World Cup Draft: Picking our Best XIs ever... with a twist
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The Athletic FC. 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 for that feast of football today we're attempting to build an all-time world cup draft from your Lev Yashin's to your Killian Mbappe's 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 with me are four brilliant minds from the athletic Oli K hello
Jack Lang. Hi. Karl Anka. Hello there. And Felipe Cardenas. Hello gents. First off, let's discuss the order we're going to 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 Oli 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? On...
After three. After three. One, two, three, shoot. The gentleman's method. Okay.
One, two, three, shoot. So we start with Jack.
Oh, wow. Oh, no. Oh, wow, Jack. Okay.
How do the hosts explain the World Cup draft rules and format?
I cannot wait to see who he chooses first.
It's ripping a 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 wildcard rounds at any point. 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.
Tempting, but wrong.
When it comes to the sensibleness of the selections... He's going 4-2-4, isn't he? No, I don't mind that, but I assume this is going to be self-policing. Like if someone ends up having Maradona at left wing back...
the scorn within this room is going to... I will allow Maradona at left wing back. Oh my God. It's gluttonous. I would wonder why you're doing that. But if you want to skip leg day and pack your entire team full of attackers to a 4-2-4, go for it.
Okay, I'm going to behave with class. I mean, obviously some of the formations available in the 1930s may be quite useful.
And yeah, just as you say, it's about World Cup performance. It's not necessarily the greatest players you've ever seen.
Correct. Yeah. It's impact at World Cups or even just memories.
Okay.
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.
Drumroll. I'm going to pick the only player to have won the World Cup three times. which is Pelé, and he is a forward. I can decide later whether he is my number nine or playing just off my number nine.
I see. Well, Pelé's gone. What is your formation, Jack? What is Jack's formation?
My formation is a fluid concept that develops over the course of the next two hours, Felipe. All right, then. Okay, Felipe, you're next up.
Oh my gosh, I'm next. Oh, wow. Okay, so my formation is a 4-4-2, a very traditional and classic 4-4-2, okay? I mean, if he's taking Pelé, I'm going to take Diego Armando Maradona. I'll take him. El 10. El Dios.
I mean, who could have foreseen that Pelé and Maradona have gone early goals? But they have. Oli?
Left wing back. I am going to go a little more left field, I think. But there is a method behind my madness. I'm going to go for Franz Beckenbauer.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–1:41
2
How do the hosts explain the World Cup draft rules and format?
1:41–11:54
3
Who wins the first picks and why are Pelé, Maradona and Messi chosen early?
11:54–14:54
4
Which defenders and full-backs are prioritized and why are Beckenbauer, Cannavaro and Maldini picked?
14:54–26:47
5
What wildcard challenges change pick strategies and who wins the Golden Boot round?
26:47–1:02:47
Speakers
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