The Great but Forgotten Countrymen Trio in Football’s Top Level

 

A few great countrymen trio who became the key figures in their team’s glorious campaign might be forgotten in today’s football.

Modern football is probably no longer familiar with the ‘trio’ terms. Today football expects more equal contribution from all players within the team instead of relying on certain key players, as it would be more predictable for their opposition sides to simply contain or block their move to deny their chances and gain the advantage from their dependence on those star trios.

The last well-known successful trios were probably Barcelona’s MSN and Real Madrid’s BBC. The former consisted of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar. They became the deadly attacking trio from 2014 to 2017 under Luis Enrique. The Catalan side won treble in 2015, plus UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the same year and a league title in 2016. Los Blancos’ Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo even won more silverware. They helped Madrid dominate Europe with four UCL titles in 2014, 2016-2018, as well as UEFA Super Cups and FIFA World Cups in the same year. Yet, they only won one La Liga in 2017.

However, those three were not from the same nations. The countrymen trio seems to be only the thing in the past. The last famous of such was the trio in Juventus’ backline in the 2010s: Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, and Andrea Barzagli. They were the integral part of La Vecchia Signora’s domestic dominance by winning eight Serie A titles in a row from 2012 to 2019. They also aided Italy’s campaign in EURO 2012 when Gli Azzurri reached the final.

Ahead of the clash between the Netherlands and Germany in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday, the countrymen trio was once part of those teams. Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, AC Milan once had Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, and Marco Van Basten, who had a crucial role in their triumphant campaign in the continent with a back-to-back European Cup and Intercontinental Cup in 1989 and 1990, plus became the finalist in the 1993 Champions Cup and won the league twice in 1992 and 1993. Previously, they helped De Oranje clinch their first and only international trophy to date, EURO 1988.

AC Milan’s rival, Inter, opted to sign three West German stars to create their own countrymen trio. Andreas Brehme, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Lothar Matthaus were tipped to bring Nerrazurri to match their city rival’s glory. Unfortunately, they were not as successful as their counterparts. Matthaus and Co. only managed to win the league title once in 1989 and the UEFA Cup in 1991.

On the international level, the most renowned trio was perhaps the Brazilian triple-R, Ronaldo Luiz, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. This attacking trio was lethal upfront and decisive in delivering Selecao’s last World Cup title in Japan-Korea 2002. So, who were the great but forgotten trio? Here are those who might have been less discussed today. 

The Tango Trio (1986 FIFA World Cup)

Argentina’s campaign in the 1986 World Cup was probably identical to Diego Maradona’s genius and peak form. Yet, in reality, Albiceleste did not solely rely on him. In fact, they had the attacking trio who became the integral part of Carlos Bilardo’s men’s success. Maradona was assisted by two distinguished figures in the line-up, Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga, whose contributions were often underrated.

Valdano was the target in Argentina during the final round. The former Real Madrid man also often helped create space in the six-yard box beside his main role as a finisher. His tall figure gave him the advantage to win the aerial duel and score through a header from Maradona’s long passes and crosses. Meanwhile, Burruchaga was more versatile. He provided the necessary support for El Diego to thrive on the attacking line. The former Nantes and Independiente man could be deployed as a midfielder centre, right winger, as well as an attacking midfielder with better defence, and he would not mind playing deep to help break the opposition’s attacking buildup and win the ball in the second line.

The Tango trio was heavily involved in the team’s goals. They scored 11 out of Argentina’s 14 goals in the competition, not to mention each of their assists. The legendary Maradona netted five times, followed by Valdano’s four and Burruchaga’s two. Interestingly, Diego’s sidekicks bagged one each in the final, while the Napoli legend only provided one assist.

Sadly, their partnership did not continue in Italy in 1990. Valdano was no longer called up in the national team, while neither Maradona nor Burruchaga were at their peak form. El Diego was even scoreless in the final round.

	Goal (in Mexico 1986)	Assist (in Mexico 1986)
Diego Maradona	5	5
Jorge Valdano	4	1
Jorge Burruchaga	2	2

Gre-No-Li (1940s and 1950s)

The Sweden trio, Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordhal, and Nils Liedholm, were the first Swedish to play in Italian Serie A. The first two were frontmen, while the last one was an attacking midfielder. They were also the first generation of professional players in their country, which strangely prevented them from playing for them in international games, including the FIFA World Cup. At that time, Sweden was strict on the rule in the national team, which was initially only for the non-pro players.

Such regulation was eventually modified ahead of the 1958 FIFA World Cup following the request from George Raynor, Blagut’s boss, for the tournament. His role in persuading Sweden FA to change it was crucial. Unfortunately, only two of the Gre-No-Li trio were able to be named in the World Cup squad, Gunnar Gren and Nils Liedholm, whereas Gunnar Nordahl had already retired.

Their first collaboration was at the 1948 London Olympics. Gren and Co were able to snatch the gold medal after cruising to a 3-1 win over Yugoslavia in the final. In the competition, Gren netted three times, Liedholm bagged twice only, while Nordahl scored seven goals, which was enough to be the top scorer alongside Denmark’s Jon Hansen.

Nordahl was the first to join AC Milan in January 1949. His two countrymen signed for Rossonerri following Nordahl’s recommendation after Milan’s failure to win the league in the 1948/49 season despite his success in winning the top scorer award. The Gre-No-Li began to shake Juventus and Inter Milan’s dominance in Serie A. They lifted the trophy in 1951, finished second in 1950 and 1952, and sat third in 1953. Gre-No-Li were also heavily involved in their Latin Cup 1951 victory. It was the predecessor of the European Cup (the old version of the UCL).

Their partnership eventually ended in summer 1953 as Gren signed for Fiorentina. Gunnard Nordahl was the next one to leave Milan three years later, while Liedholm stayed the longest till he hanged his boots in 1961. He was also the most successful in the managerial career. His most notable achievement as a gaffer was guiding Milan to clinch Serie A in 1979 and leading AS Roma to win the league in 1983 to end their 41-year title drought plus European Cup final in 1984 before losing to Liverpool on penalties.

	Goal (AC Milan 1949-53)	Goal (1948 Olympics)
Gunnar Gren	38	3
Gunnar Nordhal	121	7
Nils Liedholm	44	2