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| Star Players |
The world football championship world cup 2010 will be the biggest meeting of the world's best footballers
this year. Despite the absence of players like Andrey Arshavin, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Niko Kranjcar, Arda Turan, Robbie Keane
the list of names participating is more than impressive. Find our subjective assortment of players below.
We selected a number of impressive strikers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers -
a list that makes a fan's mouth watering.
Maybe one of them will become the absolute star or a match winner in the world cup tournament.
Every single one in our list has the potential.
And let's be honest: talking and analyzing is at least half of the fun about watching football.
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older star profiles (from Euro 2008):
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Nani (Portugal),
Arjen Robben (Holland), Wesley Sneijder (Holland),
Cesc Fabregas (Spain), David Villa (Spain),
Michael Ballack (Germany), Samir Nasri (France),
Franck Ribery (France),
Gennaro Gattuso (Italy),Luca Toni (Italy),
Theofanis Gekas (Greece), Philippe Senderos (Switzerland)
The World Cup is the ultimate stage on which a footballer can express his skills. Very often it is a showcase scenario, which elevates players to earn themselves new contracts at new clubs, and sets the bar high in terms of transfer fees. No matter how much talent there will be on show in South Africa, there will always be a few individuals who will stand out head and shoulders above the rest. Here are some of the potential stars of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Europe
Will Wayne Rooney shine as the brightest star in the World Cup? England fans certainly hope so, as without the Manchester United striker, their chances of winning the FIFA World Cup would be great diminished. The same can be said of Frank Lampard with his creativity and goals from midfield. Italy boast some of the greatest defenders in the World, notably 36 year old Fabio Cannavaro, as well as a genuine goalkeeping star in Gianluigi Buffon. France have Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry up front, which should cause defences all sorts of problems, while favourites Spain, just have an embarrassment of riches. They have David Villa and Fernando Torres leading the front line, backed up in midfield by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi Alonso. With Pique and Puyol at the back, plus captain Iker Casillas in goal, it’s hard to spot a weakness in the set up of the Spaniards. Portugal, who struggled to qualify, have Chelsea’s Deco for midfield quality, but one of the stars will simply be Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
South America will be dominated by the stars of Brazil and Argentina. The Brazilians have one of the most potent strikers in the game at the moment, in the form of Luis Fabiano. His record at international level is simply incredible. In 36 appearances for his country, Fabiano, who plies his trade at club level with Sevilla, has netted and unbelievable 25 times. He averages around a goal every other game at club level too throughout his career, having scored 86 times in 151 matches. He will certainly be one of the stars to watch out for, and while Brazil can boast the likes of Kaka, Dani Alves or Adriano, then it’s easy to see why they are considered as one of the strong favourites. Argentina will have one of their own stars up their sleeve, the diminutive figure of Lionel Messi. Barcelona star Messi won the Ballon d’Or, World Soccer Player of the Year, FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball, Toyota Award, FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFPro World Player of the Year to name but a few of the personal achievements over the last year. He should be an immense World Cup star.
Africa will of course look to Chelsea’s Didier Drogba to be the star player, but don’t forget the likes of Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Michael Essien as well. The Ivory Coast will also be relying on goals from young star Gervinho who is setting the French Ligue 1 alight. It is usually the forwards which grab all the limelight at the World Cup, and more often than not, there is a striker which comes from nowhere to climb to the top of the World. Remember Toto Schillaci who won the Golden Boot at the 1990 FIFA World Cup? A perfect example. Remember Cameroon’s Roger Milla setting the 1990 World Cup alight as well? He scored four goals and made dancing around the Corner Flag a worldwide goal celebration trend. Incidentally he also scored in the 1994 World Cup at the ripe old age of 42, making him the oldest player to score a goal in the World Cup.
Are there stars hiding in the shadows of bigger names? Of course, there is potential there. Some interesting World Cup 2010 Top Scorer odds, based around the forward stars are:
David Villa 11/1 at Bet365, Luis Fabiano 12/1 at Bwin, Fernando Torres 11/1 at SportingBet, Wayne Rooney 16/1 at Bwin, Cristiano Ronaldo 16/1 at Bet365, Lionel Messi 20/1 at William Hill. That short list alone is a perfect example of the wealth of talent that will be on show.
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