A fifth-string team with Wayne Rooney? Imagine the poor old club men just looking to keep fit by kicking a bit of ball on a Sunday for fun and coming up against the like of Fabregas and Ribery.
The meaning of thirds teams is lost in the FIFPro World XI who announced some frighteningly strong back-ups to their first choice side revealed at the Ballon d’Or gala on Monday night.
With UK journalist Rob Harris and Squawka revealing the third, fourth and fifth-strings sides after FIFA announced their first two teams on Monday night, there are some serious players way down the list.
Whilst the like of David Luiz raised many an eyebrow across the football world with his inclusion in the world’s best team of 2014, you have to wonder whether the reserves’ attack, which includes Neymar, Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez, would fancy a bit of the Brazilian on toast.
The thirds team could actually be even better again. Their only problem is that they haven’t included a recognised right back but, let’s face it, a team with both – BOTH – Xavi and Pirlo in the engine room are going places. Imagine Costa, Muller and Bale working off that midfield.
Finally, there’s a mention of Roy Hodgson’s true Ballon d’Or winner, Javier Mascherano, in the fourth-string side. But the England manager will have to look down one more time to see any sign of his captain who is slumming it in the fifths.
