The class of 1944

A team with two great Germans, Sepp Meier and Gunther Netzer leading the line with three Brazilians from the great 1970 World Cup winners including one of the all-time best players Carlos Alberto Torres at right back.

This XI lacks good central defenders and there isn't a good depth. Leeds utility man Paul Madeley fills in at left wing and right winger Jairzinho plays up front.

The 1944 Yearbook XI:

GK: Sepp Meier; 1974 World cup winner and 1972 European champion. Regarded as one of Germany's greatest ever goalkeepers, nicknamed the cat for his fast reflexes, agility, flexibility, speed, and consistency. 3x European Cup winner and 4x national champion with Bayern Munich, playing 536 games for the club.

RB: Carlos Alberto; 1970 World cup winner. Is widely regarded as one of the best defender of all time. Scored one of the greatest goals in the history of the World Cup in the 1970 final.

CB: Gallego; Spanish champion with Barcelona and unused sub when Spain won the 1964 European Championship.

CB: Julio Montero; 1967 Copa America winner with Uruguay and 9x national champion with Nacional.

LB: Everaldo; 1970 World cup winner. Is regarded as one of the finest left-backs of all time, but tragically died in a car crash, 30 years old.

RM: Jimmy Johnstone; part of the great 1967 European Cup winning Celtic team and voted their best ever player by the club's fans in 2002. 9x Scottish champion.

CM: Wim van Hanegem; won the 1970 European Cup with Feyenoord and is widely considered as one of the best Dutch football players in history. His skill to give the ball a curve (achieved by striking the ball with the outside of his left foot) gave him the nickname De Kromme.

CM: Günter Netzer; 1974 World cup winner and 1972 European champion. 2x German champion with Gladbach and 2x Spanish champion with Real Madrid. Is considered one of the greatest passers in the game's history.

LM: Paul Madeley; a versatile player spending 16 years at Leeds, won 2 championships and played 536 games.

FW: Jairzinho; 1970 World Cup winner. Played right wing as the great Garrincha at club and country so until he succeeded him, he played as a forward and left winger. Skilful and quick.

FW: Luigi Riva; 1968 European champion, 1x Italian champion and 3x topscorer in serie A with Cagliari. A great goalscorer.

Substitutes: Terry Cooper, Wolfgang Weber, Miklós Páncsics, Herbert Wimmer, Ferenc Bene, Francis Lee, Rodney Marsh

-The XI is based on one player for each position born in the given year.
-All XI’s is made with regards of balance in the team.
-Well known players who are left out will be named on the bench, for a better view on the generations strength. Therefore this should not be a discussion on each player individuel or if they should be on the XI.