
Football
Share
Published 16:47 7 Jun 2024 BST
Updated 10:32 12 Jun 2024 BST

Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has named his dream 5-a-side team, and he has put ex-teammate Thierry Henry in as a sweeper keeper.
Gilberto was speaking to us ahead of the Champions League final, as Heineken celebrated hardcore fans at Wembley Stadium.
In its journey to become the world's most inclusive football sponsor, Heineken is leveraging its 30 year partnership with UEFA to help level the playing field for all football fans by tackling the issues that prevent them from having an enjoyable, inclusive experience.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid went on to win the game, overpowering Edin Terzić’s Dortmund side with two late goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior.
Our reporter Jack Clarke asked the former Arsenal and Brazil star who he would pick to make up his all-time 5-a-side team.
The 47-year-old started off strong with the obvious choice - Lionel Messi.
It's fair to say that the eight-time Ballon D'Or winner is a permanent fixture in everyone's futsal side.
Zidane was the second name on the list. Zizou was a force of nature in a star-studded Galacticos side during the early 2000's.
Not to mention he scored a brace in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, leading the France national side to victory.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo made up a magic trio. He could probably have stopped there and that 3-a-side team would dominate most matches against five.
He named his fellow countryman and friend Roberto Carlos as the fourth. When it comes to set pieces there would be a battle over who would take it.
It's gotta be Carlos on the long-range efforts. Those left-footed belters were unstoppable.
Gilberto then realised he had to pick a goalkeeper, and as his mind wandered the choices you had a feeling that he was going to come up with a wildcard choice.
He asked if he could himself in, but of course that's against the universally accepted rules of picking your 5-a-side outfit.
"I'll put Thierry. I don't need a goalkeeper," the 2002 World Cup winner announced.
Gilberto appointed himself as the man in the dugout, and backed his team although acknowledged that he would need to come up with a creative way to block the opposing teams attacks.
So Thierry Henry sweeper keeper it is. I think we'd all like to see how that would go.
Heineken has redefined what it means to be a 'real hardcore fan' by highlighting those that go above and beyond to support the game they love and foster an inclusive space for all fans by creating a series of activations worldwide to put 'hardcore' fans front and center and refresh perceptions around the modern face of football fandom.
Related Links:
Explore more on these topics:
Live sport on TV in Ireland this weekend – Football, GAA and Rugby – August 21st-24th
The Prem is back! The Premier League is back this weekend, and so are we with our ultimate TV guide. Alongside the English footy, there’s League of Ireland, a heap of club GAA, and some rugby inter-pros. Enjoy the sport and a few pints! Football Friday, 21 August Saturday, 22 August Sunday, 23 August Monday, […]
Football
2 days ago
Reports from Spain say Troy Parrott rejected big Premier League move
He knows what he wants! Following the news of Troy Parrott’s imminent move to Real Betis, more details of the transfer process have come to light. Follow our blog below for more details.
Football
3 days ago
Football
Champions League club ‘in final stages’ of completing Troy Parrott deal
Football