THE Evening Press set new York City chief Chris Brass the difficult task of picking his perfect all-time XI.

After piecing together a City squad made up of free transfers from the lower leagues, Brass was given free rein to pick and choose from the world's greatest stars.

All but one of his players, Eusebio, played in a World Cup final and together they share 14 final appearances. Seven are World Cup winners and between them the side has ten World Cup winners' medals.

"Unfortunately I couldn't find a place for Lee Nogan in the team, but I think he might have made the bench," cracked Brass.

"I've tried to pick players who I've seen in action even if it was just from clips on television and whose class is without question."

Playing a 4-3-3 formation, City chief Brass went for:

GK: Dino Zoff (Italy)

Holds world record for international clean sheets. Aged 40, captained Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup.

RB: Carlos Alberto (Brazil)

Captained arguably the world's greatest ever side to glory in Mexico 1970. His spectacular goal, the last in Brazil's 4-1 triumph over Italy, remains one of the game's enduring images.

CB: Franco Baresi (Italy)

Skilful defender who won 81 caps for Italy. Won three European Cups, six Serie A' titles, three European Super Cups and two World Club Cups with AC Milan.

CB: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)

Der Kaiser' became the first man to coach (1990) and captain (1974) a team to World Cup glory.

Also captained Bayern Munich to three successive European Cups. Twice European Footballer of the Year.

LB: Paolo Maldini (Italy)

Won his fourth European Cup winners' medal in May when he captained AC Milan to glory over Juventus at Old Trafford. Italy's most capped player.

MID: Zinedine Zidane (France)

Scored two goals in the 1998 World Cup final as France beat Brazil 3-0. Also won the 2002 European Championship.

MID: Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Led Argentina almost single-handedly to victory in the 1986 World Cup. Also led his countrymen to the 1990 World Cup final.

MID: Johan Cruyff (Holland)

Captained his country to the 1974 World Cup final and won the European Cup three times in a row with Ajax.

Crowned European Footballer of the Year three times.

FOR: Pele (Brazil)

Fights it out with Maradona for the tag of world's greatest player. Holder of three World Cup winner medals, although he missed the 1962 final through injury, and was the inspiration of the 1970 team, regarded as the best ever.

FOR: Eusebio (Portugal)

Portugal's leading all-time scorer, 41 goals in 64 appearances. Was crowned European Footballer of the Year in 1965. Finished as the top scorer in the 1966 World Cup with nine goals.

FOR: Ronaldo (Brazil)

Was a member of the 1994 victorious Brazil squad, although he did not play in the tournament.

Fired Brazil to the 1998 World Cup final but was rushed to hospital on the day of the match after a seizure. Brazil lost the final 3-0.

Bounced back in 2002 to spearhead Brazil's fifth World Cup triumph in Japan and South Korea. Scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Germany and finished the tournament as top scorer with eight goals.