The likes of Ronaldo, Robinho, David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres have graced the Premier League in recent years and that has turned the English game into the best in the world. Here is a list of players in Europe that are targets for Premier League clubs and could be seen here in the near future. Who would you like at your club?

Click on Ricardo Montolivo to unveil the top 10

The centre-half has made 56 appearances for his country, but missed a penalty in the 1-0 defeat to Slovenia earlier in the month that cost the Serbs a place in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Vidic follows in the footsteps of Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic who has also announced his retirement, and feels he has given all he could for the nation.

“The basic reason for my international retirement is that my commitment for the national team has been criticised by the media and therefore by the public as well for some time now,” a statement on the Serbia Football Association website reads.

“I’ve been under fire although I turned up to play for Serbia even when I was injured and sometimes I did so against the advice of my club.

“I have come forward with this statement in order to root out any hear-say talk as to why I’m quitting the national team, to make sure they keep a good atmosphere ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

“I am also convinced the upcoming generation has the potential to give the nation plenty to cheer about and I will be with them whole-heartedly as a fan,” he concluded.

The news will be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson, who will hope his influential defender will be less injury prone in the future due to playing less games.

By Gareth McKnight

But for those actually living in the capital, and the rest of what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, 1974 is meaningful for an altogether different sporting occasion. That summer, Zaire became the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to qualify for the World Cup, but their players and fans recall the tournament in West Germany with mixed feelings, despite the achievement of being the first black African representatives on global football’s grandest stage. “I was very proud, and still am, to have represented Black and Central Africa at the World Cup,” says former defender, Mwepu Ilunga. “But we had the erroneous belief that we would be returning from the World Cup as millionaires. We got back home without a penny in our pockets. Look at me now, I’m living like a tramp,” an incensed Ilunga told BBC Sport.

The retired right full-back remains bitter about several aspects of the ‘Leopards’’ campaign, most notably the fact that Zairean officials are alleged to have pocketed his and his team-mates’ wages for the tournament, something Ilunga would only discover mid-way through the group stages. The opening game saw Zaire defeated 2-0 by Scotland, but Ilunga claims that the players were told that they wouldn’t be paid at all, prior to the next match against Yugoslavia. “Before the Yugoslavia match we learnt that we were not going to be paid, so we refused to play,” claims the defender, who has since become a cult footballing icon for running out of the defensive wall to kick a Brazilian free-kick away in Zaire’s final first-round fixture. Unfortunately, the Leopards were thrashed 9-0 by Yugoslavia, having been persuaded at the last moment to attend the encounter, a result that did immense damage to the image of African football.

Following the humiliating defeat at the hands of Yugoslavia, the late Mobutu Sese Seko, Zaire’s leader at the time, intervened directly in the team’s affairs. “After the match, he sent his presidential guards to threaten us,” remembers Ilunga. “They closed the hotel to all journalists and said that if we lost 4-0 to Brazil, none of us would be able to return home.” The unforgivable treatment of Zaire’s players at the World Cup was in stark contrast to the way they had been received following qualification, when Mobutu is said to have gifted each team member a car and a house. “Mobutu’s generals were so jealous of the gifts we were given that he had to buy them a car each, to keep them quiet,” Ilunga said. In their last game, Zaire lost 3-nil to Brazil, which allowed the team to return home free from the fear of retribution, but Africa’s first World Cup showing saw the Leopards record an unenviable statistic of conceding 14 goals without scoring a single one.

Fast forward almost exactly 36 years and 120 minutes, and Africa’s sixth and longest-surviving representative at the 2010 edition of FIFA’s esteemed international tournament are simply a 12-yard spot-kick from reaching the semi-final stage, a watershed moment in the continent’s history. By this point, the global audience had thrown their full support behind Ghana’s ‘Black Stars’ following Luis Suarez’s deplorable goal-line hand-ball, which prevented the West Africans’ justified progression. Their talisman, Asamoah Gyan, who had scored in three of the previous four games, struck the cross-bar with the game’s final kick, and despite redeeming himself by converting in the subsequent penalty-shootout, Ghana were eliminated following a 4-2 reverse.

The country’s desolate onlookers were at least able to assess their players’ performances with a considerable element of pride, despite Ghana just failing to erode the semi-final barrier which no African side has yet been able to. But what are the factors which have contributed to the vastly altered assessment of African national teams? Previously, one or two representatives at international level would be perceived, by the European media at least, as negligible whipping-boys, with less than technically-adept playing staff. This is clearly no longer a widely-held view, evidenced by the number of African players not only competing in Europe at club level, but also at the very highest echelons of European competition.

The succeeding tournament hosted by Korea and Japan was remembered as much for Senegal’s impressive maiden appearance at a World Cup as for Ronaldo’s relentless form, as Frenchman, Bruno Metsu, led the ‘Lions of Teranga’ to the quarter-finals and a heroes welcome in the capital, Dakar, upon their post-elimination arrival. The acceleration of this trend reached a potentially damaging juncture last summer, when five out of Africa’s six attending nations elected foreign supervision prior to the continent’s first hosting of a World Cup in South Africa. Algeria were the only African representative with a home-grown head coach, – Rabah Saadane – but Nigeria’s conduct in releasing manager, Shaibu Amodu, three months before the tournament highlights a much broader concern within African football. “A lot of people [in Africa] still have the mentality that the European knows more,” said Thomas Mlambo, a distinguished television presenter and analyst on the South Africa-based sports network, SuperSport. The fact that Amodu was sacked following not only the remarkable achievement in qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup, but also in leading them to a third placed finish at the African Cup of Nations last year, emphasizes this confusing ‘mentality’ which inspired the Nigerian Football Federation to replace the 52 year-old with Lars Lagerback, who was only available to take the helm having failed to guide Sweden to the finals tournament.

Many will have questioned the decision to remove a coach who had spent two years conditioning the team, and succeeded in meeting his short-term objectives, with a manager who had recently failed to accomplish a similar target and with almost no knowledge of the country’s footballing traditions and philosophy. Amodu was actually sacked in a replica scenario prior to the 2002 World Cup and is unlikely to accept a fifth stint as Nigerian head coach should the opportunity arise. An Ivory Coast fan described the unusual racial barrier most African coaches face, and perhaps goes some way to explaining the seemingly irrational choices many African football federations have made recently: “The players have more respect for whites,” says Bienvenue Kehedi, a 26 year-old student in Abidjan. “An Ivorian can’t assert their will against the players because he tries to keep on the side of all the players and is scared of taking tough decisions.” Although European leadership may have assisted a few African nations in achieving their World Cup aspirations before last summer, the continent’s relatively poor showing at the 2010 tournament was interpreted by many as a sign of African football’s static development based on the dependence on foreign coaches.

The 1995 World, European and African Player of the Year, and Liberian legend, George Weah, has claimed that overseas influences are only serving to harm the progression of the sport in Africa. “In 1999, I addressed international coaches at FIFA and I said it; they come to Africa to coach but they are not the right people for the African team because they are not developing our players, they are just making the money, come for vacation and that’s it,” the former AC Milan forward stated.
Weah implied that the Ivory Coast’s, Cameroon’s, Algeria’s, Nigeria’s and hosts South Africa’s premature elimination should act as a wake-up call to provoke a change to the continent’s process of pursuing European management. “The European coaches are not the best for Africa. Some agree with me, some they don’t. Look at the statistics of the World Cup, since Africa started hiring European coaches, only the Africans coaches have done well,” Weah concluded.

The three-time African Player of the Year (1989, 1994 and 1995) may be right in some respects, but the continual appointment of foreign coaches embodies a natural corollary to African players’ increased presence in the European leagues. The employment of European coaches makes sense considering a large number of modern African national teams consist of mainly European-based players, evinced by a Sven Goran-Eriksson selected Ivory Coast squad containing just one Ivorian-based player out of 23 – the third-choice goalkeeper. There is certainly a growing feeling amongst many Africans that a change in organizational structure at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is required to assist the development of the presently insufficient, and future, African coaches. With a campaign being led by Weah, arguably the continent’s most recognized footballing and political exemplar, it is not inconceivable to imagine prospective World Cups being contested by African nations guided by African managers. “We have to believe in ourselves, believe in our people. Give them the support to be trained and to develop our teams,” pleads Weah. “The CAF needs to wake-up, we need an institution for coaching in Africa. Our people don’t need to go to Europe, they need to stay in Africa and train.” Weah is certainly fighting a valid cause, because in spite of Africa’s varying successes under foreign managers, it would be catastrophic to witness a repeat of Ghana’s Serbian coach, Milovan Rajevac’s, inexcusable despair following the Black Stars’ 1-0 victory over Serbia in last years’ tournament. Africa’s sudden and meteoric ascension to the top of European football’s consciousness must not halt now, and with a burgeoning pool of talent swarming every region on the continent, it is time for the national federations to cultivate the hidden coaching talent to avoid future disappointment, and maintain the extraordinary progression.

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FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan

Milan Jovanovic on paper could have been a great signing for Liverpool. The Serb arrived at Liverpool last summer, when Rafa Benitez was still the manager, with a reputation as an experienced international and a quick player who could play on the wing or up front. However, things haven’t worked out at Liverpool and he has hardly featured under Kenny Dalglish. But is Jovanovic a bad player or has he just been badly treated?

I don’t think with the reputation Jovanovic has, he could be accused of being a bad player. But maybe he just doesn’t fit into the vision for Liverpool that Kenny Dalglish has. Different managers have different ideas on players. In fact this is something Jovanovic has alluded to himself by stating “Liverpool is a club which you can’t refuse; my only regret is that the coach who brought me to Anfield left the club before my arrival.”

“If Rafa Benitez would have stayed at Liverpool I believe everything would be different for me.”

However, there may be more to this than simply a different opinion on a player from one manager to another. It appears Jovanovic might be a bit of a bad egg, the interview he gave to the Daily Mail suggests that the team spirit at Liverpool might be better off after he leaves in the summer.

Jovanovic said “Liverpool is such a different place. I’m here alone, without anybody. I’m just a very lonely stranger.”

“If I wouldn’t have my wife and my kids I just couldn’t speak Serbian with anybody.”

Comments like this doesn’t suggest that this is a player willing to stay and fight for his place – but rather someone who quits when things get tough. It may well be that it was this kind of attitude that meant that Kenny Dalglish was reluctant to use him in games. It is understandable that Liverpool feel they want players that are up for the fight and wouldn’t want to use players that they feel are less reliable. But it appears that he hasn’t settled in England, so maybe Liverpool was just the wrong club for him.

So has Jovanovic been treated badly or is he just a bad egg who can’t be relied on? Attitude is very important in the game today – so players should not be involved if theirs isn’t right.

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10. Vuvuzelas

It is apart of the culture in African football but they are very annoying to hear throughout 90 minutes. To be fair it has died down a bit since the departure of the host nation but still manage to make an appearance in the remaining games. It’s disappointing only for the fact we don’t hear no football chants and crowd reactions towards certain decisions.

9. The Jabulani Ball

The Jabulani ball has taken some criticism since the tournament began over 2 weeks ago and by the evidence we have seen it deserved it. Many players who have played with the ball in South Africa have struggled to adapt with the new Adidas ball, claiming that it is to round…what do you want guys, a ball shaped like a square or something? It seems a bit of an excuse to me, however, having watched all the games in South Africa so far, it’s clear to see that it is very different from previous tournament balls. Players have misjudged the flight and bounce, as well as failing to really hit it properly (exclude Carlos Tevez of course). For those reasons stated above, it does make for disappointing viewing at times.

8. Fernando Torres – Not performing like he is capable of

The Spanish striker does not look like he is in the grove this summer as he has been in previous tournaments, and so far in this World Cup, Torres has not been able to find the back of the net. The Liverpool hitman does not look the same player prior to the competition beginning, and its visible to see that he is either unfit or has other things on his mind. Many (including me) thought that Torres would be amongst the other elite strikers in the world battling for the illustrious golden boot. Unfortunately this is not the case this year. Generally, Torres has been poor in South Africa, and for those who placed a bet on the 26-year-old to be top goal scorer of the tournament, well it looks like you guys have lost your money.

7. France – So much Talent, yet no cohesion

The French have got to be the biggest joke in world football today. So much talented stars like Franck Ribery, Yoann Gourcuff, Patrice Evra and Thierry Henry yet they failed in what was one of their worst World Cup campaigns for a number of years. Raymond Domenech was useless as ever as the French manager, and trouble within the camp prior to the tournament and during it certainly didn’t help the cause either. A number of problems caused the Les Bleus to underachieve and evidently failed miserably in their attempt to qualify to the next round. It’s disappointing because we expected better performances from some of the players the football world has to offer, but instead everybody was sucked into the mayhem off the pitch. The FFF has a big crisis on their hands.

6. Didier Drogba – Not seen as much as we expected

The Chelsea hitman had a great season for the West London club and was tipped to be amongst the contenders for the golden boot. Unfortunately, during a friendly game against Japan a week before the commencement of the World Cup, the Ivory Coast striker broke his arm. Drogba struggled and many thought he was out of the tournament. However, the 32-year-old recovered in time and managed to appear in all of the Ivory Coast matches. He only scored one goal against Brazil but this was only a consolation. Africa’s star man was not 100% fit and because of this, he was unable to replicate what he did last season in this years World Cup. A big disappointment for the continent of Africa in whole.

Check out the top 5 on page 2, click here

The favourites
The underachievers
Fallen giants
Surprise Nations

The so called “Favourites”

Brazil- It’s rare to enter a WC without Brazil being amongst the group of favourites, and this is no different. After their poor showing in Germany 06 this Brazil team under guidance of coach Dunga will see anything but lifting the Jules Rimet trophy as a failure. Starting from the top down you can justify their place in this group. They have arguably the best goalkeeper in the world in Julio Ceaser. A defense spearheaded by the no nonsense Lúcio, with their usual gut busting full backs in the form of Douglas Maicon and Michel Bastos. A midfield where Kaka is given freedom to roam and Gilberto Silva he task of protecting the back 4. An attack where the likes of Robhino or Luis Fabiano can cut through a defense without hesitation. The only doubt cast over this squad was the decision by Dunga to leave Pato, Ronaldinho, and Adriano behind.

Strengths: Goals from every area of the field bar the goalkeeper.

Weaknesses: Weaknesses at the back with attack minded defenders.

Spain- Labelled a perennial under achiever, Spain head to South Africa playing the best football in the nation’s history. They won Euro 2008 in an almost effortless fashion and although the WC will pose a tougher test, you wouldn’t put it past them to go all the way. They went on a 35 game unbeaten streak. They eased through qualifying. They have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Iker Casillas. They have possibly the best front 2 heading into this tournament in Fernando Torres and David Villa. And are spoilt for choice in midfield with names, like Xavi, Inniesta, Fabregas, Senna, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets just to name a few. So what’s stopping them from going all the way? Nobody but themselves.

Strengths: Clinical forwards, and an army of talented midfielders.

Weaknesses: Consistency. They have never maintained consistency throughout a WC.

Argentina- So far Diego Maradona’s spell as Argentina’s coach can only be described as eventful. Saying that they scraped qualifying by the skin of their teeth would be exaggerating, but they did cut it fine. Despite not beating Brazil in their 2 games and getting hammered 6-1 by Bolivia, they still head to South Africa with one of the best squads. Maradona has mixed and matched youth and experience. With players like Juan Seba Veron with bags of experience, and the likes of 22 year old current world player of the year Lionel Messi. By looking at this squad you can already see where they’re strongest. They have an abundance of fire power. With the likes of Messi, Tevez, Higuain, Aguero, and Diego Milito, once can’t help expect a bagful of goals from this team. Their only weakness here is Maradona’s indecisiveness. He’s so far used 78 players during his spell as coach and is not any closer to knowing his best XI.

Strengths: An embarrassment of riches up front

Weaknesses: Left out 2 big names in Cambiaso and Zanetti. Still doesn’t know best XI

Click here to see the underachievers

The tricky winger has been likened to a Serbian Pavel Nedved due his marauding runs down the flanks, his strong physical presence, and of course his long blonde hair. Before his step up to the senior Serbia squad, Krasic was an integral part of the Under-21 team and helped them finish as runners up in the Euro 2004 Under-21 Championships. He has now gone on to make his presence felt in the main team, he will definitely be one to watch in South Africa and is the kind of player whose price tag could go up by another £10m should he have a good tournament.

He has won all the major honours in Russia, on several occasions, winning the Russian Premier League twice in 2005 and 2006, the Russian Cup in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009 and the Russian Super Cup in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He will now be looking to test himself in a stronger league and the Premiership would fit the bill perfectly.

Arsenal and Manchester United are the two sides believed to be interested in securing Krasic’s services, and the latter will no doubt be the more familiar with him, after he scored at Old Trafford in CSKA’s 3-3 draw with United in the Champions League. According to the latest reports, Juventus are in fact in pole position for his signature, but no deal has been done yet and with the Premier League currently having a stronger pull than Serie A then by no means are they out of the running. Both of the sides could do with an extra midfielder and Krasic fits the bill perfectly, particularly for Arsenal as they really need to sure up their midfield with some strength. With Krasic offering that plus being a good passer of the ball he would be just what they’re looking for.

Krasic will definitely be hot property this summer and could well make a difference for Serbia in the World Cup. With Juventus said to be in the driving seat, Premier League clubs will need to move fast to secure his services and if someone can land them then he could be a key player for them next season.

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The following eleven players are all likely to be the subject of transfer speculation before, during and after this summer’s showpiece.

Hugo Lloris – GK – France

Having established himself as France’s undisputed number one, the Lyon man is one custodian likely to receive a lot of attention this summer. Recently named Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year running, Lloris’ fine displays against English opposition in the Champions League over the past two seasons have garnered much attention from UK-based suitors.

The former Nice goalkeeper rejected a move to AC Milan two summers ago in favourite of Lyon, but with Manchester United looking to secure a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar and Arsene Wenger looking for a top-class goalkeeper to replace the inconsistent Manuel Almunia, it will be no surprise if Lloris departs Les Gones this summer.

Aleksandar Kolarov – LB – Serbia

Serbia have been tipped as dark horses for this summer’s World Cup, and it is unsurprising when considering consider the wealth of talent they possess in their ranks. Aside from experienced, established campaigners such as Nemanja Vidić and Dejan Stanković, coach Radomir Antić has at his disposal a clutch of fine young players. Lazio defender Kolarov is one such player, and the Lazio defender is expected to make a big impact in South Africa next month.

Nicknamed the ‘Serbian Roberto Carlos’ due to his long-range and set piece shooting abilities, Kolarov is an attacking defender in the mould of traditional Brazilian full-backs. Jose Mourinho is said to be a huge fan of the 24-year-old, with rumours suggesting that the player was close to a move to the San Siro during the last transfer window. With Mourinho all but confirmed as Real Madrid coach, it is now thought that Kolarov may be on his way to the Bernabeu.

The Serbian international has expressed doubts over his future at Lazio, having told La Repubblica that, “Everyone knows that I want to join a team with ambition, but I do not know what my future holds and whether I will leave in the summer.”

Gregory Van Der Wiel – RB – Netherlands

Yet another product of the esteemed Ajax Academy, van der Wiel’s excellent performances for his side saw him receive international recognition within his second season of first-team football. Now fully established within the Netherlands fold, the 22-year-old’s superb foraging displays at right-back lead to the Ajax man receiving the prestigious Johan Cruijff award for Young Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season.

Unsurprisingly, van der Wiel has been linked with a switch to the Premier League, with Eastlands and Emirates thought to be the most likely future destinations for the Dutchman. A quick, mobile, attacking right-back, van der Wiel is thought to be the ideal replacement for Bacary Sagna should the Frenchman decide to leave the Emirates this summer.

Simon Kjaer – CB – Denmark

One of the most coveted defenders in football today, Kjaer’s displays for Palermo over the last two seasons have drawn admiring glances from all over Europe. Compared to England captain Rio Ferdinand, Kjaer’s assured performances in the pink of Palermo have shown that the Dane has the potential to become a truly world-class centre-back.

Resigned to losing the Danish international’s services, Palermo have indicated that Kjaer can be prised away for the release clause fee of €12 million. Having come close to joining Tottenham in the January transfer window (this deal was alleged to have collapsed on the basis of Kjaer’s wage demands), Manchester United, Arsenal and Juventus are all thought to have exhibited interest in signing the Dane. However, it appears that the 21-year-old has his heart set on a move to Anfield, having said that, “England and the physical playing style would probably suit me better. In case the right offers come, it would be exciting to form a partnership with Daniel Agger at Liverpool.”

Nicolás Otamendi – CB – Argentina

Diego Maradona may have made a lot of questionable choices so far during his time as coach of La Albiceleste, but his decision to call up Nicolás Otamendi has been one of his more sensible ones. The 22-year-old Velez Sarsfield defender has completed a meteoric rise from unknown youth defender to established international within just two years, drawing comparisons to Argentine greats Roberto Ayala and Daniel Passarella along the way.

The left-footed centre-back, who can also play on the left side of defence, is reported to have drawn interest from a host of European clubs. Otamendi himself has expressed a desire to try his hand abroad, telling Calciomercato.com that “It’s a dream that Milan are interested in me. If I had the chance to play with the great players there, then it would be a great joy for me. I like the Italian league, but also the Spanish and English ones.”

Click here to see the midfielders looking to use the World Cup as a shop window this summer…

Jovanovic is quickly approaching the age of 29 and is having the most successful period of his career at his current club Standard Liege. In his four years there he has scored 52 goals in 115 games. The Serbian international, who has played 24 times for his country, said this about his move to Merseyside: “I opted to sign for Liverpool because they’re one of the biggest teams around in Europe. They’re definitely among the 10 biggest sides. I’m absolutely delighted that the deal is completed. From now on, I can focus on Standard Liege again. I want to leave the club in a good way.” Jovanovic’s career started off in his home country with a club called Vojvodina and he contributed by scoring 10 goals in 43 games. However, since then and before playing for Liege, he has played for Shakhtar Donetsk and Lokomotiv Moscow where serious injuries ruined his time at both clubs and barely managed to play during his time in the Ukraine and then in Russia. His luck changed and the move to Belgian club Liege kick-started his career.

So how is Belgium’s Footballer of the Year 2008 going to fit in at Liverpool? As the statistics reveal about his scoring at Liege, he is naturally a very good finisher and is said to possess the skill and technique that will be required in a higher level of football than what he has been used to. If his attributes are up to a high standard than it will be interesting to see who he partners up-front or if he plays a lone striker. This obviously comes down to the future of Fernando Torres but strikers who are good at the technical side of the game, rather than pace and the ‘ugly’ side where Jovanovic struggles, usually prefer playing with a partner.  It seems that irrespective of whether Torres leaves, Jovanovic will be given plenty of opportunities to impress at Anfield as he could find himself as the main striker.

What must please Rafael Benitez is the fact that Liverpool have signed a player that attracted interest from AC Milan and Everton. Jovanovic also turned down a move to Real Madrid prior to signing before the Reds because he wanted to gain more first-team experience at Liege, and Benitez will also be glad that the deal was completed when it was because the player is bound to be representing Serbia at this summer’s World Cup- where his value could rise.

Given that he is almost 29, and likely to be a starter in most games in his first season, the Serbian international is probably expected to display his current form within a short space of time. He is a the peak of his career and in principle Liverpool don’t have a lot to lose as they brought him on a free transfer- but these sort of signings have turned out to be flops at other Premiership clubs. Now that Benitez has shown he is focused on planning for next season by having Jovanovic on board, the player can prove to the fans that he can come from a small league and impress in the big time that is the Premier League.

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Lionel Messi

The World’s best player is merely seen as another player in his home land. A lot of course is expected of him but his performances for the national team have not been as impressive as those for Barcelona. Having left Argentina at the age of 13, Messi is frowned upon by some and is even labelled as ‘The Catalan’ in many places. A World Cup winning performance will soon change that, and if his recent displays are anything to go by, the Argentineans should have every hope of this happening.

Thierry Henry

When you are captain of your country, you are constantly under pressure to deliver. When you are captain of your country and booed off by your own fans, you owe it to them to perform. Thierry Henry is certainly not somebody who crumbles under pressure. This summer could possibly provide him with the biggest challenge of his career. He may well be looking forward to a new start in New York but it is changing his reputation in his home land which will be top of his to do list. Where better than the World Cup? A World Cup where, had it not been for his hand, the French team may not have been involved. Poor form a side, France and Henry should not be underestimated.

Wayne Rooney

Never before has the nation expected this much. A general feeling that this COULD be the year. Don’t worry about Beckham or Cole, as long as Wayne Rooney is fit, England have a chance. At least, that is the belief. Rooney, like he did in 2004, needs to deliver on the World stage. If he take his club form this season and continues it in the World Cup then he will have every chance of propelling England towards glory. A nation believes but will he deliver?

Theo Walcott

After his cameo in last Wednesday night’s Champions League tie, the World Cup has taken on a whole new importance. If he can produce a similar impact this summer as he did against Barcelona, Walcott can be a very important player for England. Aaron Lennon’s injury is still unclear which would surely provide the chance for Walcott to nip in. He himself has suffered from injuries this season but looked very sharp mid-week. Will no doubt be closely monitored by Fabio Capello and could finally prove himself on the World stage this summer!

Luis Fabiano

Being Brazil’s number one striker carry’s a weight of its own. However, rarely have Brazil lacked a number 9 as much as they have recently. Fabiano has not disappointed. The bad-boy of Brazil has seemingly matured and in doing so has been scoring for both Sevilla and the national team. Five goals in last summer’s Confederations Cup and a double against arch-rivals Argentina have only added to his reputation. Dunga will be relying on his fire-power to seal the nation’s sixth World Cup title.

Gonzalo Higuain

Previously over-looked by Maradona despite his 25 goals for Real Madrid, Higuain is a sure bet to be wearing the number 9 shirt for the Albiceleste. He is also a sure bet to score goals. Two goals in his four appearances for the national side have proved Maradona wrong, and every single person in Argentina right. The fans adore him and, after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Germany, they will genuinely believe that this could be there year. The only worry is a lack of experience at a World Cup and whether the pressure will get to him? If not, Messi and Higuain….that’s quite a partnership!

Milos Krasic

The Serbian midfielder has been recently placed on an international stage with CSKA’s successful run in this season’s Champions League, most notably scoring against Man Utd in the group stages. He is a target for a number of Premier League clubs, and the first impressions you get of the Serbian is of a remarkable similarity to Pavel Nedved. Bodily with his long blond hair he is evocative of the Czech midfield genius, but also in his style of play. He has speed, balance and a composure that constantly threatens opposition defences and would be a tremendous asset for any side in the Premier League, and is Serbia’s biggest attacking talent and is expected to impress on the grandest stage of them all.

Gerard Pique

The former Manchester United defender has gone on to become first choice for both club and country. The centre-back has been a rock in the heart of Barcelona’s defence and while we watch on in awe, Sir Alex will be wondering what possessed him to offload the young Spanish defender. If he can do it on the World Stage, it will go down as one of Sir Alex’s biggest mistakes.

Franck Ribery

Has been the subject of many transfer rumours over the past two seasons but this summer could finally see him leave Bayern for one of Europe’s elite. How much the French winger goes for could be based on his performance this summer. Bayern have reported quoted figures ranging between £40million and £60miilion, and they will probably be hoping for a good display in order to get as much of that as possible. Certainly has a point to prove this summer.

Angel Di Maria

The young Argentine winger has been the talk of Europe this season and is bound to end up in one of the top leagues by the end of the summer. Di Maria scored the winner against Nigeria in the Olympic final two years ago, handing Argentina back-to-back football gold medals. He is expected to start of the left hand side for Maradona’s side, with the Argentina coach already declaring that “Angel has the quality to be a worldwide superstar within the next two years”. Di Maria is reportedly being trailed by Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, a good World Cup could well see him Premiership bound very soon.