Top 5 Football teams ranked by starting 11

Ranking a football team is usually done by the number of games a team wins, loses and draws. Those rankings could be found in any official FIFA website. For a change, I’ve tried to put down the list of top 5 teams in the world solely based on their starting 11.

Football is a team game, there is no denying that fact but a team is made up of individuals and it is the skill and creativity of each player that results in a team emerging victorious or losing the game. It only takes one moment of individual genius to pick out that pass or that shot which leads to a goal that might prove to be decisive.

So, based on the skills and attributes of those individual players whose name will definitely be there on the starting 11 of the team, I’ve formed this ranking. Now, there are a lot of factors that determine the starting 11 of a team, the formation, the players’ availability, relationship with the manager etc. I’m just going to assume that every player is available and are on good terms with the manager and I’m gonna pick my favorite formation: 4-3-3.

Germany

Starting 11           : Manuel Neuer, Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Shkodran Mustafi, Joshua Kimmich, Toni Kroos, Mario Götze, Julian Draxler, André Schürrle, Thomas Müller & Leroy Sané

The problem that I had while forming this team was they have too many players who play in the same position. This had forced their manager to shift players to a more uncomfortable role where I’ve seen them struggle. Not a lot but a little. Now, I’ve a lot of left-backs and CB’s available but no natural RB. Also, Most of Germany’s front men are wide players. Their natural strikers are either retired or aged. That doesn’t mean Mario Gómez can’t play well or score but will he be my first choice striker? No and even if he is, then that’s because I’ve very limited option.

That, is what I feel, is a drawback to the German squad but none the less, they are currently number 1 in the world and have dominated football at a national level in the recent past. They are a force to reckon with but not a complete team.

Spain

Starting 11           : David de Gea, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Koke, Sergio Busquets, Ander Herrera, Marco Asensio, Alvaro Morata & Isco

Now, this is a team where you have a player in each position and not only that, they excel in it. So, what is the disadvantage in this team that does not make it the most complete team? Every player in this team explodes with creative young talent but the lack of experience the new generation of players have in the national stage is a drawback. The team had a lot of great names who retired in the recent past and that might be the real challenge this team faces. They used to have leaders everywhere on the pitch but now it’s just down to Ramos and Pique.

This has also seen them drop low in the FIFA rankings but once you go further up the pitch and look at the names like Busquets, Ramos, Pique, Alba, you know that you are talking about truly world class talents and that gives them the edge over others.

Belgium

Starting 11           : Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Jordan Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Marouane Fellaini, Radja Nainggolan, Yannick Carrasco, Romelu Lukaku & Eden Hazard

I really want to point my fingers and say that this team is weak in this area but I seriously am having trouble with it but no team is without flaws. The one flaw that I could find in this team is the full back position just like France. The team is studded with world class stars. The talents of each and every player in this team is recognized worldwide but the only reason why I think that this team might be troubled is the depth. Belgium has produced world class superstars but not in abundance and this is something that needs to be addressed immediately. They cannot just plan for the present. They don’t have the apt replacement for Hazard or De Bruyne or Lukaku. One injury to any one of them and the moral of the entire squad will be down but regardless of this flaw which focuses on the future and not the present, if I’m asked if Belgium is the team to look forward to in the coming world cup, I would say. Hell Yeah.

France

Starting 11           : Lloris, Banjamin Mendy, Laurent Koscielny, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Digne, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kanté, Blaise Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann, Benzema &  Kylian Mbappé

If we just look at this starting 11 we know that France will provide a tough competition to any team in the world but is this the ultimate team? Almost there. The area where I think that France is lacking behind is the full back. Now, there are a lot of promising youngsters in the team who have the potential to be superstars but the future is not what we’re talking about. It’s the present, so I believe that if France had more world class players in that area of the pitch, they will be unstoppable.

Have a look at that midfield. We have the tireless Kante who’ll just keep running and running and running. Poga is already a world star at this age and his thunderous shots are the one to look out for. Matuidi with his experience and tackling skills can just win the ball at his half and dictate the play from there.

Now, the attacking trio is just amazing. Though Benzema does not get on the spotlight as much as Griezmann and Mbappe but he is a real center forward. His time in Ligue 1 and La Liga has proved it. Also, there are a lot of players like Lacazette and Giroud who can fill his void which means France have a pretty decent backup. The skill of Griezmann, the pace of Mbappe and the positioning of Benzema can really trouble even the toughest defense in the world.

Brazil

Starting 11           : Ederson, Filipe Luís, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Paulinho, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Roberto Firmino & Neymar

I seriously do not see any fault in this team. The starting lineup is just amazing. Superstars of the footballing world everywhere on the pitch. The individual talents just pops out from everywhere. Now, there might be a few who say that Paulinho is not all that great or Ederson is just a new boy. True as it is, there are only a few teams who can actually defeat Brazil. So is this the complete team of them all? Almost. Why? Because I agree with the few of you out there. Other than Casemiro who has been performing exceptionally well for Real Madrid, there is no other holding midfielder in the team but other than that the attacking instinct of the team is just out of this world. Defense is rock solid too. We all know how good each defender mentioned in this starting 11 is. There is just no denying the fact that you’d want almost every one of these players in your team. Also, they have pretty strong and experienced backup in every position. Can anyone say no to that?

My guess, is that Brazil will be the team to beat in the coming World Cup.