Are you questioning the abilities of Baresi, Maldini and Gentile? Fachetti was a great player but those guys were better case closed. Gentile was known to be a "butcher" but hey! nobody got through. I think Maradona still has nightmares about him. Franco Baresi is known by many to be the best there ever was as a defender and you claim that he was a butcher???? Maldini played as a C.D. before becoming a leftback and a leftback is still a defender last I checked the books. Plus you said who is a better defender you did not specify leftback or rightback or Central Deffender??? You should really stop insulting people you have no class. Take it easy with your coments you make sick when you post on this site.

Yeah for me and growing up with Baresi nearing the end of his career and Maldini on fire they stand out as the best ... Im sure if i got to watch all the old timers as much my opinion may differ but for me Maldini wins.

Gigi Riva. The Azzurri’s all-time top scorer and the key to Italy’s European Championship victory in 1968. Almost single handedly won Cagliari their first and only Scudetto with his pace, power and presence in front of goal.

Il Divino:

Are you questioning the abilities of Baresi, Maldini and Gentile? Fachetti was a great player but those guys were better case closed. Gentile was known to be a "butcher" but hey! nobody got through. I think Maradona still has nightmares about him. Franco Baresi is known by many to be the best there ever was as a defender and you claim that he was a butcher???? Maldini played as a C.D. before becoming a leftback and a leftback is still a defender last I checked the books. Plus you said who is a better defender you did not specify leftback or rightback or Central Deffender??? You should really stop insulting people you have no class. Take it easy with your coments you make sick when you post on this site.

really, not case closed...

they were great defenders, but facchetti defined the attacking full back...

how many defenders can claim to have scored 70 odd goals in their lifetime?

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Arguing on the internet is a lot like competing in the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded...

as for the question, im going to have to say r.baggio

theres just too much class to forget

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Arguing on the internet is a lot like competing in the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded...

JiP!:

Il Divino:

Are you questioning the abilities of Baresi, Maldini and Gentile? Fachetti was a great player but those guys were better case closed. Gentile was known to be a "butcher" but hey! nobody got through. I think Maradona still has nightmares about him. Franco Baresi is known by many to be the best there ever was as a defender and you claim that he was a butcher???? Maldini played as a C.D. before becoming a leftback and a leftback is still a defender last I checked the books. Plus you said who is a better defender you did not specify leftback or rightback or Central Deffender??? You should really stop insulting people you have no class. Take it easy with your coments you make sick when you post on this site.

really, not case closed...

they were great defenders, but facchetti defined the attacking full back...

how many defenders can claim to have scored 70 odd goals in their lifetime?

To name two: Roberto Carlos approx. 80, Franz Beckenbauer around 65-70

Yes Facchetti was great, he's definitely in the starting lineup....and yes it's an incredible feat
This thread should be about all-time italian greats in a lineup

Buffon/Zoff; Facchetti, Baresi, Maldini, Scirea; Mazzola, Albertini, Tardelli; R. Baggio; Piola, Riva

This was tough!!!!
Honourable Mentions:
Rossi, Zenga, Rivera, Orsi, Meazza, Costacurta, Cannavaro, Nesta, Conte, Di Livio, Altobelli, Casiraghi, Zola, Totti, Del Piero, Donadoni

Too be fair jip the aim of the defender is not to score goals .. I wil lstick by my Maldini/Baresi as the best defender but also remember i base that on being able t owatch them alot .. im sure if i saw these older guys week in week out it may be different.

Fomr all italian players ive ever been able to watch my favourite has been Roberto Baggio without doubt and he would win my vote as all out best.

juventino_italiano:

JiP!:

Il Divino:

Are you questioning the abilities of Baresi, Maldini and Gentile? Fachetti was a great player but those guys were better case closed. Gentile was known to be a "butcher" but hey! nobody got through. I think Maradona still has nightmares about him. Franco Baresi is known by many to be the best there ever was as a defender and you claim that he was a butcher???? Maldini played as a C.D. before becoming a leftback and a leftback is still a defender last I checked the books. Plus you said who is a better defender you did not specify leftback or rightback or Central Deffender??? You should really stop insulting people you have no class. Take it easy with your coments you make sick when you post on this site.

really, not case closed...

they were great defenders, but facchetti defined the attacking full back...

how many defenders can claim to have scored 70 odd goals in their lifetime?

To name two: Roberto Carlos approx. 80, Franz Beckenbauer around 65-70

Yes Facchetti was great, he's definitely in the starting lineup....and yes it's an incredible feat
This thread should be about all-time italian greats in a lineup

Buffon/Zoff; Facchetti, Baresi, Maldini, Scirea; Mazzola, Albertini, Tardelli; R. Baggio; Piola, Riva

This was tough!!!!
Honourable Mentions:
Rossi, Zenga, Rivera, Orsi, Meazza, Costacurta, Cannavaro, Nesta, Conte, Di Livio, Altobelli, Casiraghi, Zola, Totti, Del Piero, Donadoni

well... without facchetti there can be no roberto carlos

and well beckembauer, hes in a class of his own too

and id give honourable mentions to mazzola, bergomi, burgnich and pagliuca

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Arguing on the internet is a lot like competing in the special Olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded...

JiP! I never questioned fachetti's ability. I'm my opinion Baresi was a better deffender that's all? Caos on the other hand says that Maldini is not worthy to be mentioned and according to him Maldini is not a defender and Baresi was a butcher. It's like nothing can be said on this site that you have guys like caos insulting people.

DEL PIERO! He is the best.. i got a clip of his 100 goals.. he is unstoppable..

Players here and there - like I said before somewhere! You just cannot beat a top side with a mixture of Germans, Italians and Brazilians - maybe a dutchman or two.

Ronaldinho and Pele forever!

Barcelona --> Brazil --> Ronaldinho!

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JOGO BONITA!

Baggio, Maldini, Zoff, Baresi, Cannavaro, Buffon(soon to be a candidate if not already..)...

my favorites Baggio, but its really hard to just pick one.. and very easy to look over a defenders contribution..

honorable mentions: Del p, Totti, Vieri...

I don't think the world really knows how good Baggio was. Unfortunately Baggio had to deal with too many carreer ending injuries which he was able to overcome. I put him a class of his own when it comes to Italian Players. By far the most talented and loved.

Ciao Roberto we miss you!!

you Goons call urself italia fans?!  where the hell is Paolo Rossi then!!

the only player to win the WC , Golden Ball, Golden Boot in a single tournament...

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Batistuta was really special, if only he left Fiorentina earlier, he could've enhanced his reputation and improved his ability quite a bit - free kick specialist, good header, not to mention his shot, had to be perfect at times...

Roberto Baggio and his pony-tail days was quite good too

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JOGO BONITA!