
Olly Kay
I was second guessing you there and I thought you might go for a striker and I was preparing to pick a defender. Yet another one. And I am going to pick a defender. So I'm leaving the obvious centre forward for somebody else.
Karl Anker
See, what he's doing there is he's planting seeds of doubt in everyone else's mind.
Olly Kay
Absolutely.
Karl Anker
Don't fall for it.
Olly Kay
Mind games of all sorts. I'm gonna go for Rafael Marquez, who played in five World Cups. Was he captain in five World Cups? He was certainly, I think, I think he may have been, but an absolute sort of permanent fixture in the Mexican teams that consistently got to the last 16.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, I think he played. I think he got to the run of 16 in all five.
Olly Kay
Yeah, yeah.
Duncan Alexander
So if he won four games out of a man at a World cup,
Olly Kay
he is absolutely, absolutely. And a Champions League winner. So. Yeah. There we go.
Duncan Alexander
Cool. Felipe, I'm expecting big things here.
Felipe Cardness
It's. I mean, first of all, El Kaiser, that's Rafa Marcus's nickname. It's a great, great pick from Molly there. One of the best CONCACAF players, I think, in World cup history. I'm sticking with Mexico. Again, this was definitely a wild card because I did not want to choose my goalkeeper out of the CONCACAF region. But I'm going to just like Carl and it's between two guys. I mean, I'm going to go with a current player who has become a World cup icon and that is Guillermo. Memo Ochoa. I will go with him. He is set to play in his sixth World cup or at least be part of a sixth World Cup. He is known for showing up in the big moments when Mexico gets to World Cup. So he's going to be my goalkeeper. Memo Ochoa.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice. Interesting that there's already been two goalkeepers in this, in this round, Jack.
Jack Lang
We're gonna have a third. Duncan, Sorry about that. I would have had Marquez, I would have probably had Ochoa. As it stands, my little short list of CONCACAF players which was pre prepared, there are options. Javier Hernandez scored at three World Cups, but I'm pretty well served up front. Same would apply for London Donovan and Clint Dempsey. And so it comes to me between two players who won a lot of longevity and Andres Gualdado who's played at five World Cups. But he's not, he just doesn't have the status for me. Whereas this player, maybe, maybe it's. This is more vibes and quality, but I have a. There's a place for vibes. So I will go For Jorge Campos, who played at two World Cups. 94. 98 was in the squad in 2002, made some fantastic saves. Obviously a very storied career. Scored a lot of goals. Those kits.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, those kits. 94 in particular.
Jack Lang
Yeah, that'll do it for me.
Karl Anker
Beautiful.
Duncan Alexander
That is a lovely choice.
Olly Kay
It's fascinating. Nobody, nobody went for Hugo Sanchez.
Jack Lang
Who's. Yeah.
Felipe Cardness
Regardless, who needs a striker.
Olly Kay
Greatest Mexican player, the greatest North American player. I think people just, I mean, just from my point of view, I think I just wanted somebody else up front. So.
Jack Lang
Yeah, there are so many really good striker picks, I think. And I think like Sanchez, maybe not. Maybe his best wasn't at the World cup. Was my kind of judgment on that.
Felipe Cardness
Yeah, he was disappointing at the 86 World Cup. He was a disappointment for them.
Duncan Alexander
You're gonna love the round. Pick a player called Sanchez. So no, that's not Davington.
Jack Lang
Here we go.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, next round. And Jack, you have the. A free choice and first choice.
Jack Lang
Oh, thank you. I mean, I'm just gonna stick to type and I'm gonna say Nilton Santos, who won it twice for Brazil. Widely regarded as one of the top 10 Brazilian players of all time. Nicknamed the Encyclopedia because he knew so much about football.
Karl Anker
Wow. Also a nickname given to Jack Grealish.
Jack Lang
That right.
Karl Anker
Sort of.
Duncan Alexander
Nice choice. Felipe, you're next.
Felipe Cardness
Yes. And I'm ready to go. This was. I have this player highlighted. I'm going with the. With one of my first of two center back positions so far, unless this changes. But I'm going with 1978 Argentina captain and World cup winner Daniel Passarella is my center back.
Karl Anker
I was waiting for when you start going to 1978 Argentina.
Duncan Alexander
Lovely. Okay, Ollie, you're. You're next.
Olly Kay
Yeah. I might go for Michel Platoni.
Karl Anker
There it is.
Olly Kay
Who was just wonderful in the 82. Yeah. 82 World cup primarily, but. But also 86. Part of a brilliant team and that didn't win it. But yeah, deserve. Well, football wise, he deserves to be known as something more than. Than a slightly compromised UEFA president.
Lowe's Ad Voice
Good.
Duncan Alexander
€84 as well.
Olly Kay
Yeah.
Karl Anker
1983 to 1984 is one of the highest peaks.
Olly Kay
Yeah.
Karl Anker
For any European player. Perhaps just a remarkable. Remarkable ability. Technical, security, creativity. I'm intrigued you've gone for him. He's more of a Euro player to my mind because of. His highest peak is at the Euros.
Olly Kay
I know what you mean. But 1982 World Cup, 1986 World cup, he. He was, he was still.
Duncan Alexander
Uhhuh.
Olly Kay
He was still formidable. 82 World cup was where I first saw him play and it was, you know, he was one of the. One of the players along with Zico and Adair, more than Maradona at that World cup, who just sort of stood out in a big, big way and captured my imagination. So, yeah, you know, the interesting thing is that I went for him rather than Zinedine Zidane, who scored a. Zidane is still free. Yeah, there you go. I've tried to push you down a path there.
Karl Anker
No, no, I was rapidly making notes
Duncan Alexander
here and that's very useful because it's your turn.
Karl Anker
I need a versatile player who can offer me something on both flanks depending on how things go down. So Gianluca Zambrota, very good.
Jack Lang
Amazing play.
Felipe Cardness
That's a good pick.
Duncan Alexander
Nice choice.
Felipe Cardness
Right footed, right footed, but played on the left.
Duncan Alexander
Let's have a quick run through who we've gone for so far. Jack has picked up the Brazilian all stars. He's got Pele, Garrincha, Kafu. He's got Mbappe. He's got Scurea. He's got Campos and Santos. Are you happy with that?
Jack Lang
Nilton Santos. There was another Santos on the other flank, which I could have gone for, actually.
Duncan Alexander
Felipe's got Maradona, Ronaldo, Brazilian Ronaldo, Christo Suchka, Flo Mateus, Jorginho Ochoa and Passarella.
Felipe Cardness
Correct.
Duncan Alexander
Oli so far has Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Eusebio, Franco Barezzi, Paolo Maldini, Rafael Marquez and Michel Platini.
Jack Lang
God, that sounds.
Duncan Alexander
That's a good.
Jack Lang
Really annoying. Have we done that?
Karl Anker
A lot of good dudes.
Duncan Alexander
And then Carl has gone for Lionel Messi, Cannavaro, Gerd Muller, Luka Modric, Lillian Schramm, Carbajal and Zambrota. Your most recent choice. Everyone happy so far? Everyone aware of the. The gaps in their, in their team where they need to fill? Obviously three of you've got goalkeepers, which leaves a wide field open.
Jack Lang
I haven't got any midfield.
Karl Anker
There's a lot of very, very good goalkeepers on the table still.
Felipe Cardness
Yeah, there's some really top goalkeeper that I'm jealous that I can't pick.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, it's round eight and we're starting with Carl.
Karl Anker
No wild card?
Duncan Alexander
No, not yet.
Karl Anker
Any choice?
Duncan Alexander
Any choice?
Karl Anker
Midfield is deep. I reckon we could do midfield midfielders for a very, very long time. Whereas there are some very good wide attackers that can cut inside on the right foot and, and, and do some damage there. Now, do I go Moder?
Duncan Alexander
Gonna have to hurry Carl, the clock is ticking.
Felipe Cardness
It has to be ticking.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah.
Karl Anker
I'm gonna do a Jack Lang and pick a Brazilian. I'm going to go for Rivaldo and I'm going to play him on the left wing. So my front three will be Rivaldo, Gerd Muller and Lionel Messi.
Duncan Alexander
I'm holding my face after a genuine hit to it. Ollie, you're next.
Olly Kay
I am also going to do a Jack Langiger for a Brazilian and one that Jack will be frustrated is off the table. Although perhaps he didn't want to duplicate right wingers. Jazzynho, who was very good, won the silver boot. Not the golden boot, but the silver boot at the 1970 was part of that incredible Brazil team that is regarded in some quarters as the greatest of all time. So. Yes.
Duncan Alexander
Cool. Okay, Felipe, your next pick.
Felipe Cardness
Yes. I'm going to make sure that my left side is, is well protected and I'm going to go with another German actually to play at the left fullback position. And that is Andreas breme. The. The four. The War cup winner, 1990. Can get up, can get up that flank easily. So good on the ball. So classy. A very classy player, but rugged as well. Classic 90s German national team player. So Andres Bremer at my left back
Duncan Alexander
position famously took the winning penalty in the 1990 World cup final with his weaker foot. Although weaker being not really the operative word. But still, you know, I'm not sure I'd have had the bravery to do that had I been playing in the World cup final, which, let's be honest, I wouldn't have. They don't need to worry. Okay, Jack,
Jack Lang
Left wing is looking interesting now because I. Yeah, there are a couple of players that. Brazilians as well. Yeah. I actually think the options are relatively limited there. Or do I pick a right or a kind of a central player who can play out there, which would be slightly against the spirit of the exercise. You know what I'm gonna.
Duncan Alexander
Skills is right there.
Jack Lang
I'm gonna leave that for just a second, give myself some more time and pick another center back. Tempted to go Italian and Italian, but I would just for variety, I'll have Bobby Moore.
Olly Kay
Yeah. You do realize he's not Brazilian. You've just been confused by that situation where it's.
Duncan Alexander
It's one name. Bobby Moore.
Olly Kay
Bobby Moore.
Duncan Alexander
Well, first, I believe that's the first English player picked.
Jack Lang
I think it is.
Felipe Cardness
There you go.
Jack Lang
That's the Clacton.
Olly Kay
Wake up.
Duncan Alexander
That could be. It isn't, but it could be the Clacton because it is Time for our third and final wildcard. And this one is simply choose a player who had long hair. Long hair, which we're saying shoulder length or lower shoulder. I thought you were gonna go for the opposite.
Karl Anker
Yeah, I thought you were gonna go for bold.
Jack Lang
Okay, well, that's good.
Karl Anker
I genuinely had a bold player contingency plan. And you've blown.
Duncan Alexander
Oh, if anything, you've done the opposite. We need to do that. So again, as with the wild card protocols, people can have a couple of minutes to think about long hair.
Jack Lang
That's very funny.
Duncan Alexander
Skillful men.
Jack Lang
And Ann.
Duncan Alexander
Oh, no.
Felipe Cardness
And this is. And this is going. Jack is picking, right?
Duncan Alexander
Jack picks first, then you, Felipe, then Ollie, then Carl. Oh, dear. Carl blown it.
Jack Lang
Just to clarify, we're still basing them on the quality of the performances rather than the quality of the long hair.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, I'm not looking for, you know, condition of hair.
Jack Lang
Okay. Shoulder length or longer, you said.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, yeah, I think so.
Jack Lang
Okay. Can I get a. I think if
Duncan Alexander
it's kind of tousled over the, you know, heading that way, I'll. I'll let you off the ears. No, because that just means any player in the 1970s.
Jack Lang
Oh, okay. Okay. For me, then it comes down to a couple of options, I think one of which will get picked. But we will discuss it in a minute. I'm gonna go finally for a midfielder and I will go for Andrea Pirlo, who was absolutely unbelievable as Italy.
Duncan Alexander
You can see him over there on the.
Jack Lang
On the wall.
Karl Anker
It's the pass before the pass in the 2006 semi final against Germany with. There's a split second where he's on the ball, he takes an additional touch, and I think it's Schweinslager. You can see Schweinsteger just about computes what Perla's about to do, but he can't get there quickly enough to stop the pass from being made. It's phenomenal.
Jack Lang
Bit of personal success that. That's the first time someone else has groaned at one of my picks. Thank you, Ollie. That's felt really good.
Duncan Alexander
Okay. Felipe, your long haired superstar.
Felipe Cardness
Yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm surprised I'm gonna say this name because I feel really safe that I can choose another player even if someone takes this guy. But I'm shocked that Jack did not choose Socrates. He has worn a headband. If you wear a headband, that constitutes long hair. So Socrates is there. But I did not plan on choosing this player. I did not plan on choosing any Colombian players. But since You've given me this opportunity.
Karl Anker
Oh, you've not chosen Socrates.
Felipe Cardness
I will. No, I have. I am going to choose Carlos El PvE Valderrama. Valderrama is in mind. Is in my 11 now. And I probably have to change my formation, but. Carlos Valderrama, 1990. Carlos Valderrama, to be clear, that was the biggest his hair ever was, I think.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, that's true. Lovely stuff, Ollie. We've. We've now got a floating Socrates, as it's known in the business.
Olly Kay
So what. What is. Oh, Socrates.
Jack Lang
Yes.
Olly Kay
Okay, I'll go for him. I'll go for him. I was gonna go for Pielo. I was gonna go for Socrates. So I'll. I'll stick with Socrates.
Jack Lang
I think that also just saved us quite.
Olly Kay
It say it saved me a one where I was going to ask, and I will ask, because I'd love to know retrospectively, Bobby Charlton, I was gonna mention. I mean, lengthwise, you know, it goes all the way from the parting there,
Duncan Alexander
probably, if he had brushed it the other way.
Olly Kay
Yeah, but I don't think so.
Jack Lang
Carl's picking Bobby Charlton straight away.
Duncan Alexander
Carl.
Karl Anker
No, I'm not going for Bobby Charlton. I'm going for the divine ponytail Roberto Baggio. I will say, I genuinely did have a list of bold players, just in case. I was thinking, feeling smug, but no, I'm going to go for Baggio instead. He will be my number 10 in my 433.
Duncan Alexander
I think Baggio's hair in 1990 was superior to 94, but that's just a personal opinion.
Karl Anker
I'm going to Google this.
Duncan Alexander
Just captured my heart a bit more. Okay, that's nine rounds of players in the bank and we're back. You'll be relieved to notice, standard picks. And Karl, it's your turn.
Karl Anker
I have only two spots left, and that is a. Another midfielder and a right back. I'm going to go for another midfielder and I'm going to go for Patrick Vieira.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice.
Karl Anker
So my midfield now is Patrick Vieira, Roberto Baggio.
Duncan Alexander
I mean, to do a job. We'll certainly do a job.
Karl Anker
We're going to fight, I tell you that, Ollie.
Olly Kay
I will go for Carlos Alberto, who.
Duncan Alexander
Nice again.
Olly Kay
A quintessential World cup figure that scored the famous goal in 1970 and. Yeah, had a long, long history. A man synonymous, I think, with the World Cup.
Duncan Alexander
Very much so. Very nice, Felipe.
Felipe Cardness
Okay. Gosh, there's so many good players still available and so many players that are not going to get chosen because a lot of us have. And attackers. I'M I'm happy that Carl took Roberto Baggio. I feel like he should be on somebody's list. I'm going to choose my final central defender and for this one, you know, I want to, I want, you know, I, I have Bran Pasarella who's pretty good on the ball, but more Pasadella. I want to, you know, potentially elbow somebody when the referee isn't looking or just, just be like the classic Argentine defender. So I want someone next to him that can really play with the ball, that can be classy, can lead. And for that I'm going with the Spanish central defender, Fernando Hiero.
Karl Anker
Oh, not the Spanish center back I thought you'd go for.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
This episode of the Athletic FC is brought to you by Hotels.com when you're booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com it really is all in the name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of of hotels around the world and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout dates. So when you want to travel, your rewards are ready to go. So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer, or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to book@hotels.com and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name. You've got weight loss goals, but hitting them is another story. Enter Weight Loss by hims. It's designed to support you in losing the weight and keeping it off, and HIMS now offers access to an affordable range of FDA approved GLP1 medications, including the Wegovy Pill and the wegovy pen. With wegovia at hims lose up to 20% or more of your body weight. When combined with diet and exercise, it helps you regulate your appetite and eat less, so success is within reach. Through hims, everything happens online. Your connect with a licensed provider will determine if treatment is right for you. If prescribed, your medication's delivered right to your door with no insurance necessary. And it doesn't stop there. HIMSS makes hitting your goals seamless by offering access to 247 messaging with your care team and and in app lifestyle and nutrition support like recipes, meal plans, fitness videos, sleep content and more. Even better with a range of affordable GLP1 options. HIMSS makes it simple to find a weight loss approach that fits into your world and your wallet. If eligible, you'll get a treatment plan personalized to you and unlimited dosage changes as needed. So, ready to reach your goals? Visit himss.com athleticfc to get a personalised, affordable plan that gets you that's H I M S.com athleticfc himss.com athleticfc Weight loss by HIMSS is not available in all 50 states. Wegovy is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk as To get started and learn more, including important safety information, WEGOVIA, clinical study information and restrictions, visit hims.com. It's summer and that means more daylight, more sunshine, more good times. And every year when summer hits, I realize I want clothes that are good for workouts, for chilling and for socializing. But refreshing your wardrobe for summer can get expensive really fast. And that's why I started looking for a better option and I ended up joining Fabletics as a VIP. It's completely changed how I shop for summer. New VIPs unlock major savings on their first purchase, so stocking up on comfortable, versatile pieces doesn't feel like such a splurge. Fabletics have a huge range of shorts like the lightweight one short that's perfect for swimming and gymming. Or there's the multi pocket Wrinkle free the Don shorts made from recycled and water resistant fabric and guaranteed to elevate your look on the golf course or indeed anywhere. I've got those bad boys in black and I've been wearing them non stop. I love to pair them with the training tee in deep sea green and when it gets a bit chillier at night time I just throw on the Don Cruiser jacket and onyx and I stay looking sharp no matter what the day throws at me. So shop now@fabletics.com athleticfc to get 70 to 80% off everything when you sign up as a new VIP, take a quick start quiz and be sure to select Athletic FC when prompted to unlock your 70 to 80% off. This is a limited time offer so don't wait. Again, that's Fabletics.com Athletic FC for 70 to 80% off everything as a new VIP.
Duncan Alexander
Okay, it's background to you Jack lan
Jack Lang
Okie dokie right. My missing positions are central midfield and left sided attacker. That rules out a lot of players I would still love to pick, but I am I don't like. I wouldn't wedge Zico on the left wing for example. I find that very distasteful Same for. For Zinedine Zidane, really. Or, you know, push gas. Um,
Duncan Alexander
any sentence that ends with all push gas is always good.
Jack Lang
Or push gas. Okay, central midfield. Let's do that first. I've got PLO in there. Two Brazilian options were DD and Z Toe, both of whom won it twice. But I'm very. I'm quite strongly invested in 1958 and 1962 already. And let's just have a little bit of variety. I'm going to go for, I think, only the second of my players who hasn't won it, but I will. I'm going to go for Johan Naskins, who was, yeah, Johan Cruy's lieutenant in 74 and 78. Really good player. So he's gonna go in alongside PLO and then.
Duncan Alexander
Hang on, hang on, hang on.
Jack Lang
You wouldn't.
Duncan Alexander
I might. It's the last round. Everyone's picked 10 players. We've got one left. Now I could be a very cruel man and activate the nasty wildcard, which would be pick someone who played in World cup before the Second World War. But I'm not gonna do that because that would be unfair. All I'm gonna say is for the 11th player, you've gotta pick someone from a nation you haven't picked from before. So far.
Jack Lang
Oh. Oh, God.
Duncan Alexander
Which is pretty easy for Jack Lang, but for others it may be slightly trickier.
Jack Lang
Okay, I'll talk us into it then. So left midfield remains my area, left attacker. And that rule obviously rules out Roberto Rivelino Ronaldinho and Mario Zagalo. Ronaldinho I was tempted to pick earlier, but I actually think he didn't do his best work at World Cups. Was very young in 2002, Brazil were rubbish in 2006, and then he didn't get picked for the next two. So my options as I see them, people who can play on the left are. The one I won't pick is Giovanni Ferrari, who won it twice for Italy, but only in very blurry old video. And so let's go a bit more up to date and I don't have a Spanish player and I'm going to have Andres Iniesta.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice.
Jack Lang
Who camp in such midfield but was very often used from the left in Spain's World cup win in 2010.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, exactly. Very good, Felipe, your final pick.
Felipe Cardness
Yeah, I mean you.
Jack Lang
I don't.
Felipe Cardness
I wouldn't say you stumped me, Duncan, but it's close. It's close. And having to choose someone, a player from a nation that I have not chosen already, I'm missing A central midfielder. My formation has officially changed to a four, three, three.
Karl Anker
Yeah.
Felipe Cardness
Okay.
Duncan Alexander
That's how to get you.
Felipe Cardness
That was, that was an in game decision. And so I have a central midfielder left to play alongside Lotar Matias and Carlos Valderrama. So I have him on my list. I'm going to go with him because I think sometimes you also want a player in the middle that you think might potentially spit on you. Okay. Yeah, it's a good, you know, like, you don't want to meet that. You don't want to get that guy mad. He's good too, this, he was a good player. Very good player in the middle. So Frank Rickard, he's going into my 11th. The Dutch world cup player famously spit on Rudy Voller in 1990. And I think in, if you grew up in that era when Germany and the Netherlands played each other, you stopped what you were doing and you play, you watched that match. So, yeah, again, not a world beater, Frank Ricard, but I'm gonna put him in my midfield and yeah, still a very good player.
Duncan Alexander
And the hang time he got on that split, it's, it's a phenomenal, I
Karl Anker
mean, it's a phenomenal image.
Duncan Alexander
And also hats off quite literally to Fuller's hair for holding it because it didn't.
Karl Anker
The fact that
Olly Kay
you'd have been a good one for that earlier category, wouldn't he, Rudy Vuller?
Duncan Alexander
True, true. Right, well, let's move on from Flem to Ollie's final pick and it's quite
Olly Kay
an easy one because my only remaining position is goalkeeper.
Karl Anker
Oh, there it is.
Felipe Cardness
I had so many good goalkeepers.
Olly Kay
I had four or five goalkeepers down on my, my list. Most of them were Italian or German and you've taken all the Mexican ones, guys.
Felipe Cardness
So Ollie, Ollie, you don't have, you don't have John Murray FAF on your list.
Jack Lang
No.
Olly Kay
Great goalkeeper. But I, I, I mean, it's not, you know, the award for the best goalkeeper each season isn't the faf. The FAF award is it, it's, it's the, it's the, it's the, it's the Yashin Award.
Karl Anker
It is, it is.
Olly Kay
So I'm going for Lev Yashin, who not only. Well, I mean, he's, he played at the 58 World cup, played the 62 World cup, played in 66 and was just regarded as the number one goalkeeper in world football. And yeah, so I think, I think, although my team. Yeah, I think, I think it looks, it looks good in black and white, man.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, I mean I gotta say you're, you're 11 only strong World cup energy. I mean they all do after obvious reason.
Jack Lang
I think we all win the FAF award just for the amount of post it notes and sheets of paper that we've used to.
Karl Anker
Oh, the oddy. How many players in year 11 haven't won the World Cup?
Olly Kay
Platanu, Cruyff, Socrates, Yashin.
Jack Lang
And yet only two for me.
Karl Anker
And yet it's, it's a beautiful side.
Felipe Cardness
I have a lot of players. I have not. I have over five.
Karl Anker
You've got five players. I won the World Cup.
Felipe Cardness
That did not. That did not.
Karl Anker
Fascinating. My final selection is Will Wim Surbaya, the two time World cup runner up with the Netherlands. One of the great proponents of total football. Known for just having four lungs, incredible stamina, incredible tactical fluidity. I think he'd be a good right back to play behind Lionel Messi. I need to get a Dutch player in there somewhere where wasn't the one in the position I think it'd be. But Wim is my man.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice. Yeah. You said you were going to try and pick lots of Dutch people who have done it on a wild card in the 11th pick. So crisscross. Okay, thank you everyone that completes your teams. Just before we proceed to manager choices and official formations and lineups. To Felipe's point a minute ago, who, everyone, Give me one or two players that you are stunned, slash shocked that haven't been picked in this process.
Jack Lang
Mentioned a couple as we were going, but the ones among those that haven't been mentioned, I think Paolo Rossi, just Fontaine, Chavy, Tony Cruz, Claudio Gentile. Those are the ones that kind of jump out on my list.
Olly Kay
Senadine Zidane, Franz Puskas, Romario. There are people, there are people who are undisputed all time greats like the Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Van Basten, who perhaps are less associated with with World Cup. I was going to put Cristiano Ronaldo in my team purely because it would look good on paper, but I didn't think it would be.
Karl Anker
We were talking about this earlier. I was talking about Jack Lang, about was Christian Al gonna go early or was the fact that he doesn't have a knockout goal gonna count against him?
Duncan Alexander
We have our answer.
Karl Anker
Yeah, there you go. Some players that perhaps didn't win the trophy but had phenomenal runs during the World Cup. So no Michael Balak, who to my mind was the best non Brazilian player at the 2002 World Cup. Yeah. No African players. Unfortunately I did have A sort of wild card list of players like JJ Okocha, Samuel ETO I think would have been picked. Part me's wondering I did also have an entire game plan if one of the wild cards was going to be about choosing a player from the Asian Federation where I was simply going to pick as many members of the South Korean 2002 team as possible.
Jack Lang
Shout out to Hongming Bo.
Karl Anker
Yep, yep, absolutely, yes, just incredibly versatile sweeper even a player like Paco Gento was someone I thought might get selected And I will say when I mentioned earlier I needed a striker I wanted to know if it was going to be a striker who can work inside the box or work outside the box. I was genuinely considering Harry Kane called bigot surprised.
Felipe Cardness
I mean there's, there's, you know, Ronaldinho, I mean he was Great in that 2002 team. Del Piero great in 2006, obviously Sergio Busquets, I mean he was, I had him like, you know, he could be in anyone's midfield I think an all timer if you want that type of player in the middle. And to Carl's point, you know, I was ready to go with Suli Montari. I think he's a Ghanaian legend that played at multiple World Cups. There are a lot of players that should probably be on here. Romario for me is one of the top players that did not make it into anybody's starting 11. I mean seriously, like you think of 1994 Brazil, you think of Romario Gavil
Karl Anker
Suka at a phenomenal France 98 tournament. Schilachi Toto Scalacci is not selected. I know, wow.
Olly Kay
No, I wondered whether we were going to have some, you know, amongst the wild card categories. I wondered whether there might be a very subjective thing, but somebody who was purely sort of considered like a specific World cup player which I think Scaracci or Louira clearly had a great season at Juventus in order to get into that squad, you know, he to me would have been that type of person. Oleg Selenko, Oleg Silenko, Roger Miller. Yeah, you know, players who had great careers but are in the public consciousness
Jack Lang
or even players who didn't have great careers but had one amazing World cup, you know, like Jose Mar for Brazil
Felipe Cardness
favorites from 86 Claverson.
Duncan Alexander
I mean ultimately we've chosen 44 players from, you know, nearly 100 years of World Cup. So yeah, there's going to be more good players not picked than were picked, but I think everyone has done a fine job. The final task before we run through our teams is to pick A manager. And with the horseshoe system of truth, Karl, you get to go first here.
Karl Anker
There's no. No ruling, no nothing I've got to bear in mind.
Duncan Alexander
Nope.
Karl Anker
I'm going to go for someone who has won the World cup both as a player and as a manager, and has reached multiple finals as a World cup manager, Didier Deschamps. Didier Deschamps, a man who's about structure, organization. I'm making sure the vibes in camp are fantastic. And in my imagine team, I think I'm going to need to get some of these players to behave and look after.
Duncan Alexander
He's going to get Baggio tracking back, isn't he?
Karl Anker
Yeah, he's going to need to get Baggio tracking back. I've got some pods there. You know, Zambroto and Carnavara are going to be talking to each other. Vieira and Thuram are going to be talking to each other there, but Deschamps is going to bring some structure there.
Duncan Alexander
Nice.
Karl Anker
And that's my man.
Duncan Alexander
Ole.
Olly Kay
There's the option of going for the only man to have won the World cup twice as a manager, but I'm going to go for. Just to make it easier for everybody else, I'm going to go for a player manager. One of my players, Franz Beckenbauer, won the World cup as a manager with West Germany in 1990. So he could be player manager and maybe Cruyff would listen to him more than most.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, probably more than most. Felipe.
Felipe Cardness
Yes. I have a list here. I'm torn because I want to choose perhaps my namesake, the. The great Felipao. Luis Felipe Escolari, Brazilian manager. I. I remember vividly being, you know, a young kid and watching Italy in the 1986 World cup and watching Enzo Birsaw just smoke 17 cigarettes during the game. And I just thought that was incredible. But because I have Diego Armando Maradon on my side, I'm going to take the manager that was able to extract the greatness from him. A physician by trade, still considered, you know, perhaps the best manager in Argentine World cup history. Obviously, Lionel Scaloni is. Is. Is right up there, but I'm going with Carlos Pilardo, the winner of the 1986 World Cup.
Duncan Alexander
Lovely stuff, Jack.
Jack Lang
I mean, I will end as I began by picking Mario Zagallo. Won it as a player legend.
Karl Anker
Yeah.
Jack Lang
Won it as a manager, and to most people's minds, created some of the most aesthetically pleasing football ever seen at the World cup in 1970.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice. Okay, do you want to run through your team Just give us your formation, give us your lineup.
Jack Lang
Give it and state the case for it a bit.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah, like what are you happy about? Is there any nagging doubts you have about anything that happened?
Jack Lang
Okay, so my team is in a broad 4 2, 3, 1 formation or 4, 4, 2 depending. My goalkeeper is Jorge Campos. My back four Cafu, Gaetano Cherea, Bobby Moore and Nilson Santos. Deep in midfield, Andrea Piolo and Johanneskins on the right, Kahinsha on the left, Andres Iniesta and then Pele just off Killian and Bape in the attack.
Duncan Alexander
Sounds nice.
Jack Lang
Does sound what I will say in my team's favor. Everyone's in their preferred position.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah.
Jack Lang
There's no skins and Pirlo will ping the ball about very nicely. Iniesta can drop in and combine and then Gincha can. Can do his dribbles and Pel and Mbappe would. Would just have a lot of fun. I mean obviously Jorge Campos isn't one of the greatest, you know, 10 goalkeepers in history, but I think he was the reason given it was the fourth pick on the Concacaf.
Duncan Alexander
Yeah.
Jack Lang
Wild card round. It could have been, it could have been worse for me. I reasonably happy with that and I think I will be until Ollie reads his out.
Duncan Alexander
Well before then. Felipe, you're up next.
Felipe Cardness
Yeah, so remember I started with the classic 442. That, that has long been my favorite formation because I like playing with two holding midfielders and then letting the attack run in front of them. But after my picks I've changed to a four three, three. So I'm. My goalkeeper is Guillermo Achoa. I'm happy with it because of what he shows at the World Cup. Not the strongest pick though. Jorginho, my right back. I can't believe I skipped over Carlos Alberto, to be honest with you. I'm embarrassed. But I like this guy. He was very serviceable on a, on a, on a defensive minded team if you will. You know they, they could, they could defend that Brazilian team in 94. Daniel Pasarella, Fernando Yerlo in the. In my are my center backs. I like that we're going to keep the ball. And Andreas Breme is playing as my left back in the middle. Frank Ricard is my defensive midfielder. You get by him, you're going to get hurt essentially. And I'm moving Mateus into a central midfield position. And this is 1990 Lothar Mateus, not 1986 Los Harmas. Who man marked Diego Maradona in that final and kicked him several times. But in 1990 he was transformed into a box to box. Wonderful player in front of those two. Carlos Valderrama, I mean you know what he's going to do. And then my front three. I will die on this hill. As the top front three in World cup draft history. Playing on the left as, as, as a right sided forward. Linking and moving inside Diego Maradona centrally R9 and off the, off the left. Christo Storchkopf coming in.
Duncan Alexander
I mean that is a very tasty looking front three. It has to be said.
Karl Anker
Put the ball in the air, they're gonna dominate.
Olly Kay
I, yeah, I like my, I like my lineup but I'm just not quite sure the best formation. It's almost like there's a lack of width. There's a lack of width in.
Jack Lang
Have you Garth Crooks.
Olly Kay
No, I have Carlos Alberto right back. I have Jazinho right wing. I think the left side. Paolo Maldini can obviously play left back and was a brilliant left back long before he was a brilliant center back. You had Croy Fu who, who could drift to the left hand side and he would in this team. I think Franz Beckenbau. I toyed with the idea of switching to a sort of back three and wing backs. But no, Franz Beckenbau would be in his 1966 role as a sort of midfielder in, in front of the defense. You then have a sort of. What would it be? A front, a front six of Beckerbauer, Socrates, Cruyff, Platiny, Jazzinho or Eusebio. It's, it's. I mean it's, it's pretty decent. It's. It's decent. It's got. No, don't mind it. Yeah, it's what, what it lacks really is, is players who have, who have played this century.
Jack Lang
But what it lacks is any kind of structure. Mate.
Karl Anker
You're going to win every game. Four, three, that's the game. That's the goal.
Olly Kay
Not. You're not going to concede many goals with. You're saying no structure but that, that back, back six. Yashin, Carlos Alberto, Marquez, Barci, Maldini back Bauer. That's.
Jack Lang
Let the rest do the thing.
Karl Anker
The structure is Baraci and Beckenbauer.
Olly Kay
Absolutely. There's, there's, it's good. It's just. Yeah. Formation. It's probably sort of 4, 2, 2, 2 or something like that.
Duncan Alexander
Very nice, Carl.
Karl Anker
Yeah, I think I've got only three players that didn't play in a pre 90 World Cup. I'm definitely going for color TV here. Yeah, yeah. I am scratching my head going why did I pick Luka Modric instead of when Lotha Matthias was there because Mateus is a. Is a do everything player. And Felipe mentioned me afterwards went oh, hang on, should I have gone for him? But so I got Kabashal with some World cup heritage at goalkeeper. Mexico make good goalkeepers because of him. I believe it was of such historical significance to the nation. That's why Mexico have a lineage of goalkeepers. My back four is. I'm happy my back four. Maybe a little problem with width in that Zambroto's right footed. I'm playing at left back but I've got Zambrotto and Cannavara, they know each other, they want to walk up together. I've got Lilian Thuran who is a wonderful centre back and a wonderful human being. Will Serbia please forgive me, I forgot that pronunciation wrong. Mr. Dependable, highly tactically fluid, technically secure. Very, very important to. To the Ajax teams as well as that Netherlands team that reached two finals too. My midfield is Luka Modic who I think there's a great description of Johan Cruyff where. Where someone once described him as being four footed because the outside of his boots were so good they counted as additional passes. And I remember once someone once asked Karen Benzema what you really liked about Luka Modic. He said I'd want the outside of his right boot. And I think the work Luca has done for Croatia in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was phenomenal. Patrick Vieira, he does it all. Roberto Baggio in my. So I did have a list of bold football players and Patrick Vera was top of it. So when you flipped it to. To a long player, I went for Bajo instead. I was quite pleased he was still available there. And my friend 3 is Rivaldo, Gerd Muller and Lionel Messi. If I do have a problem it's I only have one ball and I'm not sure how we're going to get that to be shared between all of those individuals.
Duncan Alexander
Well, interesting you say that because for one last little fun outro, what's your favorite World cup ball and why? Oh, oh, and it's spelt J A B.
Jack Lang
My favorite is actually the 2002 fever Nova.
Duncan Alexander
Oh yeah.
Karl Anker
Oh, that was a beauty.
Jack Lang
Just because it's got. It was just slightly off white. It was slightly beigey. It's not kind of not a classic looking ball but yeah, it just, just did something for me. I like it.
Olly Kay
For anyone else I'll go for the Tango. The Adidas Tango Tango. It was introduced for the 1978 World cup, but. But proved such a sort of iconic design that. That it was renewed for 1982. And was it. Was it updated? Was there an updated version of the Tango?
Felipe Cardness
Yes, I think in 86 and maybe even 98,690 was the. The Etrusco, I think.
Duncan Alexander
But it was sort of the same ball, wasn't it? Just an evolution.
Felipe Cardness
Yeah, it was the same ball, essentially. I love that design too. I think it's my favorite World cup ball of all time. That. That Tango. Original Tango. I love it.
Karl Anker
It's got to be a Telstar. 97 World Cup. 97 World cup is well regarded because it's the first World cup where the majority of the population has tele. Has color television.
Olly Kay
Yeah, yeah.
Karl Anker
And therefore, you know, it's. It's bright, it's. It's like. It's what a football looks like. If you ask a child draw a football.
Duncan Alexander
Well, it's the emoji of a football, isn't it?
Karl Anker
There you go. So I'm fond of that. I'm also quite fond of the 2006 ball, the Teamgeist. But this is very much a personal memory in that I was playing for a team. I was 15 during the 2006 World Cup. And for some reason the team I was playing for on a Saturday that didn't normally have the greatest provisions. One day the coach came in and just threw us all a bunch of team guys and we had a kick around with that. And it was one of the very first times I kicked a football. And I could feel the ball swerve in a way that other footballs are like, oh, good. Footballs move more. So, yeah, the team. The team guys.
Duncan Alexander
I mean, in 2010, you could argue, maybe too much. I mean, my favorite ball. Yeah, the one in 1930 in the first game because it got all of this underway, this marvelous history.
Karl Anker
Look at that.
Duncan Alexander
Probably wasn't a regular ball.
Karl Anker
That's great.
Duncan Alexander
Probably took on a lot of water, but we can move on. Okay, well, I think that was a lot of fun. I think everyone had a nice time with a few groans and heads being held. Thank you very much to Jack, to Ollie, to Carl, to Felipe, and thanks to you too for joining us and hopefully enjoying. We'll catch you again.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
This episode of the Athletic FC is brought to you by Hotels.com. when you're booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com? it really is all in the name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout dates. So when you want to travel, your rewards are ready to go. So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer, or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to book@hotels.com and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name.
Lowe's Ad Voice
Yep, he's planning another project. So this Father's Day at Lowe's, Tap into free gifts for dad. Get a free select Craftsman Power Tool when you buy a Craftsman B20 charger with 2amp hour and 4amp hour batteries. Plus get a free Dewalt Power Tool when you buy a select 20 volt max XR4amp hour battery kit. Dad knows our best lineup is here at Lowe's, valid through 714 while supplies last selection varies by location.
Kat and Nat
This is Kat and Nat from Kat and Nat Unfiltered and this episode is sponsored by Michaels. Your destination for all things Birthday Party Parties. If you've ever planned a birthday celebration, you know it goes from cute idea to full on chaos real fast. The Party shop at Michael's makes life easier with over 4,500 party supplies in 60 plus themes like Bluey Rodeo, Soccer, Rainbow and more starting at just 99 cents. You can shop same day delivery or order online for pickup in store and they even do free helium inflation on select balloon styles. Michael's Everything to celebrate anything, visit Michael's in store or shop online now.
Date: June 4, 2026
Host: Duncan Alexander (for Adam Leventhal)
Panelists: Olly Kay, Jack Lang, Karl Anker, Felipe Cárdenas
This special episode kicks off The Athletic's 2026 World Cup coverage in a unique style: the ultimate World Cup all-time draft. Four expert writers compete—using a snake draft format—to create the greatest possible starting elevens with one key caveat: every pick must be based on that player’s World Cup performances, not overall legacy. Twists come in the form of wildcards (pick a Golden Boot winner, pick a CONCACAF player, pick a long-haired player, etc.), and discussion is peppered with sharp banter, tactical dilemmas, and affectionate football nerdiness.
[06:05] Round 1 (superstars off the board immediately):
"There's a ripping of paper already. That's how decisive that moment was." — Duncan Alexander (04:10)
([10:45]–[13:55])
Panelists must select a World Cup Golden Boot winner:
([24:39]–[29:45])
A nod to the 2026 hosts— pick from North/Central America.
([38:13]–[42:41])
Select a player whose shoulder-length locks are as legendary as their World Cup impact.
([50:20]–[55:00])
Pick a player from a country you haven’t chosen yet for your final spot.
([55:57]–[58:41])
([59:57]–[62:32])
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Team:
“I will say in my team’s favor, everyone’s in their preferred position. Iniesta can drop in and combine, Garrincha can do his dribbles and Pelé and Mbappé would just have a lot of fun.” [63:26]
Formation: Shifted from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3
Team:
“You get by Rijkaard, you’re going to get hurt. …My front three: Maradona, R9, Stoichkov. I will die on this hill as the top front three in World Cup draft history.” [65:53]
Formation: Hybrid—possibly 4-2-2-2 // lacks width
Team:
“Not going to concede many goals... It’s good. It’s just—Yeah. Formation is probably sort of 4-2-2-2.” [67:28]
Formation: 4-3-3
Team:
“My back four... maybe a little problem with width... But I’ve got Zambrotta and Cannavaro, they know each other, they won a World Cup together… My midfield is Modric, Vieira, Baggio… My front three is Rivaldo, Müller and Messi. If I have a problem it’s—I only have one ball.” [69:40]
The draft produces fascinating, ludicrous line-ups and exposes the joy and pain of all-star selection: for every legend picked, another legend is left out. Whether your heart lies with Brazil 1970, Italy’s defensive triumphs, or the flair of World Cup outsiders, this episode delivers a compelling, irreverent tribute to the tournament’s unmatchable magic.
For more draft drama, tactical wrangling, and World Cup celebration, stay tuned to The Athletic FC Podcast throughout 2026’s “biggest show on earth.”