Below, I've compiled a list of one player from each team in the World Cup. The names are linked to videos of them playing. It's a list of a player from each team I'm really looking forward to seeing in this year's World Cup.
Group A
South Africa - Steven Pienaar
Mexico - Giovanni Dos Santos
Uruguay - Diego Forlan
France - Djibril Cisse
Group B
Argentina - Gonzalo Higuain
Nigeria - Yakubu
Korea Republic - Park Ji-Sung
Greece - Theofanis Gekas
Group C
England - Wayne Rooney
United States - Landon Donovan
Algeria - Nadir Belhadj
Slovenia - Milivoje Novakovič
Group D
Germany- Mesut Özil
Australia - Tim Cahill
Serbia - Zdravko Kuzmanović
Ghana - Michael Essien
Group E
Holland - Wesley Sneijder
Denmark - Nicklas Bendtner
Japan - Keisuke Honda
Cameroon - Samuel Eto'o
Group F
Italy - Andrea Pirlo
Paraguay - Roque Santa Cruz
New Zealand - Shane Smeltz
Slovakia - Martin Škrtel
Group G
Brazil - Alexandre Pato
Korea DPR - Have to say I'm at a loss. I've never seen any of their players in action.
Ivory Coast - Didier Drogba
Portugal - Nani
Group H
Spain - David Villa
Switzerland - Philippe Senderos
Honduras - Amado Guevara
Chile - Alexis Sanchez
Would love some feedback or comments on players you're looking forward to seeing.
You've been on the Villa train for the longest time, I don't follow Primera at all, so I'm really interested in seeing him play.
ReplyDeleteNani, I actually like, as much as that hurts me to say. I'm afraid Portugal has a rough road, but I still want to see them perform (I'm surprised you don't have Ronaldo as your pick).
I love Pienaar, I'm not sure why but the guy really takes over on the field. He's fun to watch and I hope his teammates can do him justice and not hold him back too much. That'sfairly insulting to the quality South Africa provides, but Pienaar could easily play for 28 of the countries in the World Cup, and he's on the squad who has the least probability to win.
On a personal level, you know my love of Cisse. I'm really interested to see if he came come back from injury and play on international level and be noticed for that matter. He's dominating the Greek leagues, but about his play in more competitive markets?
Yakubu, Everton sure can pick 'em. He's loads of fun to watch at Everton. I'm really excited to see what all these Everton individuals have to offer for the WC.
Ji Sung-Park... He makes eveyone around him better. His flow, his style... He's like a stand alone piece that enhances the rest of the board.
Wayne Rooney... I'm more interested to see how he'll work with his partner, probably Jermain Defoe. That tandem could be a scoring monster.
I used to hate Landon Donovan, but I'm also really interested to see how he'll play. If he plays like he did with Everton the few months he was there, USA could possibly win the group. I'm a little surprised you didn't put Dempsey. Dempsey is a little more quiet, but like Ji Sung-Park, enhances his team.
Tim Cahill! Yes! He is a game changer. He makes Australia way better.
Essien is a monster! I adore Michael Essien! He brings a total package to a midfield. I think he'll be huge for Ghana.
I watched Sneijder play a game recently... I shouldn't 'play' as much as 'take over' a game. He is the epitome of "master and commander".
Bendtner was in perfect form before Van Persie got healthy. I'm sure he will find a great spot make Denmark very dangerous.
Eto'o is sometimes really fun to watch, and other times he gets very lost in the crowd. I'm hoping the former shows up for the World Cup.
Skrtel has entirely too many consonants for one name. His defense is just a stuffy. If Defense wins championships, he'll keep Slovakia afloat.
Drogba... I think a very large part of his success is due to the phenomenal cast that surrounds him at Chelsea. I'm interested to see if I'll eat my words or not.