All-'70s Soccer Team

Here are links to my '50s team and my '60s team if they're not right below this entry.

SEVENTIES

Formation: 3-4-3

GK #1 Zoff
For three-quarters of a year, Dino Zoff kept the back of Italy's net untouched. Before that, the steady keeper backstopped the '68 European champions, and after that, he was the captain of the '82 World Cup winners.

RB #4 Carlos Alberto
Carlos Alberto had the skills of a traditional defender, but also those usually associated with players further up the field. Want proof? Look at his mad dash at the 1970 World Cup, where he helped bring Brazil the title as captain.

SW #5 Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer was not only a genius at soccer, but a wizard with the ball. The sweeper position as we know it is closely tied to "der Kaiser," as are Bayern Munich's success in the '70s and West Germany's two World Cup titles (one as coach).

LB #2 Breitner
Paul Breitner of West Germany and Bayern Munich exemplified the '70s in two ways: first, his attacking play in the backfield and midfield; second, his afro and facial hair. There may be a third in his controversial nature he now embraces in punditry.

RW #7 Jairzinho
Jairzinho was one of several impact players for Brazil in 1970. A fast player with a mighty shot, he scored at least once in every match they played, a rare feat. His '76 Copa Libertadores winning goal is less famous than his winner against England.

CM #6 Neeskens
Johan Neeskens is noted in his Complete Book of Soccer bio twice for "terrific pace." His part in both '70s World Cup campaigns for the Netherlands was vital, and the same goes for his time on the great Ajax team earlier in the decade.

CM #12 Cubillas
Teofilo Cubillas has a special place in the hearts of his fellow Peruvians. In 1970 and '78, he led his team to the World Cup quarterfinals and scored five goals each time.

LW #11 Rivelino
Rivelino was a seminal figure in the aspect of ball control. A free kicker, he was one of many Brazilians to make the highlight of his career in the '70 World Cup, in his case with a long goal against Czechoslovakia.

FW #8 Best
George Best was, among other things, a quick player with good balance. In Britain, the Northern Irish heartthrob had a rock star reputation as he shone for Manchester United, and he lived the kind of rock star life that involved a lot of drinking.

FW #13 G. Muller
Gerd Muller was a major threat in the goal box. Some say he didn't look like much, but the West German built excellent skills through loads of practice and on-field effort. In two World Cup tournaments, he scored 14 goals, a record for years.

FW #9 Cruyff
Johan Cruyff led the charge in the "Total Football" the Dutch team played in the '70s, occasionally playing deeper than most center forwards. His dribbling, soccer IQ, and leadership have won him heaps of honors as both player and coach.

Alternates
FW Luigi Riva
FW Kevin Keegan
FW Mario Kempes
DF Hector Chumpitaz
SW Pirri
GK Sepp Maier

Zoff was originally my '60s goalkeeper, but upon looking at his career, I placed him here.

Again, note that the wingers are placed with the midfielders to correspond with the formation of the decade.

Better get these teams posted by the end of the year and have some more detailed write-ups for the All-Time Team.