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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Mauricio Pochettino names all-time World Cup XI and includes Zinedine Zidane in defence

Mauricio Pochettino has named his all-time World Cup XI... with Zinedine Zidane at left-wing-back in an "interchangeable" role.

Pochettino, who represented Argentina at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, has included the likes of Diego Maradona, Pele, Carlos Puyol and Johan Cruyff in his team - but there's no room for Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe or Neymar.

The former Tottenham manager's team will no doubt cause some debate, seeing as France legend Zidane was an attacking midfielder. Pochettino has also put former England skipper David Beckham, a winger by trade, at right-wing-back in his questionable XI.

"So, the rule of my team was that only players who had finished playing were eligible - so you understand why there’s no Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar etc," Pochettino told The Athletic. "But still you’re asking me if I’m crazy, right?

"Zinedine Zidane as a left wing-back? I would say: 'Don’t worry'. The positions will be interchangeable. We have three of the greatest central defenders of all time and a brilliant goalkeeper. Also, we are going to score so many goals that nobody will catch us."

Pochettino's team starts with goalkeeper Thomas N'Kono, who represented Cameroon at the 1982, 1990 and 1994 World cups. N'Kono became a household name for his stunning displays at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where Cameroon reached the quarter-finals.

Zinedine Zidane makes Mauricio Pochettino's all-time World Cup XI... at left-wing-back (Eric Renard / Icon Sport via Getty Images)

What do you make of Mauricio Pochettino's team? Let us know in the comments below!

Pochettino has gone with a back three (or back five if you include the wing-backs) of Puyol, Franz Beckenbauer and Paolo Maldini. Puyol was named in the All-Star Team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after inspiring Spain to their maiden world title.

Beckenbauer won 1974 World Cup with West Germany on home soil before repeating the feat as manager 16 years later. He is one of three men to lift the World Cup as a player and a manager, along with France's Didier Deschamps and Brazil's Mario Zagallo.

Maldini is a questionable choice because he failed to win the World Cup. He was part of the Italy squad that reached the final of the 1994 World Cup in the USA and was twice named in the All-Star Team before retiring from international football in 2002.

Beckham is perhaps the strangest inclusion, seeing as he failed to get beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup. Denmark legend Michael Laudrup is another non-semi-finalist to make Pochettino's team, although he was named in the 1998 World Cup's All-Star Team.

In terms of attack, three-time winner Pele and 1986 champion Maradona are unsurprising inclusions. The last two spots in the team belong to Cruyff, who led the Netherlands to the 1974 final, and 1994 Golden Boot winner Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria.

Notable absentees from Pochettino's side include the Brazilian Ronaldo, Bobby Moore, Eusebio, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Miroslav Klose, Fabio Cannavaro, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Paul Gascoigne, Phillip Lahm, Romario, Luka Modric and Just Fontaine.

Mauricio Pochettino's All-Star World Cup XI: Thomas N'Kono; David Beckham, Carlos Puyol, Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini, Zinedine Zidane; Michael Laudrup, Diego Maradona; Johan Cruyff, Pele, Hristo Stoichkov.

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