FLORENCE, ITALY: Italy's player Alessandro Nesta answers journalists' questions at Coverciano training camp near Florence 26 May 2004. The Italian national team is in Coverciano until June 5 and will fly out to Portugal two days later for the summer's European 2004 football championship. Italy has been drawn to face Sweden, Denmark and Bulgaria in Group C of the tournament. AFP PHOTO/Vincenzo PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images).
Successful teams tend to be built on rock-solid defences – and rock-solid defences tend to be comprised of exceedingly good defenders.
From no-nonsense centre-halves to gallivanting full-backs, the first decade of the 21st century saw some absolute superstars grace the pitch in that department.
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