Dream team picked

BERLIN: Imagine a strike force of Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo and Marco van Basten. The quartet led a dream team picked by 20 current players plus tournament head Franz Beckenbauer. Each was asked to pick their best 11, including themselves. Brazilians Roberto Carlos and Cafu were clear choices at wingback, with Paolo Maldini and Sir Bobby Moore joining them in defence. There was no clear winner in goal with Peter Schmeichel, Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Petr Cech and Fabien Barthez all getting equal consideration. French Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira were the players’ favourites in the midfield. Others included David Beckham, Juan Roman Riquelme, Steven Gerrard, Alessandro Nesta and Raul. Germany’s Lukas Podolski picked his father, a former defender, and Bastian Schweinsteiger selected his brother, Tobias.