I've always bashed soccer in the past, but I've decided to give it a shot for this year's World Cup. Obviously I know that traditional frontrunners (Brazil, England, Argentina, Germany), and I know the big name players like Ronaldinho, Henry, Shevchenko, etc...

What I'm wondering is who are the best defenders in the game. And, in soccer, is there a such thing as a lockdown defender who can take a great striker out of a game?

Yes there is. Im to tired to go through them all so just go to the world cup site, click the teams section and filck though the top teams lineups and read about the defenders.

Roberto Carlos is a defender for example, and i bet you would know his name.

John Terry (England) is generally regarded as the best defender in the game righty now. Soccer is more a team sport than most, so I personally dont think a great defender can shut a great striker down completely, but a great back line can. Ecudor's back line is playing phenomenally right now.

Oh...just found this:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363565

I wouldn't call Roberto Carlos a lock down defender at all like Zim was asking. In fact, Carlos barely qualifies as a defender, he just happens to play a bit there as he is in the attack more often then not

And he lived up to his expectations during the Engalnd/T&T game.

We have Rafael Marquez who plays for Barcelona...he's pretty sick..

other good defenders..

Puyol, Patrick Viera, and Cafu..

Are the United States overrated?

only by people in the US

Other countries dont rate them at all

Carlos was more of an example of a big name defender then a lock down one, just so he knew they are starts too.

Terry is mint tho.

Viera is a midfield player

he makes a fair point

I really like Rafa's play both on defense and pushing forward to create an attacking option. Roberto Carlos tends to be in the attacking third of the field for most of the game and that has been a knock on his game.

Hopefully, Onyewu will develop even further after this WC as he has all of the physical tools but lacks the experience.... should be interesting to see how good he is in the next WC.

Real lockdown defenders in my eyes:

Nesta, Cannavaro, Stam in his old days, Sol Campbell..those guys can really make a striker dissapear.

You have to be rated to be overrated.

He's playing in the Premier League next season with Middlesborough so I think we can safely assume he'll be even better.

The problem this year was that the veterans dragged the new guys down instead of supporting them. The only reason we got one point was because of our new guys busting their tails.