The intensive month of World Cup football will see most fans of the game clambering towards the matches which contain the ordained stars that are expected to light up the tournament with their skills. Much is expected from the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while many fans will also have their eyes open to look out for the fortunes of Premier League stars such as Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres.
However, other Premier League players also have pivitol roles to play in their respective country’s World Cup success.
Stuart Holden
After signing for Bolton Wanderers in January from Houston Dynamo, the American midfielder has had little luck in playing his way into contention due to a broken leg sustained while on international duty in early March. Since that setback, Holden has managed to work his way back to match fitness, making a substitute appearance in Bolton’s final game of the season.
Mainly deployed on the wing, the midfielder is far from a head down dribbling to the byline type of player. Holden is a crafty individual who would be yet another creative spark to add in the US midfield. Not known for his speed, the 24 year old is a skillful player with great technique, specifically at dead ball ability.
Due to his lack of match practice, Holden may be restricted to substitute appearances as US coach Bob Bradley looks to utilize his energy in the latter stages of games.
Carlos Vela
One of the much maligned “Arsenal kids”, Carlos Vela has not had sufficient game time in his career with the North London team to really show his skills. Employed as a squad player at Arsenal, the forward usually plays second fiddle to the likes of Arshavin and Van Persie. However, a successful World Cup could make him look like a new signing when he returns to London from the High Veldt.
At wing-forward, he usually plays of a more centralized target man and feeds off his delivery. In football today, raw pace is a rare ability that is unique to certain players who possess it. This asset is a key part of Vela’s game, making him a vital component in Mexico’s quick counter attack style of football which sees a lot of their forward play work down the flanks at speed.
Much like his playing days at Arsenal, Vela is very much in and out of the Mexican team and can often be the flavor of the month, only to be then lambasted as unfulfilled potential. A good performance in the World Cup could see his stock rise and finally allow him to steadily reach his potential.
Milan Jovanovic
After signing a pre-contract agreement with Liverpool in January, this Serbian striker became the clubs first signing of the summer and looks to be a wily catch by manager Rafael Benitez. Considered a late developer, the forward has slowly but surely worked his way into the Serbian national team in 2007 and since then has further risen through the ranks to become an integral part of the Serbian team.
Now 29 years old, Jovanovic has developed his game in recent years, seeing him drop back to a deeper lying role on the left wing. Even with this switch, he still manages to contribute his fair share of goals and finished top scorer for Serbia in World Cup qualifying with a tally of five.
Jovanovic is a very clever player and most of the time uses the combination of his intellegence, technique and positional sense to wind up in the right place at the right time and play the correct ball. He will most definitely be a major element in the Serbian team for the World Cup and might make a few clubs regret not snapping him up on a free transfer last January.