World Cup 2010 - The Best Players

The Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers are really the very last line of defence. Some are commanding in coming off the line or smothering aerial threats while others are know for their acrobatics, cat-like reflexes and shot-stopping abilities. While Gordan Banks made the greatest save ever, Russian great Lev Yashin was arguably the best ever? An outstanding one gives his team especially defence great confidence and launch quick attacks. What about Dino Zoff, Sepp Maier, Pat Jennings, Peter Schmeichel, Oliver Kahn, Rinat Dasaev or Jose Luis Chivalert (the latter scored many great goals from free-kicks). These are some who may shine in South Africa.

Gianluca Buffon (Italy)



Julio Cesar (Brazil)


Hugo Lloris (France)


Iker Casillas (Spain)


Defenders

Jose Mourinho has shown that you can play ugly and win even against Barcelona. Bobby Moore and Franz Beckanbauer turned it into an art. Some of these below could be among the stars.

John Terry (England)


May not be that fast but has great leadership, that type that inspire when the chips are down. Great in the air and during set pieces. Has scored numerous goals. See beyond his sex life.





Gerard Pique (Spain)



Why didn't Manchester United keep him? Was a star for Barcelona and now possibly Spain.






Douglas Maicon (Brazil)


What do you expect from a Brazilian never mind if he is a defender. Glen Johnson of England could be like that. Johnson scored a great goal for England in a recent friendly 3-1 win over Mexico after beating a few defenders.

Was the star of the last World Cup which Italy won. When a defender is the best star in a World Cup, it is disappointing. Age has caught up with him and he didn't have a great season.

Outstanding for Manchester United who makes dangerous forays and crosses. Get some goals too.



Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal)


Was outstanding for Chelsea and Portugal. Strong in aerial duels.


Philip Lahm (Germany)


Probably Germany's best defender. Links up well up front, makes and score goals.



Midfielders


Florent Malouda (France)


Must have been his best ever season for Chelsea.


Steven Gerrard (England)

Eveybody knows him. On his day, unstoppable and can take on the world. Remember how he tore apart AC Milan when Liverpool was 0-3 down in the UEFA Final inspiring Liverpool to a win? If he can show such form, England's chances will improve. He didn't have a good season by his own standard. Maybe saving some for the World Cup. Defend, attack, cross, tackle, shoot, create and score has it all.

P.S. I have left out Frank Lampard as I have just written about him in the last article so that I could give more space and coverage to others. I was also afraid the "d" might go missing again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hId7HOBCjwI
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)

An important player for Germany as has always been effective.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRXuGoyhdwc
Wesley Snejder (Netherlands)

A key player for the Netherlands. Was in the Inter Milan team that won the recent UEFA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-tpWnD0BMg
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
A master midfielder and how Italy play depends on where he will operate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9cen9R_Hs
Kaka (Brazil)
A thoroughbred. A more direct kind of player as compared to Messi or Ronaldinho. A key player for Brazil. No controversy is ever attached to him as he goes home to his family after soccer. When he scores, he pulls up his jersey to show a T-shirt underneath revealing Jesus - I love Jesus or something unlike me who would just reveal my six-pack. Since I haven't scored for a long time nobody knew what happend to those six-pack. Meantime, I love Brazilians. They give themselves very long names like Edson Arantes do Nascimento and call themselves very short ones like Pele. Or Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite also known as Kaka.


Andreas Iniesta (Spain)

One of two mastermind in Barcelona and Spain's midefield. An exquisite little player.


Xavi Hernandez (Spain)

Was voted as one of the world's top player behind Messi. Together with Iniesta, they make Barcelona and Spain tick. If you stop these two, you could stop Spain.



Strikers



Carlos Tevez (Argentina)


Tevez had a wonderful season for Manchester City. Like Franck Ribery of France he seemed to have some accident that has caused scars on his face but has chosen not to do any plastic surgery on it. In fact, he looks like "Bianca" of the old computer game "Street Fighter" as a Brazilian street fighter.

Less fanciful striker in Argentinian. When Mourinho splashed some money on him, eyebrows were raised but look what he has done for Inter Milan winning the league and scoring bothe goals in Inter 2-0 win over Bayern Munihc in the UEFA final. Do not be surprised if Argentina walks away with the 2010 World Cup. Look at their forwards - Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito, Sergio Aguera and Gonzales Higuain.


Miroslav Klose (Germany)


Has always deilvered for Germany and has no peers in internationals and at World Cups.




Lukas Podolski (Germany)



Was the best young player in the previous series.





Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

Had a tremendously successful season with Bayern Munich. A tricky player who plays more like a winger.


Robbie van Persie (Netherlands)

Many people felt that he is the new Dennis Bergkamp and rightly so with his talents. You are sure to be familiar with his exploits with Arsenal.



Fernando Torres (Spain)


Without doubt one of the world's best striker. Lean, quick as a cheetah and a predator with such clinical finishing. Why is Spain a favourite? Because of their ability to control midfield and theri strikers in Torres and Villa.



David Villa (Spain)


Villa is a prolific goal scorer for Spain. Butragueno and the Raul and now Villa. Watch this name.



Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Didier Drogba was already a deadly striker when he was playing for his old French club. Mourinho got him there and he has just ended th EPL season as top scorer.





Nicolas Anelka (France)


Anelka was discoverd by Arsene Wenger when he was borugh to Arsenal. Used to be a temperamental player but has been turning in good performace for Chelsea. Stealthy like a panther.

Impish and quick but lack consistency. Had a good season with Spurs. Has good striker's instincts. How many strikers has scored five goals in EPL? There may be mor ebut I could only recall two - Malcom McDonald for England and Robbie Fowler for Liverpool. I am giving Rooney a miss as I have mentioned him in previous articles and already well known to you.
Luis Fabiano (Brazil)


Has been Brazil's main man up front and their top scorer.


Top Goals



Are you ready people?

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