Nesta for me. A rolls Royce, not many make it look like they are playing centre half at their own pace.
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The Kaiser is one. Not Baresi. I wouldnt have got it
Nesta was tough as anything. I think he could do anything Cannavaro could do plus a bit more. Cannavaro was probably better to watch.
One thing that would put me off Cannavaro would be Italy v Ireland, away from home in the WC Qualifiers. I don’t think it was held in Rome, it might have been Bari or somewhere like that.
Anyway, as you will recall, Italy were a goal up but had a man sent off. Trappatoni realises that he just needs to throw on some big skill-less goon up front and rain the simple long balls down on top of Cannavaro. Cannavaro was a warrior all night but the Ireland plan worked in the end. I don’t think it would have worked against Nesta.
Sammer?
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Yeah, off the back of Dortmund in 96 and the Euros I’d say. I’d never have got that
Roberto Carlos should have won one also ,
One of the greatest sporting moments, of all time
Both magnificent defenders but Cannavaro was the captain so he gets the nod.
Stunning
It’s Nesta for me. Just made it look so so easy.
Over their careers, it has to be Nesta IMO. Better on the ball too, more elegant. Cannavaro did have a terrific year in 2006 but Nesta had a much better career.
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What a shout. Unreal.
One thing is for sure that each of these guys are miles ahead of chancers and fist pumpers like Chiellini.
Maldini was the best defender I have ever seen.
I think Thurman was better than both Cannavaro and Nesta, but they would could next in my opinion.
Then again Desailly was an utterly brilliant player. So many to pick from.
Has there ever been a better defense than Italy in 2006.
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Materazzi played most of that World Cup though and he wasn’t amazing. Obviously played a big part in the Final.
Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta, Tassotti
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Italy have alway had great defenders.
The superb Mark Iuliano played in a back 3 in 2000 Euros with Cannavaro and Nesta.
Back in 1994, there were the likes of Luigi Apollini who didn’t give Romario a sniff in the final. It’s in their breeding.
Ciro Ferrara didn’t even make many of those sides. The dirtiest Italian defender I saw - always at sneaky little pulls and drags.
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Cannavaro was one of my favourite players ever… Such a clever player…Great reader of the game… he was around about 5’8 but Knew how to deal with the bigger opponents… Little nudge here, little nudge there, nothing too dramatic… A real product of Naples with his little tricks … Great leader toi…
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Yeah. That’s some back 4