Football Food For Thought / Feizal Rahman / 13 June 2010 / 1

Feizal talked you through the candidates and we gave you the chance to vote for England's all-time greatest World Cup eleven. Here's who you choose.

Goalkeeper: Banks

An overwhelming 75% of you chose Gordon Banks to be the goalkeeper of England's Greatest World Cup XI. Second choice, Peter Shilton, may have had more caps and played more World Cup games but the closest he got to winning was the semi final in 1990, where he was arguably at fault for the West Germans taking the lead.

Banks, meanwhile, was an integral part of England's World Cup winning team - with four clean sheets in 1966 - and four years later, his absence in the quarter final against West Germany perhaps cost England a second World Cup. The last line of defence in this team, there was none as 'Safe as the Banks of England'.

Defenders: Cohen, Moore, Butcher, Wilson

Three of the 1966 backline were chosen, which is unsurprising when you consider they conceded just three goals in the whole tournament, two of which came in the final.

Only Terry Butcher was deemed worthy of breaking up the World Cup winning back four and his all-out blood and guts mentality would be perfectly counter-balanced by the composure and serenity of Bobby Moore - who was one of only two players to pick up 100% of your votes.

There is no doubt that Moore would be captain of England's Greatest World Cup XI and in the familiar and ever-reliable company of George Cohen and Ray Wilson as full-backs, this defence would take some beating.

Midfielders: Beckham, Stiles, Charlton, Gascoigne

Three generations of England legends were chosen here, each of who at their peak were perhaps the world's best in their position.

At the base of a midfield diamond, Nobby Stiles would play in the holding role, frustrating opposition attacks with his no-nonsense tackling and dogged man-marking. Either side of him would be David Beckham and Paul Gascoigne, combining pinpoint passing and crossing ability with instinctive flair and skill. Both deeply passionate about playing for their country, there would be no lack of fight from the creative hub of this side.

At the head of the central four would be Sir Bobby Charlton, the second player in the team to gain everyone's vote. Given freedom to roam behind the front two, Charlton would be at liberty to break from midfield and unleash cannonball-like shots on goal. With several World Cup goals between them, and even more assists, there'd be no shortage of chances scored and created by this very attack-minded midfield (Steven Gerrard into [4.4] to be England's Top Goalscorer at 2010 World Cup).

Strikers: Hurst, Lineker

There was never any doubt over the strike pairing of this side with the two outstanding World Cup performers comprehensively winning your vote - Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker. The pair played 17 World Cup games combined, scoring 15 goals between them, with each netting a hat-trick.

As a partnership, the two may not complement each other as well as others but there can be no doubt that defences would have total fear of these lethal hitmen. What sets these two strikers apart is that when most needed, their country could rely on them to find the net and take the pressure off in a high intensity encounter at the business end of a World Cup.

Manager: Ramsay

The closest of all the votes, Sir Alf Ramsay just pipped Sir Bobby Robson as your choice for manager of this side. Ramsay would be well at ease with seven of his World Cup winners included. But handed the best of the rest, he would surely feel confident about winning another trophy with this line-up.

Butcher and Beckham would possess his requisite attitude of hard work and commitment to their country while Lineker's clinical finishing would fill him with confidence in his frontline.

Quite what Sir Alf would make of Gascoigne, however, is anyone's guess. Where the paternal Sir Bobby would put an arm around the mercurial midfielder, Ramsay would perhaps be far less tolerant of Gazza's livewire nature, though he could not fail to be charmed by the genius of his play.

This chosen team and manager have all the required balance, passion, leadership, skill and winning mentality to truly merit the title of England's Greatest Ever World Cup XI.

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1. Anonymous | 12 October 2010

   Bryan Robson instead of Stiles. He was a better all-round player, and was England's outstanding player at Espana 82. Injury prevented him from making a bigger impact in 86 and 90, but undoubtedly one of England's all-time greats.

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