Pure Class

Soccer Digest, Oct, 2000

That throwback to a different era, playmaker Zinedine Zidane, is our World Player of the Year

By the editors of SOCCER DIGEST

FOLLOWING FRANCE'S 1998 World Cup victory, the tenacity and will of the melting-pot home team was praised; following France's Euro 2000 victory, Zinedine Zidane was praised. Zidane's second-half awakening in the Finals keyed Les Bleus push for the title and capped a tournament which put to rest most of the debate about who is the world's greatest soccer player and the sport's finest playmaker.

Zidane simply owned the early rounds al the Lowlands. His ability to control a game from central midfield is unparalleled in today's game. As a result, he is often hailed as a throwback to soccer's supposed golden age and one of the few players who truly deserves the mythical No. 10 jersey.

It wasn't a perfect year for Zidane. however. True, Juventus did fall short in their Scudetto bid--and fall uncharacteristically early in the Champions League--but Zidane played with hearty throughout Critics who claim he is merely a tournament player, a man who suffers over the grind of an entire season, didn't witness the ease and flair with which he directed the Juventus midfield from the turn of the year through the end of the season.

A study in determination and a master of vision, Zidane's game has improved in almost every year he has been a professional; any team with him in the side now seems preordained for success.

FIRST TEAM

GOALTENDER

Oliver Kahn, Bayern Munich and Germany

The rock on which the much of Bayern Munich's success depends, Kahn bounced back from early-season injuries to spearhead the club's comeback Bundesliga victory. A consistent and stabilizing figure, Kahn was a key organizer for a defense who, on the fly, had to deal with the midseason departure of longtime sweeper Lothar Matthaus.

Kahn's imposing size and bulldog attitude are reminiscent of former Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel and Paraguay's Jose Luis Chilavert, the two keepers that he has unseated as the world's best.

DEFENDER

Fabio Cannavaro, Parma and Italy

Arguably the Azzuri's best player, Cannavaro is a positional genius and a tough character. He and Alessandro Nesta are the best central defensive pair in the world--bar none. Despite the understanding he shares with Nesta, he is no less effective pairing with his Serie A teammates at Parma.

This year, Cannavaro became more confident going forward for his club--even generating a few goal-scoring opportunities for both teammates and himself.

Cannavaro will be one of the main reasons that a revamped Parma should challenge for the Scudetto.

Sinisa Mihaljovic, Lazio and Yugoslavia

Yes, the Yugoslav defender was one of worst players at Euro 2000, but, as always, he was one of the best in Serie A--and his efforts were rewarded by his helping Lazio to the league title.

The free-kick specialist and influential left back is the rare predatory defender who is as solid in his marking and positional sense as he is kickstarting the counterattack. He remains one of the world's most singular talents.

Alessandro Nesta, Lazio and Italy

Lazio's central defensive rock was one of the top players at Euro 2000. Intelligent and deceptively speedy, Nesta has, at the age of 24, made himself an indispensable, influential figure on his national team's backline, and one of the reasons why that defensive unit is the best in the world.

The confident, vocal Nesta will be one of the major players in Lazio's title defense this season.

MIDFIELDER

Jens Jeremies, Bayern Munich and Germany

Yes, there are two Germans on our All-World team--despite the country's stuttering on the international circuit. Still best known in the U.S. for bumping and grinding Claudio Reyna out of a 1998 World Cup match, Jeremies is a disruptive, difficult defensive midfielder whose prowess and ball-winning allows teammates Stefan Effenberg, Mario Basler, and Mehmet Scholl to concentrate on breaking down opposing defenses.

Jeremies' own improving distribution skills made him a valuable weapon for Bayern this year as well.

Luis Figo, Barcelona and Portugal

When Rivaldo swept the Player of the Year honors two in 1999--with David Beckham right on the Brazilian's heels--many Barcelona fans were left with furrowed brows. Yes, of course, a Barca winger deserved the honors, but it wasn't Rivaldo, but instead right-sided star Luis Figo. (And how anyone could consider Beckham a better right-sided midfielder than Figo is something that many couldn't fathom.)

This year, the secret got out--and eventually out of Barcelona, leaving the club for rivals Real Madrid for a record $56 million transfer fee.

Luis Figo then went on to dazzle at Euro 2000 with his graceful attacking and uncanny creativity.

Pavel Nedved, Lazio and the Czech Republic

Arguably the biggest injustice of Euro 2000 was that the Czech Republic, who played some of the best and most attractive soccer of the tournament, were eliminated in group play. An unfortunate draw placed the Czechs in a group with France and Holland, a cruel injustice for such a skilled bunch--none more skilled than central midfielder Nedved.