For example, in my eyes Italy seem to produce the best centre backs, Spain tend to produce the best centre midfielders and Brazil the best wingers and strikers. Is it just me who feels this way? Is there a reason for it, maybe future footballers try to emulate the best players they saw growing up and end up playing the same position on the pitch?
Italy doesn’t produce the best CBs anymore.
Most of the last great batch (born in the late 70s and early 80s) retired at around the turn of the 2010s, with Barzagli and Chiellini as the “last men standing”.
The generation born in the 90s was largely unremarkable. The early 2000s one has some good elements, but it’s way too early to say whether they’ll be world class or not.
Italy also used to produce very good goalkeepers but that’s also taken a dip in recent times.
Germany is one country that consistently produces some great ones, though.