serious14
Well-Known Member
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow_experts/post/The-five-best-soccer-teams-of-the-decade;_ylt=AuiDiGDEDju7EEXZI_sz6gkmw7YF?urn=sow,205815
The five best soccer teams of the decade
By Martin Rogers
5. Manchester United 2007-08
Cristiano Ronaldo was established as the finest player on the planet, Sir Alex Ferguson wondered why he had ever considered retirement and United played some of the most ruthlessly efficient soccer Europe has ever seen.
A rocky start to the English Premier League season could not prevent United from going on a tear during the second half of the campaign and beating Chelsea to the title.
The Red Devils faced the same opponent in the final of a dominant UEFA Champions League campaign that had seen them sweep past Barcelona and Roma. United won the title in Moscow in a dramatic penalty shootout.
4. Brazil 2002
After a dismal qualifying campaign and star striker Ronaldo overweight and out of form, Brazil was widely written off before the 2002 World Cup.
However, with seven straight victories and eight goals from Ronaldo, the Samba superstars showed themselves to be one of the truly great teams of the modern era.
Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo were all in outstanding form, and even though Brazil fell a goal behind to England in the quarterfinals and faced a tough Germany side in the final, the South American power could not be denied.
3. Barcelona 2008-09
The 2009 Champions League final was billed as not only the battle of the world's two best club teams but also its two finest players.
However, it was Lionel Messi who led Barcelona to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United to put himself, and his club, at the top of the pile.
New head coach Pep Guardiola tapped into the talents of Messi, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta to claim a sensational "treble" of the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
2. France 2000
France had stunned soccer by winning the World Cup on home soil in 1998, but this was arguably the finest work produced by the greatest international team of its time.
With Zinedine Zidane pulling the strings, France surged through the group and knockout stages with a brand of soccer that was magnificent to watch. The French survived a scare in the final, producing a late equalizer against Italy before David Trezeguet sealed it with a golden goal in extra time.
1. Spain 2008
Spain had not won a major competition for 44 years yet somehow Luis Aragones' squad managed to block out the pressure and expectations that followed them throughout Euro 2008.
It was truly a team effort with too many heroes to mention, and it was the kind of performance the hungry Spanish public had waited all those years for.
The only scare came in the quarterfinal against Italy won in a penalty shootout as Spain marched to the title without conceding a goal in knockout play.
Barca 08/09 >>>>>>>>>>> Spain 08, but I agree with the rest.
The five best soccer teams of the decade
By Martin Rogers
5. Manchester United 2007-08
Cristiano Ronaldo was established as the finest player on the planet, Sir Alex Ferguson wondered why he had ever considered retirement and United played some of the most ruthlessly efficient soccer Europe has ever seen.
A rocky start to the English Premier League season could not prevent United from going on a tear during the second half of the campaign and beating Chelsea to the title.
The Red Devils faced the same opponent in the final of a dominant UEFA Champions League campaign that had seen them sweep past Barcelona and Roma. United won the title in Moscow in a dramatic penalty shootout.
4. Brazil 2002
After a dismal qualifying campaign and star striker Ronaldo overweight and out of form, Brazil was widely written off before the 2002 World Cup.
However, with seven straight victories and eight goals from Ronaldo, the Samba superstars showed themselves to be one of the truly great teams of the modern era.
Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo were all in outstanding form, and even though Brazil fell a goal behind to England in the quarterfinals and faced a tough Germany side in the final, the South American power could not be denied.
3. Barcelona 2008-09
The 2009 Champions League final was billed as not only the battle of the world's two best club teams but also its two finest players.
However, it was Lionel Messi who led Barcelona to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United to put himself, and his club, at the top of the pile.
New head coach Pep Guardiola tapped into the talents of Messi, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta to claim a sensational "treble" of the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
2. France 2000
France had stunned soccer by winning the World Cup on home soil in 1998, but this was arguably the finest work produced by the greatest international team of its time.
With Zinedine Zidane pulling the strings, France surged through the group and knockout stages with a brand of soccer that was magnificent to watch. The French survived a scare in the final, producing a late equalizer against Italy before David Trezeguet sealed it with a golden goal in extra time.
1. Spain 2008
Spain had not won a major competition for 44 years yet somehow Luis Aragones' squad managed to block out the pressure and expectations that followed them throughout Euro 2008.
It was truly a team effort with too many heroes to mention, and it was the kind of performance the hungry Spanish public had waited all those years for.
The only scare came in the quarterfinal against Italy won in a penalty shootout as Spain marched to the title without conceding a goal in knockout play.
Barca 08/09 >>>>>>>>>>> Spain 08, but I agree with the rest.