Gabriele Marcotti

Look at England's centre-backs.

Look at Argentina's likely centre-backs.

I don't see sort of, you know, Baresi and Costa Curtas back there.

A lot of people have issues at centre-back.

It's a great segue for the next question, guys.

It's the next question leads to this.

Yeah, let me see it, and then you can continue your point.

The next question says France have the best attack, Spain have the best midfield, but who has the best back line in international football?

So go ahead, Frank.

Good question, isn't it?

Well, I think we can all agree, and I don't want to make this about Italy, but it fits the conversation.

There are no Cannavaros walking around.

And even the top-end center backs, those that you would consider to be elite, the best, you name whoever you may think is the best, still not as good as the best was back then.

And maybe Frank has a valid point in terms that there has been so much conversation about ball possession and attacking players and building from the back that you forget about the actual art of defending.

There isn't enough, at least in my estimation, enough nasty defenders.

Enough players that, as a striker, you would be very knowledgeable and conscious as to where they are on the field.

Players that are intimidating, that their presence on the field and their leadership on the field really dictates how the game is going to be played.

Even those that are the best, and you can consider that maybe Upamecano is among the best, or you can consider that Konate may be among the best.

I don't think they are, but they could very well be in that conversation.

You watch those guys play, and they're mistake-prone.