Ok....so I was wondering about starting line ups with the World Cup just a few days away now and was suddenly overcome with nostalgia for the tournaments of my childhood.

So, who wants to name an England XI using their favourite England world cup stars of the past? I'll go first...

Playing a 4-4-2, Ill go with:

GK: D Seaman (from 1998 not the slightly lumbering version of 2002)
RB: G Neville
LB: S Pearce (we actually joked on the school bus about Pearce breaking the net if we ever had to go to penalties...)
CB: T Adams
CB: R Ferdinand
CM: B Robson
CM: P Gascoigne
RW: D Beckham
LW: C Waddle
ST: G Lineker
ST: P Beardlsey

Subs: P Shilton, J Terry, A Cole, S McManaman, A Shearer, D Walker

Jumpers for goal posts...mmm....

All star? I'd go for:

4-4-2 (with 7 subs as per current FIFA regs)

GK - Gordon Banks
RB - George Cohen
CB - Terry Butcher
CB - Bobby Moore
LB - Stuart Pearce
RM - David Beckham
LM - Stanley Matthews
CM - Bryan Robson
CM - Jack Charlton
ST - Bobby Charlton
ST - Brian Clough (who was cruelly robbed of his England career, only ever got one cap I think)

Subs - Peter "The Cat" Bonetti, Tony Adams, Duncan Edwards, Alan Ball, Paul Gascoigne, Wayne Rooney, Gary Lineker.

Yeah, quite happy with that lineup. If the current crop can achieve something amazing this summer, then the likes of John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard et al can start trying to lay claim to a place on the list - but not yet...

edit - ps, you have Gary Neville in your back 4 ahead of Bobby Moore and Terry Butcher?! Are you Steve McLaren??

Just the '66 lineup.They were the only British players that ever amounted to anything and even they needed the goal that never was in order to win.

How did Crouch manage to make it on this year's team?

fduvall

English players...you have offended just about everyone there.

He has the best goals per game record of any English striker - not just the current lot, I do mean ANY English striker. Currently stands at 20 goals in 37 games.

my apologies to King Kenny.. the rest can bugger off

Could you really call any english soccer team, all star?

I realise the lumiaries I left out, however, I was referring to the World Cups of my youth, which are 86 onwards...

Falsehood denied:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Nugent

Mine:

GK - Peter Shilton
LB - Stuart Pearce
CB - Tony Adams
CB - John Terry
RB - Gary Neville
LM - John Barnes
CM - Paul Scholes
CM - Bobby Charlton
RM - David Beckham (during his Manure days)
ST - Alan Shearer
ST - Wayne Rooney

Subs: Gary Linekar, Teddy Sheringham, Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman, David Seaman, Ashley Cole, Duncan Edwards.

There's some wierd selections in here....Seaman, Donkey Adams to name but 2. Must admit other choices remind me of how poor the choice is - can't see really classy full back up there at all but I also can't think of anyone better.

But what really mystifies me is how come the name Hoddle isn't mentioned. Yes, he's a twat now (how many footballers aren't) but he remains by far the best football player I've ever seen. Anyone that thinks Beckham can take a free kick please go and look at some youtubes of the Hodd.

In fairness, this post was supposed be a bit of fun...

Pulling together a team of XI from the World Cups I saw as a kid (which I reiterated above was from 86 onwards). I have no recollection of watching Hoddle play for England so therefore can't include him in my XI. Sheesh.

Plus, although I'm absolutely not a Utd fan I think there are some pretty fine free kicks of Beckhams on YT also...

As an Ulsterman I think this would be more interesting if it was made a British All Star 11. For me the team is not necessarily based on the players with the best ability but also those who created magical worldcup moments and memories. My Worldcup memories go back to 1978 (sorry Wales) so here is my team:

GK - Pat Jennings (NI) - Best keeper of his and any other generation

LB - Mal Donaghy (NI) - Red Card against Spain in 1982 which made Northern Ireland's win against the hosts even more remarkable

CB - David Narey (SC) - Wonder goal that put Scotland 1 - 0 up against Brazil in 1982

CB - Terry Butcher (EN)

RB - Gary Stevens (EN)

LM - Archie Gemmill (SC) - 1978 goal against the Dutch

CM - Gazza (EN) - Tears in Italy

CM - Brian Robson (EN)

RM - David Beckham (EN)

FW - Gerry Armstrong (NI) - Voted best British player in the 82 finals

FW - Garry Lineker (EN) - 1986 golden shoe winner

Manager Billy Bingham (NI)
Assistant Manager Ally MacLeod (SC)

Ouch, no room for Law, Dalgliesh or 'Jinky' Johnstone??

I thought King Kenny was Scott, unless there is another Dalglish I havent heard of

Dalgliesh was considered, he might have made the bench, Law and Johnstone were pre 1978, did they play in the '74 finals?

Football...fun....? This is serious business!

Actually the Hodd played in '86, I think from about the 3rd group game. By far the best England player of that tournament.

... and this is the team that he finally chose