A strong defence is key to any side being a major success at club level. Bring that to international tournament football and the importance is multiplied tenfold.
International football is entirely different grounds. Less time to implore a philosophy, a limited pool of players, and having to achieve as much as possible in a short span of games. A top defence is key to ensuring a successful run, be it with top players or management that turns an average bunch into world beaters.
Sure, blistering goals and coming out on the big stage with exciting, attacking performances is fun. But what’s also fun is a galvanised defence looking out for one another and claiming ankles. 90min ranks the greatest defences to be constructed in the international game.
Pavard was immense / SAEED KHAN/Getty Images
In a team filled with stars – like, literally, their squad depth should be illegal – the French defence that won the 2018 World Cup goes unnoticed.
Hugo Lloris leading the side, Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti holding it down at the back while Benjamin Pavard scores worldies and Lucas Hernandez whips in balls for fun. All the balance. Allez Les Bleus.
Manuel Neuer guards the goal / Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Two years on from becoming world champions, cracks were beginning to show in what was once an elite Germany side at its very peak.
And while they couldn’t go all the way at Euro 2016 – ousted by France in the semi-final – Die Mannschaft looked seriously sturdy at the back in the early stages, which is what powered them into the last four.
The USSR were a tough side to beat / Inpho Photography/Getty Images
Conceding just twice as they went unbeaten in the group stages, the Soviet Union’s football team were back on the up in 1988, despite the state beginning to lose power.
The Soviet Union enjoyed a strong return to the top of the football ladder in the 80s and a rock solid defence comprised of Sergei Aleinikov and Vagiz Khidiyatulin were key to that. They reached the final and were bettered only a resurgent and elegant Netherlands side.
Colombia surprised a few / YURI CORTEZ/Getty Images
A ridiculously stubborn Colombia defence was the reason that the entirety of England sat on the verge of a heart attack in the summer of 2018.
The Colombians conceded just once in the group stages and held England at 1-1 over 120 minutes in a last 16 clash. Who knows how vital that defence would’ve been should they have won on penalties. Yerry Mina headers all the way to the final.
Yep, Jaap Stam is one big Dutchman… / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
The Oranje were a versatile side at Euro 2000. While they were capable of exploding on teams with goals, they were also prepared to tighten up at the back and avoid being caught themselves.
A 0-0 draw with Italy in the semi-final was a solid result against an equally as impressive side, with the Dutch only losing out on spot kicks. Jaap Stam and Frank de Boer at the back; fierce.
Impeccable team and kit / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
The home nation impressed in 1990, resorting to some textbook tactics to propel themselves as far as the semi-final.
Italy didn’t concede in the group stage thanks to Walter Zenga in goal and a defensive pair of Giuseppe Bergomi and Riccardo Ferri, but lost out in the last four on penalties. Harsh.
A star-studded squad / Clive Mason/Getty Images
France kept things tight at the back in 2006 but were also modest in attack despite being placed in a favourable group at the World Cup.
They exploded in the knockout rounds, though, with Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry running wild up top and Lilian Thuram and William Gallas keeping a tight ship until the very death, before losing the final on penalties. Something about a headbutt, too.
West Germany reached the final / Central Press/Getty Images
A six goal final – whereby the Germans conceded four – shadows their otherwise impressive defensive work to make it that far at the 1966 World Cup.
Franz Beckenbauer sitting in front of two central defenders was key as West Germany bagged seven in the group stages and never looked all that weary at the back – until Geoff Hurst had his way in the final.
Champions again / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Rebuilt following the highs and subsequent lows of previous years, a less star-studded yet just as impressive German defence was key as they won Euro 80.
Uli Stielike occupied a sweeper role between Bernard Dietz and Karlheinz Forster, which dominated attacks and saw them win the tournament, with Belgium only scoring from the spot in the final.
Belgium seriously flopped / Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
It’s borderline criminal that Belgium didn’t win the 2014 World Cup with the team they turned up with.
Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld all heading to their prime, with Daniel van Buyten adding the experience. That defence was terrifying and did its job; just a shame the attack didn’t as they were ousted by Argentina in the last 16.
Dino Zoff was between the sticks / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Paolo Rossi’s six goals on the way to the trophy and the Golden Boot stole the headlines at the 1982 World Cup, but Italy were a menace all around.
A slow start snowballed with momentum, support and some solid tactics that saw Gaetano Scirea boss it from the sweeper role behind a seriously combative and committed midfield.
This is what tournament football is about / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Emotion, passion, talent and surprise. Euro 92 was football at its absolute best.
Once Denmark found their way into the tournament via Yugoslavia’s disqualification, they defended their right to be there with grit. Peter Schmeichel was immense between the sticks and inspired his defenders in front of him to keep guard as they won the tournament.
Total Football / VI-Images/Getty Images
Despite losing to the Soviet Union in the group stages, the Netherlands sailed a tight ship throughout Euro 88 in order to allow Marco van Basten to shine in attack.
Part of the Total Football philosophy hinges on a strong defence, which in 1988 was key in their pursuit of the trophy as they got revenge on the Soviet Union in the final.
Brazil had the number of the Uruguayans / Keystone/Getty Images
With Brazil winning and Uruguay going as far as fourth place, the 1970 World Cup was a solid one for South America.
A finely built Uruguayan side conceded just once as they worked up to a semi-final clash with Brazil, who understandably managed to undo an otherwise strong side.
Bennacer starred at the 2019 AFCON / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/Getty Images
One of Africa’s greatest sides, Algeria stormed to the 2019 AFCON trophy with a top defence that allowed them to pick off the competition.
Ismael Bennacer won player of the tournment sitting just in front of Ramy Bensebaini and Djamel Benlamri, winning the nation their first AFCON trophy since 1990.
The golden era / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Coming at the end of an immense cycle of dominance that saw Spain pass their way around the world several times and pick up just as many trophies on the way, Euro 2012 was the last hurrah.
La Roja in its final form, the defence had developed as Sergio Ramos stepped in more full time alongside Gerard Pique, while Jordi Alba stormed the left flank from full back and scored in a 4-0 romping in the final.
Egypt were incredible / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Getty Images
While Spain were dominating across selected continents, Egypt were doing the same in Africa.
They won the AFCON three times in a row from 2006 to 2010, with their 2008 side displaying their peak. Defenders Wael Gomaa and Hany Said were pivotal in the final as Egypt edged past Cameroon in a 1-0 win.
Close, but no cigar / ROBERTO SCHMIDT/Getty Images
A strong spine involving Oliver Kahn, Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose was enough for Rudi Voller to work with in assembling a team that was secure and stubborn on their way to the 2002 final.
This wasn’t the Germany of old, though, and they paid the price when Ronaldo put a brace past them in Yokohama.
The perfect combo / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Portugal won Euro 2016 despite not winning any of their group games and taking almost two hours to score a goal.
Tenacious midfielders, the inevitable wizardry of Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe rolling back the years allowed the side to elbow their way beyond France and to the trophy, becoming the anti-football champions with an ultra defensive approach.
Sergio Goycochea’s career boomed in 1990 / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Four years on from the excellence of 1986, a more conservative approach from a slightly less eccentric yet still strong Argentina was enough to make the Italia 90 final.
Sergio Goycochea was key in goal for the Argentines, turning into a penalty hero in the quarter and semi-final as the stand-in keeper and helping them to the final, where it unfortunately unravelled.
France were the undoing of an incredible Brazil side / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
It was merely the pure excellence and complete squad harmony of France that stopped an almost as incredible Brazil side from becoming world champions in 1998.
Ronaldo played despite collapsing before the final, but the magic feet of Zinedine Zidane was enough to prise between Brazil’s back line.
Vengeance / Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Four years later, Brazil weren’t slipping up again.
Four years more experienced, it was perfect timing. It had to be now, and it was. Brazil conceded just once in the knockout stages as they stormed through the finals, topping it off with a 2-0 win over Germany.
A trophy for the collection / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol in their prime wasn’t even the full story for Spain in 2010.
Relentless pressing and unrelenting spells of possession to swallow the opposition, this side was set up to defend and cover every blade of grass. They suffocated the Dutch in the final.
More sleeveless football shirts please, for the garm levels / ISSOUF SANOGO/Getty Images
A tournament and a team that isn’t talked about enough. Not only did Cameroon show up to the 2002 AFCON in sleeveless shirts, they won the competition without conceding a goal. Zero goals conceded.
Flawless defending combined with goalscoring from Patrick M’Boma and Samuel Eto’o saw them lift the trophy in serious style. Literally.
The only English World Cup winners to date / Evening Standard/Getty Images
With England failing to come remotely close to repeating their 1966 exploits, nobody actually pays attention to just how good the side was.
Aside from Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in the final, England were solid elsewhere. A slow start to the tournament saw a focus on keeping things tight at the back, before ramping it up at the crucial point. And it’s still yet to be matched by the Three Lions.
An incredible team / STAFF/Getty Images
Beckenbauer and Schwarzenbeck, flanked by Paul Breitner and Horst-Dieter Hoettges. Sepp Maier in the sticks. Impenetrable and iconic.
The early 70s were some of West Germany’s finest hours, which was on show at Euro 72 as they eased to the trophy.
A serious heavyweight contest / -/Getty Images
Two years more experienced and four years on from Brazilian flair running wild on the world stage, West Germany added another to the collection.
West Germany and the Netherlands – two sides at their very peak – clashed in the final, but it was again the defence of the Germans who stood strong as they claimed their second world championship.
Arguably Brazil’s finest hour / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Widely regarded as the greatest side at the greatest World Cup ever, Brazil turned up to Mexico in 1970 and played mesmerizingly entertaining yet equally efficient football to win the trophy.
In order for the sea of yellow shirts in attack to swarm oppositions and bamboozle them with skills and fine movements, a seriously well built defence propped them up. Carlos Alberto Torres combined flair with defensive brilliance at the heart of it all, and scored in the final.
On home turf / PEDRO UGARTE/Getty Images
Playing on home soil gave the French the slightest of advantages, but it’s another thing to grasp it with both hands like they did and make the most of it.
Aime Jacquet’s side had everything. Elegance and ruthlessness in attack, but also intelligence and passion in defence with Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly keeping things watertight.
Italian defending. Art. / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
It’s not a list of football’s best defences if the Italians don’t top it.
Fabio Cannavaro pulled strings as Italy stormed to the World Cup for the first time since 1982. It was his performances at the tournament that earned him the FIFA Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or awards, summarising just how incredible they were defensively as Gianluigi Buffon kept five clean sheets.
