Picking an Elite Real Madrid 5-a-Side Team from Current Squad
Pre-season is upon clubs around Europe once more and in among the high-profile fixtures and worldwide tours, some serious training will be going on to aid match fitness as well as tactical work.
A basic, yet fun, exercise that many sides will incorporate into their sessions in different ways is to play reduced-size matches: fewer players, more touches, more movement and thus increased physical effort. Five-a-side teams are common to see: fast-paced, plenty of goals and room for the technical stars to excel.
Real Madrid have no shortage of that type of player. So who would make their side if more than fitness was at stake?
Keylor Navas
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Goalkeepers on a smaller pitch, usually with smaller goals, need great reflexes, bravery in dealing with close-range shots and fast distribution.
Keylor Navas is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe in regular games, but he pretty much ticks every box, especially from a five-a-side point of view. He's adept at making saves with both feet and hands, can bounce quickly up to block rebounds and is comfortably the best keeper at the club.
The Costa Rican is currently recovering from injury over the summer, which saw him miss the Copa America Centenario, but once fit again, he'll end up being Real Madrid's first-choice stopper for the 2016-17 season.
Sergio Ramos
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Five-a-side isn't hugely concerned with individual defensive ability; a simple case of organisation and players behind the ball will usually make it tough for teams to be broken down on the smaller pitch.
Even so, it helps if someone on the team is capable of making brave blocks and big tackles at the odd moment. Sergio Ramos can certainly do that, and he has the important trait of being a constant communicator, organising those ahead of him to keep the balance of the team intact.
Perhaps more pertinently, in a game where positions aren't nailed down exclusively, Ramos is more than comfortable surging forward, is a good passer and will look to shoot whenever possible—and he's a decent finisher. He might be the defender of our team, but he'd still net his share of goals.
Unfortunately his heading ability would be rendered useless by most five-a-side rules, and a sending-off tends to lead to a ban for the rest of the tournament so...watch those challenges, Sergio.
Luka Modric
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Positional flexibility is key, so while selecting two midfield players, we'll want to balance those who can pass well, shoot on sight and still get through enough defensive work; so Luka Modric is most certainly in.
The Croatian is the most complete player in Real Madrid's squad; ostensibly a central midfielder, he has operated as a playmaker, a ball-winner, an option to drift wide and a real work horse. He'd cover the entire pitch without an issue and would help winning back possession, as well as covering in behind Ramos on his forays forward.
Modric is a dictator of tempo but has the incision to find gaps in opposition teams with his passing too. Add in a great shot from range and the movement which always sees him available to take possession, and he's a must for Real's side—in 11s or in fives.
Isco
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There are a host of options for the second place, but best in Real's usual team doesn't have to translate to best in a five-a-side team.
We've opted for Isco ahead of Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez or Toni Kroos because he combines the technicality of a midfielder, the offensive mindset of a No. 10 and the composure of a forward—all ideal for the smaller-sided games and tighter pitch.
Isco has an immaculate first touch, can use both feet and plays one-twos extremely well, all basic requirements to be an effective attacker in such a game.
There might be a question mark or two over his goalscoring compared to James or perhaps Gareth Bale, but that's when he drops deep into space on a larger pitch; in this side, he'd plunder plenty.
Cristiano Ronaldo
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No question for the final place in the team: a goal-getter, a relentless shot-monster who will simply beat teams by repetition.
Cristiano Ronaldo averages over six shots per game (per WhoScored) in regular matches; imagine how many that would be in a team with less players to pass to, less distance to travel between each end of the pitch and less time to make possession count.
We wouldn't like to speculate how much defensive running he might get through or whether he'd be the one to fill in if Ramos suddenly drove forward through the middle, but whether at schoolboy, Sunday league or professional level of football, when you have a player with Ronaldo's talents, you use them in the right areas.
Naturally, his pace and strength would be enormous assets too, but above all else it's the instinctive ability and wish to get shot after shot away, which appeals most in this particular circumstance.
Bench
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We'd usually only have perhaps one or two subs, but the squad is so vast and the options so great at Real Madrid, that we'll increase it to three on this occasion.
Marcelo would be our defensive cover, being adept in one-vs.-one defensive situations and equally capable in possession, having good pace and skill to beat opponents.
James Rodriguez for the centre, being a better goalscorer than Isco but perhaps not as consistent with his first touch, and preferring to use space to attack rather than quick, one-touch play.
Karim Benzema as the striker for a route to goal, plenty of selfless touches and his strength on the ball.
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