The following list of elite midfield players in the world will exclude the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka since they sometimes play as forwards or as support strikers depending on the strategy deployed by their team. Kaka has previously played as a second striker during his spell with Milan while both Messi and Ronaldo have played in various attacking positions for their club (mostly on the wing though).

The list below does not comprise all of the world’s best midfielders but focuses on those who have made next summer’s World Cup:

Cesc Fabregas: The young Spaniard is already Arsenal’s captain after being handed the armband just over a year ago and has been a menacing threat for opponents from his central midfield position. His main contributions come in the form of assists to his teammates as well as being a key participant in the build-up of most of the club’s attacking moves. This season he has already scored six goals and amassed 10 assists in Arsenal’s first 10 league games. Fabregas has three goals as well as three assists in five European appearances for the London side.

Daniele De Rossi: The defensive midfielder is one of the Azzurri’s most important players and is one of the first names in the starting lineup under coach Marcello Lippi. With aging enforcer Gennaro Gattuso suffering from lack of form and injuries, De Rossi’s role has become even more important. While statistics may not do the Roma midfielder justice, it is known that his influence for the Giallorossi and the national team is quite immense. One interesting fact is Daniele has scored eight times for Italy and his country has won all eight of those games!

Marek Hamsik: The Slovak international is a cornerstone of his club Napoli and his national team. He is renowned for his dangerous positioning and for popping up from the outside the area to score goals. Though different from England’s Frank Lampard, he does share some similar traits and at the age of 22 he obviously has many years ahead to mature into one of the world’s most effective and dangerous central midfielders. (Please refer to previous piece titled Best Starting 11 Today dated November 16, 2009)

Steven Gerrard: The England international has been used as a second striker and in support of striker Fernando Torres yet he features on this list because he has mostly been used in various midfield positions over his career. To most Liverpool fans, Gerrard’s name should be the first on any of the team’s starting 11 in official matches. The club tends to suffer and miss that extra impetus when Gerrard is not playing. Liverpool’s losses often coincide with his absence through injury or suspension. Gerrard will play a key role for England under the leadership of Fabio Capello.

Xabi Alonso: The midfield general was quite influential in Liverpool’s drive for the title last season. His departure to Real Madrid has led some, including Captain Gerrard, to rue his exit from Anfield and to praise his contributions to the English club. He recently scored a brace in Spain’s 2-1 victory over Argentina. He is beginning to settle down for Los Galacticos will surely be decisive if the capital side are to dethrone la Liga’s champions Barcelona (Please refer to the Best Starting 11 Today article for more information on Alonso).

Frank Lampard: The English midfielder has set the bar so high that critics have begun to question whether he is on a decline because he has had a slow season so far by his own high standards. Lampard will be key for Fabio Capello and his plans to lead England to the latter stages of the World Cup in South Africa. Lampard scored a brace in the 5-1 demolition of Croatia which basically sent a clear message to the rest of the world about England’s intent to compete come next summer.

Honorable mention must go to both of Barcelona’s midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. Iniesta has recently recovered from injury but was quite decisive last season and Chelsea fans certainly remember his goal which sent their club packing in European competition. Iniesta must not be very popular with English fans since he went on to play an instrumental role in Barca’s triumph over Manchester United in the Champions League Final as he assisted on the goal by Samuel Eto’o's.

Xavi is Iniesta’s partner with the Catalan side and the national team with both being decisive in the treble achieved by Barca as well as Spain’s triumph in Euro 2008. Xavi was actually named best player by UEFA during the successful campaign which yielded a precious trophy for the Spaniards during Euro 2008. Xavi and Iniesta clearly compliment each other on the club and international level. Spain will be dangerous next summer with such a skilled and decisive midfield.

A number of players can stake a claim for being part of the best team in the world at this early period of the European domestic leagues. However, very few players standout the way those listed below have in terms of their contribution to their team, their role as leaders, and certainly their crucial involvement in their respective clubs.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon- the Juventus and Azzurri custodian is back to his best and his outstanding saves have ensured the Bianconeri remain on course to qualify from their group in the Champions League as well as continue to challenge Internazionale for the Serie A title. Buffon has conceded only one dubious goal in Europe against Bordeaux. He saved the Old Lady on numerous occasions both in the domestic league and Europe. A poll in a previous segment of the website revealed that 65% of our readers voted for Buffon as the goalkeeper expected to be the best in South Africa (Please refer to The Best Goalkeepers in South Africa article written on November 5, 2009). Buffon has also been instrumental in Italy’s qualification to South Africa 2010.

Defense: John Terry, Carles Puyol, Maicon Douglas and Giorgio Chiellini- (Please refer to The Best Defenders Headed To South Africa piece written on November 11, 2009)

- Terry is quite influential and anchors the Chelsea defense which has conceded a mere eight goals in 12 Premiership matches. He is one of the players Fabio Capello will be relying on to help England safely navigate through the group stage. Terry is one of the most respected and acclaimed defenders in the world. His name and that of Chelsea have been linked together since the Premier League titles began to arrive at Stamford Bridge during the Jose Mourinho era.

- Puyol is the captain of a Barcelona side which won the treble last season and has conceded only seven goals in 10 la Liga matches up to this point.

- Maicon is the flying right-back who not only retrieves the ball for Internazionale but often starts attacking moves from his flank. He is one of the Nerazzurri’s most prized assets. The Brazilian has more votes than Terry, Puyol and Manchester United’s Vidic put together in our poll in the article mentioned above.

- Chiellini is the player who adds steel to both Italy’s and Juve’s defensive line. He can score the occasional goal but is renowned for his solid tackling and tough approach to the game. He is expected to lead the line once Fabio Cannavaro retires. Almost half of our readers who voted in a poll chose Chiellini as the best defender heading to South Africa.

Midfield: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marek Hamsik and Xabi Alonso

- Lionel Messi is one of the main catalysts behind Barcelona’s treble last season and has continued his devastating form for his club having notched seven goals in la Liga this season. His performances with Argentina are not as impressive but then perhaps that is down to Diego Maradona’s ill management of the players at his disposal as well as his debatable choice of players and tactics. When firing on all cylinders, Lio is a nightmare for defenders.

- Cristiano Ronaldo could perhaps be the only player from the current best 11 to miss out on South Africa 2010. Despite injury, Ronaldo has already found the back of the net on five occasions in la Liga not to mention his four goals in the Champions League. He will be hoping that his country will overcome his absence to beat Bosnia to qualify to the World Cup. The Portuguese hold a 1-0 edge after the weekend home win against the Bosnians.

- Marek Hamsik is perhaps a surprise inclusion to many but he has been one of the rising stars in Serie A the past couple of years and has helped Slovakia qualify to next summer’s World Cup. Hamsik is a wanted man and elite clubs in Italy and Europe have shown interest in his capture. It will only be time before he is snapped up by a bigger club than Napoli. He has already scored seven goals in Serie A this season including his brace in the stunning come-from-behind victory against Juventus in Turin.

- Xabi Alonso has been severely missed by Liverpool which lost much of its midfield structure when it sold the player to Real Madrid. The negative results suffered by Liverpool cannot be attributed to the loss of Alonso alone but it is still a testament to his importance and value to any team he plays for. Alonso recently stamped his authority in the friendly match against Argentina and led his country to a win by scoring both of Spain’s goals.

Attack: Didier Drogba and David Villa

-Didier Drogba has already scored nine goals in 12 Premiership matches not to mention the assists for a Chelsea team on top of the Premier League. Drogba has the speed and physical strength to out-muscle most defenders in England and Europe. He is a scoring threat in any match and can pop up to score a goal at any moment. He also led his country Ivory Coast to next summer’s World Cup.

- David Villa has been in demand for the past couple of years yet he remained with Valencia and his goals have helped his club to fourth place in la Liga’s standings. Villa has already scored eight times in nine games played in the Spanish league. He is one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe and the world. He will partner Fernando Torres in a lethal attack as they attempt to add World Cup 2010 to Spain’s trophy cabinet after securing Euro 2008 for their country.

There are clearly other qualified players who can make the list yet all those mentioned above have played a key role for their club and/or country. All the players, except for Cristiano Ronaldo at this stage, will be participating in South Africa 2010.

David Beckham’s journey continues as recent confirmed reports in Italy suggest that he is on his way back to AC Milan for another loan deal. We have witnessed in the past big players moving from their clubs like Brazilian legend Ronaldo moved from Inter Milan to Real Madrid, Luis Figo from Barcelona to Read Madrid, Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan to Chelsea, Thierry Henry from Arsenal to Barcelona, recently Kaka from AC Milan to Real Madrid and other big players had to move from one club to another at some stage of their careers. Those players had purpose for the transfers, few wanted to win more trophies, few wanted to face a new challenge, some of the players contract with their clubs expired, some had problem with the management or club fans.

David Beckham’s loan spells at AC Milan are quite different of what we have experienced in the past. David Beckham moved from Real Madrid in 2007 to LA Galaxy of what at that time many believed was not a right decision because Becks was supposed to be in a better shape to play at the highest level and in the Europe as well. David Beckham had a huge impact in United States as many people turn in numbers to watch his signing at the club, those who knew him were delighted and those who didn’t were keen to see the class of the EX-English captain. The ticket sales of Beckham’s shirts were on high, people around the world turn their sight on MLS to some extent, their stadium tickets sales increased dramatically and LA Galaxy experienced something that they didn’t before.

Beckham’s spell at LA Galaxy was a little mixed, he was central to the LA Galaxy plans, it was mix with injuries and poor form as well but what important is that he made a huge difference to the team in terms of its publicity and with their standard of play. Imagine a young player of the team training with becks must have learned a lot with his football skills and about the temperament to have in different situations of the game. LA Galaxy fans have a right to point finger at Beckham because he was unable to deliver what was expected or promised to the club and the league but we should also know clearly that what really was expected? & do players always deliver what is expected from them? If we take example of European player of the year Andriy Shevchenko’s big money arrival at Chelsea, did he deliver what was expected? Did galacticos deliver what was expected from them? And there are many more examples like this if we take a look around. So what I feel appropriate is that Beckham was able to deliver what was expected of him to some extent and it could have been even more if there was not a selection problem at England squad. We all are aware of Fabio Capello man management skills and about his discipline, his judgment of the players & who knows him better than Beckham having worked under him for about a year at Real Madrid when Spanish giants historically came back in the La Liga in the last season in Spain to actually win it.

Selection nightmares left Becks with no choice but to opt for a better club in terms of reputation, a club which will catch the eye of the England chief & there wasn’t any option available to Beckham but to move away from LA Galaxy in order to represent his nation for as long as possible. I think no will one can argue that a person should first of all think about his club than country, if Fulham playmaker Dempsey faces this situation he will certainly leave the club in order to make sure that he represents United States, his country first, and I hold that in highest regards. Beckham loan spell is different from other transfers that we have witnessed in the past because he don’t want to win trophies, he don’t want any new challenge, he don’t have any big issues with the management of the club at LA Galaxy all he wants is the position in the country and contribute in it, I believe that United Kingdom is very fortunate to be blessed with players like David Beckham as he has taken a lot of LA Galaxy fans and critics against him in order to represent his country but I also believe that majority of the LA Galaxy fans also understands and respects his decision so we should all be united to wish him a good spell at AC Milan and hope he can make it to the world cup finals in South Africa 2010.

We got another edition of World Cup Buzz Top 5. This time we’re going to breakdown the 5 best national team coaches right now. These 5 men have led their charges to surprise heights in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup or in some cases right on the door step of reserving their place in South Africa. So let’s get down to the WCB Top 5.

5: REINALDO RUEDA – HONDURAS COACH

The native of Cali, Colombia is the leader of possibly Honduras’ golden age of international football. Los Catrachos qualified for their 1st World Cup since Spain 1982. Rueda has had great success with Colombia’s youth teams, leading Los Cafeteros to a 3rd place finish in the ’03 FIFA World Youth Championship and 4th place in the ’03 U-17 World Cup. Its time to give Rueda his due a skillful tactician and excellent personnel manager.

4: MARCELO BIELSA – CHILE COACH

The Argentine coach eats, breathes, and sleeps football. A quirky coach known to take his own pitch measurements before putting out his starting formation. He has turned Chile into the 2nd biggest surprise in South American qualifying and has Chile in South Africa 2010. Considering what has happened to Argentina since Bielsa left, his coaching acumen cannot be underestimated.

3: FABIO CAPELLO – ENGLAND COACH

Fabio Capello has won trophies at some of the biggest club teams in the world: Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus. His first foray as a national team coach has started off well. He hasn’t won any trophies with England but he’s turned England into a serious contender. Before his arrival, England was struggling, looked sloppy, and were in disarray. Capello has organized the team and brought confidence to The Three Lions while leading them to a place in South Africa with a near perfect qualifying record.

2: DUNGA – BRAZIL COACH

His birth name is Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri but he’s better known as Dunga. The Brazil coach was much criticized early in his Seleção tenure for the team’s style of play but he’s turned that sentiment around with a Copa America & Confederations Cup trophy. He’s managed to check massive egos of star players for the cause of Brazil team glory and the result: Top spot in the toughest qualifying region in the world. Its one thing to have talent, its another to manage it and put it a position to win and Dunga has done that in arguably the most pressure packed national team job in the world.

1: GUUS HIDDINK – RUSSIA COACH

The Dutchman’s accomplishments are impressive at the club level but his magic as a national team coach is irresistible. The last 3 World Cups he’s taken his team into at least the 2nd round with 4th place finishes twice with Netherlands in 1998 and South Korea in 2002. Russia will qualify for 2010 and Hiddink has them looking primed for a deep run in South Africa. If a nation needs a man to lead the national team to the World Cup and make a deep & historic run than Guus Hiddink is that man.

There you have it, the best national team managers/coaches in the world. What do you think, did we leave anyone off? These men will be front & center in less than a year when The Great Tournament will capture the world’s attention. One of these men could be national heroes if their sides lift The World Cup.

With the 2010 World Cup now just over a year away, the pundits are already speculating as to who will take over from Italy as the World Champions. After some impressive recent performances and a much more solid look about them under Fabio Capello, excitement is (inevitably) starting to grow that 2010 South Africa could be England’s year. Today, we run down some of the current favourites for the tournament.

Spain

The Euro 2008 winners continue to look strong, strolling through their group. Their squad oozes quality with stars like Torres, Villa, Silva, Fabregas, Alonso, Ramos, Puyol, Iniesta and the Euro 2008 player of the tournament Xavi Hernandez. After years of underachieving, the Spanish squad now looks the part and they would be my tip to win the tournament. The football betting odds agree, pricing Spain as the current favourites to be crowned 2010 champions.

Italy

The defending champions will certainly be considered genuine contenders to win the World Cup, having overcome the odds in 2006 to win the tournament for the fourth time. However, the Azzurri are not the force they once were – despite retaining the bulk of their 2006 winning squad, the majority of their star names such as Del Piero, Pirlo, Gattuso, Zambrotta are the wrong side of 30 and no longer at their peak. Young stars such as Sebastian Giovinco have shown potential, but nobody has yet filled the boots of the influential Francesco Totti, who retired from international football after the triumph in Germany.

England

Whisper it, but England are genuine contenders for the 2010 World Cup. Under Fabio Capello, England look organized and dangerous. The players seem to know their roles within the team, Wayne Rooney is enjoying his best international form since Euro 2004 and in Theo Walcott, they possess one of the most exciting talents in world football. It will be tough, but if they can somehow avoid the dreaded penalty shootout then they will certainly be among the contenders.

Brazil

In qualifying, they have looked distinctly average and it’s fair to say the stars of previous World Cup triumphs such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos haven’t been replaced by the new breed. However, Brazil still possess Kaka and the exciting prospect of Alexandre Pato so no matter what their pre-tournament form is, they still carry the fear factor and other nations will be hoping to avoid them.

Argentina

Like Brazil, they have been unconvincing in the qualifying campaign but a quick look through their squad which possesses ability like Kun Aguero, Carlos Tevez and of course the worlds best player Lionel Messi tells you that Argentina do have the capability to win the World Cup. Their defensive frailties remain though and there will be doubts over the tactics of rookie coach Diego Maradona, as well as his temperament with playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme already refusing to play for the national team while the legendary midfielder is in charge.

Germany

Never, ever write off the Germans. Pundits may tell you that German football is in decline but a quick look back at recent years which includes a semi-final appearance in 2006 and a final appearance in 2002, as well as reaching the final of Euro 2008 tells you otherwise. Germany have breezed through the qualifying campaign and led by Chelsea star Michael Ballack will be a major threat in South Africa.

Written by Danny Watson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football news.

So, Capello has finally decided who his strikers will be for England’s crucial world game qualifying match tomorrow versus Ukraine. Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Peter Crouch were all injured in England’s friendly over the weekend, however Crouch has recovered in time to be the target man for the Ukraine match, supported by Rooney and Gerrard.

England’s fifth choice striker was also injured in training this week, and the question on the lips of many who have an interest in English football is ‘what has happened to the world-renowned English striking force of old?’; for a country who have had the likes of Alan Shearer, Sir Geoff Hurst and Gary Linekar leading the line in past years it is a disturbing thought to think that Peter Crouch is starting.

Where has Michael Owen gone? In the late 1990s Owen was meant to be the saviour of English football, but now he is not even making the England squad; his story is the indicative of English international football in general: there is the potential to go forward and be great, but without hard work, and a bit of luck you are not going to fulfill that potential.

One of the main problems for England is that strikers are not being picked on their merits – last weekend Emile Heskey scored his first international goal for six years! And he one of the first choice pairing. If you look at the statistics, since Fabio Capello was made England manager Michael Owen has scored, on average, more goals per game than any other English striker (source: The Daily Telegraph), and yet has not been picked.

Where is the new talent coming through? Wayne Rooney could be fantastic, but he won’t because he does not have the right temperament for international football; Dean Ashton could have been like the Michael Owen of old, but after so much time out injured there is no chance of that happening now.

If you look around English football there is maybe one world-class striker, in Wayne Rooney, and perhaps Gabriel Agbonlahor could one day reach the heights of a fully fledged international footballer, but apart from those two England are in a dire situation on the striking front.

The England manager, Fabio Capello has just announced his England squad as follows:

England squad to play Andorra and Croatia:
Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).

 The notable exception is Michael Owen, which begs the question; is this move just to show he’s boss? It seems Steve McClarenesque; McClaren dropped Beckham to show everyone that he was his own man, and look what happened to him!

Leaving Owen out is a ludicrous move; he is the most prolific England striker in recent memory, and even when he is not 100% fit he still manages to score where other, less efficient, forwards would make a hash of it. This may come back to bite Capello on the backside.

David Beckham keeps his place; this continuation seems odd as Beckham is well past his best, and by 2010 it is unlikely that his fitness will allow him to play a full and active role in the World Cup. It also stops youngsters, who could be playing and gaining experience for the tournament, coming through the ranks.

Emile Heskey is another questionable choice; he seems to be at his best for England when he is working in tandem with Michael Owen, and that scenario is obviously not going to happen. Heskey has had a good solid career and he is a reliable workhorse, but is he up to the standard England expects?

By picking this squad Capello has put his neck on the line, and if England crash and burn he will be the only one accountable.