The above image is a common one in recent Spain games, but ask any Liverpool fan and you’ll be told Fernando is the best forward on the planet.  Ask any Premier League fan, and even the Evertonians will grudgingly agree that Torres is sublime.  But ask a Spaniard about his performances for the national team, and the response will probably be, “I prefer David Villa.”

He will be, at least for statistical reasons, correct in that judgement.  Torres, having played for La Furia Roja since the age of 19, has not made the same impression as David Villa has.  The latter became the country’s top goalscorer in an amazing 5 years since his debut at the age of 23.

No Spanish football fan cognizant in 2008 will ever forget the final of the European Championship in which Torres dinked the ball over Jens Lehmann after a long ball from Xavi, but Villa has simply done more in less time.  Or has he?

While it is true that Villa’s goal record is more impressive, Torres probably has an unfairly bad reputation as an international flop.  While he doesn’t score as often as he does for Liverpool, defenses are still terrified of his finishing, pace and movement.  When fit, he often draws defenders and creates the space into which Villa darts to claim the goals — and the reputation to go with it.

Now, this article isn’t meant to claim Torres isn’t underwhelming for Spain, but merely to show some reasons why he might be doing so.  Playing as David Villa’s foil is one of them.

Another reason might be that Spain’s style doesn’t suit Torres nearly as well as it does Villa.  Spain play like Barcelona: they possess and pass around the 18 yard box and wait until there is an opening.  This method suits quicker players, ones like Villa and Iniesta who can quickly change directions to be in tight space. (As an aside, this makes me wonder why the rumors are swirling that Barcelona are interested in Torres.  I doubt anything will come of it, but I digress.)

Shorter players like the aforementioned Blaugrana duo, the “culo bajo” types as they are inelegantly called in Spanish, have the ability to turn on a dime, essentially beating defenders with lateral movement.  Torres is a blindingly fast player — just ask Nemanja Vidic or any of the other Premier League defenders he has skinned in the past 3 seasons — but his movement is more direct, less lateral.

I’m not saying he can’t find space in a tight penalty box, but he is less likely to than someone like Villa.  And given the Spanish set up, the penalty box is often crowded as la Roja pass the ball around the outside, waiting for the right movement.

Now consider how Liverpool play.  It’s not quite the same approach; it relies less on lots of quick movement and more on fewer decisive balls.  This suits Torres far more, as he is physically more adept to scoring from these types of situations.  The decisive balls tend to be played from farther out, either as crosses from wide positions or longer direct passes from midfield (and no, I’m not accusing Liverpool of playing route one football, calm down).  I’m not sure if this style has a catchy name, but it is not the tiki-taka of FC Barcelona/La Furia Roja.

Torres is a supremely skilled finisher, and scores from many crosses into the box, with his head and feet.  However, the full extent of his pace is best illustrated in those situations where a long ball is played behind the defense and in front of the keeper.  In these moments Torres shows just how fast he can run.  Not since the heyday of Thierry Henry  has the Premier League seen a striker so deadly when given space between the back four and the keeper.  At full speed no defender can match him, and then it is usually a matter of finishing from one on one.

But Spain don’t play this way.  I’m not blaming them for not doing so either.  Any coach restricting Xavi and Iniesta to playing exclusively medium and long range passing to their center forwards would be an idiot.  But put in simple terms,the Spanish team doesn’t play the sort of balls Torres is so skilled at finishing so often as they do at Liverpool, and Torres suffers as a result.  But when they do play a direct weighted pass behind the back line and Torres is lurking, defenses should still beware.  Just ask Jens Lehmann, a witness to such a ball from Xavi that ended up behind him in 2008.

Without being  philosophical, it must be said that every individual is entitled to an opinion and to simply ridicule it  without substantial support would be unfair. Having listened to the Group C Podcast, there are a  few comments about the main topics being discussed.

- The Top Teams: Every team does have a flaw or will have one during the World Cup. One must  consider the pressure of competing in the world’s biggest stage with reputations made and destroyed in a single match or round. Injuries, inconsistent form, suspensions, officiating and coaching decisions will all affect the results. One does not have to be a supporter of Brazil to acknowledge the Selecao would probably have 8 titles by now if the winner is crowned purely based on talent while Spain would at least have one. Winning the World Cup  is not just about talent but the combination of variables which are quite intricate and can easily tip the balance to one side or the other.

As for Group C which is stirring up debates and discussions, below are some general comments based on watching and tracking certain teams and their players:

ALGERIA: They will not be advancing from this Group and it might be difficult for them to even get a point. Unlike other African teams, this North African country does not have the physical presence of a Cameroon or Ghana or Ivory Coast. By physical presence one is implying they are not as fast or strong physically. They can play tough and be rough but they are not a superior physical team. They are missing a crucial player in Mourad Meghni who is out injured and will lose to England, USA and Slovenia. At best, they might snatch a draw against either USA or Slovenia. If anyone watched the team’s campaign in the African Cup of Nations, then it would be fair to state the Algerians are not on the same talent level as the Egyptians. However, Algeria deserved to get to this stage because they managed to beat Egypt in the play-off match in Sudan but they remain inferior talent wise to Egypt. This is a clear case of how talent does not necessarily prevail as Egypt did dismantle Algeria 4-0 in the African Cup of Nations. Without going into detail, the Egyptians have had a psychological barrier and intense pressure which have prevent the side from performing up to their talent level causing them to miss on the World Cup in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

SLOVENIA: Many pundits and football fans underestimate this team. Slovenia is not as good as Croatia was in France 1998 but they are a solid team. What they lack in sheer talent, they make up by effort, team work and some individual skills. As a team they are not very talented but on an individual basis they have a couple of decent players. They simply work well together as a unit and they will most likely beat Algeria while troubling USA to the extent of getting a draw or even beating USA. Against England, Slovenia might get a result depending on how many points the Three Lions have prior to the match. However, if logic prevails then Slovenia will fight with the USA for the second spot leaving Algeria to occupy the bottom place in Group C.

ENGLAND: If you check  the piece on who will win the World Cup, it originally excluded England as an option because  the team is not deep enough to make a run beyond the quarter-finals (check www.worldcupbuzz.com/which-team-will-win-the-2010-world-cup/) but in an updated article England was added (please check www.worldcupbuzz.com/world-cup-2010-update-on-tournament-favourites/) and there is a reason for this.

Fabio Capello is a capable manager and he is one of the best in the world. If he wins the World Cup with England then he certainly will be amongst the best three coaches. Capello was in charge of Milan when they shredded the great Barcelona side in the Champions League final of 1994 with a score of 4-0. He won league titles with Roma, Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid. This shows he has the winner’s mentality and it does not matter if you are coaching in England or elsewhere because you can still take with you the winning mentality.

The problem here is Capello can sometimes go too far when considering certain aspects such as the overall good of the team and achieving results because in doing so he sometimes restricts talented players and their ability to perform. Luckily for England he does acknowledge the need to free Wayne Rooney to excel and strike fear into opponents but  Capello on the bench and Rooney on the pitch alone cannot win it for England. The Three Lions do have other quality players but none are on Rooney’s level regardless of their position. England’s journey will likely end  in the quarter-final or perhaps the semi-final at best when facing Brazil (or another quality team).

USA: The United States is by far one of the most improved sides in the last few years as shown by their performances in the Confederations Cup last year. To beat Spain, who were on a historic  streak, is a great achievement and the United States went on to test Brazil’s resolve and talent to the end. There are several variables at play in this situation such as the American desire to always excel and be better in sports when compared to others, but one must keep in mind soccer is behind NFL, MLB, NBA and even NHL. This does have a negative effect on the progress of the national team. The United States was one of the toughest games for the Azzurri in Germany 2006 and they severely tested the Italians with their grit and determination.

The American can still compete and have a considerable chance of going through this group. The US will likely beat Algeria and will either settle for a hard fought draw with Slovenia or perhaps even win the match considering the Slovenia clash will be the decider. As for the much anticipated England vs USA match, Capello and Rooney will make sure England will do the utmost to win. Capello will demand the England players do not underestimate the US and Rooney still has something to prove after World Cup 2006. When healthy and nearing top form, Rooney is close to unstoppable with his sheer desire to win and his talent.

One Note: The English media will sometimes fall into the trap of giving teams a certain tag but it is often done to sell stories or provide motivation for England’s players. In other cases it has the adverse effect of  piling unnecessary pressure on England’s players or providing excuses for an unlikely defeat. In general the press, even in the US, concentrates on selling a story or creating a storm in order to have increased audience. One man who exploited the English media till the end is the self-proclaimed “Special One” Jose Mourinho who often manipulated the English press to satisfy his craving for attention and to serve his purposes.

He did leave Inter so he can challenge for La Liga with Real Madrid but there are other main factors behind his decision: his long-time hatred for Barcelona who never gave him the chance to take over after Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, and his failure to win over the Italian press. The media in Italy often slammed Mourinho and did not fall for his tricks (but did rightfully salute him at the end for winning a historic treble with Inter). Mourinho became aware he could not manipulate the Italian press as easily as the English one so that is another reason why he opted to leave. Of course Mourinho knew it would be hard to replicate this season’s success and with Real knocking on his door, he knew he had the perfect opportunity to join an extremely promising situation.

So they almost didn’t make it, but in the end won the last two games to make sure they would be part of the World Cup party. It all came down to the final match to get through though. They had to win in Montevideo for the first time in 33 years to make sure they finished 4th in the South American group. Argentina scrambling to finish 4th? Behind those giants of South American football Chile and Paraguay.

Maradona used 102 different players in his first 14 months and the players who didn’t make the squad are probably the biggest surprises of any of the finalised 23 man squads in the competition. No Cambiasso and Zanetti, both imperious for Internazionale this season. No Coloccini or Milito in central defence and no place for Real Madrid’s midfield tyro Gago. Surely 5 excellent players, but deemed surplus to requirements for Maradona in South Africa.

So, the manager cuts 5 players which most people would imagine should be in the Argentinian squad and a relationship with Juan Roman Riquelme that is non-existent at best. A qualifying campaign that almost ended in disaster, a tactical mess that sees the manager play 4 centre backs in defence and an inability to get Lionel Messi to replicate his domestic form. So why do they worry me so. I’ve got this nagging feeling that everything is going to click in to place come June 11th.

All common sense points to Argentina continuing the widely chaotic form into the World Cup. I doubt Maradona will change from his rigid 4-4-2 formation to let Messi play as he is used to in Barcelona’s 4-3-3 style, but then again, should Maradona build Argentina around Messi, or alternatively should the Worlds best player be able to adapt to a change in style?

So why do I feel that they could be genuine challengers? What is it that troubles me so? I thought they’d go all the way in 2006, but they fell apart against Germany and limped out of the competition. I’ll be honest, I have a secret admiration for Argentina, I do. I know, as an Englishman, it should be part of my patriotic make up that I should despise them, but I can’t. Maradona, handball aside, is still one of my favourite players ever. I boo Brazil and cheer on one of my countries fiercest footballing rivals.If England don’t win it, I want Argentina to do so. No really.

Yet even through rose tinted spectacles, I still think they were very,very fortunate to get here. Any team who loses a qualifying game 6-1 away from home, is flying by the seat of their pants in regards to being a challenger for the title. Tactically, it doesn’t work, some of the players who haven’t been chosen make me scratch my head and the worlds best player struggles in the system, but still they nag away at me.

They’re in a group that could hold a few surprises, with the effective if dull Greeks, the unfancied Nigerians and the passionate South Koreans. It is a group that could cause them problems, but still I think they’ll have too much to not get through. It’s the one group that I’ll be keeping a keen eye on, purely to see if Argentina can finally make this tactical disaster a beautiful spectacle.

Please leave me your comments and you can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/paulbestall

Inter coach Jose Mourinho is renowned for making controversial remarks,  for using the media to hammer his point  and for manipulating the press to engage in psychological games against his toughest opponents. The focus here will be on Mourinho’s latest statement which is actually inaccurate if one is to consider the many factors associated with the World Cup and involved in the buildup to the biggest sports tournament in the world. The outspoken Portuguese claimed the Champions League final is the most important game in the world and even more important than the World Cup.

There is no doubt Mourinho is a capable coach and is probably one of the best at motivating his players, preparing for games and disrupting the plans of opponents through various means including psychological ploys. However, in this case the Portuguese has erred andone only needs to look at Brazilian legend Pele to understand being a great player does not make you an expert on football (whether predictions or various assessment of players & teams) and in Mourinho’scase a number of his outrageous remarks have really little ground to stand on. Below is a brief summary of small scale comparison between the Champions League and the World Cup to make it easier for the public to make their own judgment:

- Most-Watched & TV Audience: Unfortunately we have to go back to 2006 since this was the last time the World Cup and the Champions League were contested in the same year. The World Cup Final in Germany 2006 which featured Italy taking on France was the most watched event in 2006 ahead of the Super Bowl while the Champions League Final (Barcelona vs Arsenal) was actually in fourth place.

- Duration: The qualification process for World Cup 2010 actually begun in August 2007 and ended in November 2009. As for the Champions League the qualifying phase began in June 2009 and the tournament ends this Saturday, May 22nd in Madrid. This might be an unfair comparison but this is part of the process which gives a better assessment of the scale of the respective tournaments and which is bigger.

- Number of Teams: Less than 100 total in the Champions League compared to 204 national teams participating in the World Cup qualifying rounds.

- Matches Played: The World Cup qualifiers alone witnessed 848 matches while the Champions League as a whole features 124 games.

- Prestige: Winning the World Cup is by far the most coveted achievement of a football player’s career. Some of the best players over the decades became legends and cemented themselves in the history books by winning the World Cup. Winning the Champions League is the greatest achievement on the club level but to triumph in the World Cup is to reach the peak of football at all levels.

- Talent on Display: The Champions League and the World Cup are an elitist competition with the best clubs andteams qualifying to main draw (the group stages in both competitions) however the World Cup is even more selective since teams in Italy, Spain andEngland can still make the Champions League despite finishing 3rd or even 4th (after the qualifying stage). This means the Champions League leaves room for some of the less competitive teams. In the World Cup this is balanced by having the different Confederations yet these limit the number of qualifiers to the best teams from most of these Confederations. This allows for a great diversity of talent to be on show. The Champions League does not have the same number of surprise players emerging as stars since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (Ronaldinho and Kaka before them) have shown time and again they’re the best. In the World Cup, there have been a number of unexpected surprises such as Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci in World Cup 1990.

- Emerging  Talent: Again the World Cup often serves as the perfect stage for the supporters to watch emerging players (such as Roberto Baggio in World Cup 1990) or even hear about future stars (Brazil’s Ronaldo did not play in USA 1994 but was in the squad). Stars are made in the World Cup and careers are often ended as well with many players retiring after participating in the World Cup (Note: Zinedine Zidane of France retiring after Germany 2006).

- Major Controversies: The controversies in the World Cup continue to be discussed for generations and the most notable examples in recent decades are Zidane’s headbutt on Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the Germany 2006 Final in Berlin and Argentina star Diego Maradona’s “Handof God” against England in World Cup 1986. These events continue to be discussed by fans.

- The Money Factor: Mourinho says the Champions League gains the edge over the World Cup because the rich clubs can afford to buy the best talent while national teams pick from the best players available from their country. The logic here might be counterproductive as Barcelona’s Messi will be in the World Cup representing Argentina yet teammate Xavi Hernandez will play for Spain. While the talent might be further dispersed, it does ensure a more competitive tournament while in the Champions League the top teams such as Barca, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Inter and Real Madrid continue to have a monopoly over the best players.

- National Pride: While at the club the salary of the player is a decisive factor, the same players seek and try their best to play for their country at the World Cup. While there are financial rewards offered by a country’s Federation to the players who achieve certain objectives, the competing players in the World Cup are after the prestige and the experience of playing in the World Cup. Players who excel at the World Cup often become national heroes and lift the spirits of their fellow compatriots.

- Social Role: While football in general unites fans whether poor or rich, and of any race or background, to watch the games, the World Cup gets the nod here because of the global presence and coverage it generates.

- World Cup vs Champions League: Simply put winning the World Cup is Marcello Lippi’s greatest achievement and not winning the Champions League with Juventus in 1996. Zidane’s greatest honour was leading France to triumph in World Cup 1998 and then comes other honours such as Euro 2000 with Les Bleus and the Champions League triumph with Real Madrid (Zidane might pick winning the Champions League with R. Madrid over Euro 2000 but he certainly considers France 1998 as his greatest achievement).

- Mourinho Factor: The Portuguese is simply the type who does not rate anything high unless he is the main benefactor or the driving force behind it. Some might argue that when Chelsea won the domestic double (Premiership and FA Cup) in Carlo Ancelotti’s first season in charge one of those who were not really impressed was Mourinho because he used to try and instigate the Italian into a verbal war when Ancelotti was still in charge of rivals Milan. Mourinho considered beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge one of his greatest moments only to retract his statement after eliminating Barca in the Champions League semi-final not because the Catalans are the most talented team in the world (which they probably are with Messi & Xavi leading the line among others) but because he assisted Bobby Robson when he was in charge at the Camp Nou before leaving the club (he was bitter at not being offered the chance to coach the team in the years after). This is one additional motivational factor behind his strong desire to take charge of Real Madrid in order to make Barca suffer on the domestic front.

- Main Focus: The Champions League is on Saturday yet many supporters are preoccupied with the provisional teams and the cuts made by the national team coaches while Mourinho is desperately trying to engage in mind games with BayernMunich. Admittedly the Bavarians did start this round of psychological warfare when they accused Inter of being a defensive team and not entertaining which prompted Mourinho to sarcastically taunt Bayern for the decisive refereeing errors which helped the German club overcome Fiorentina in Munich as well as the sending off of Rafael of Manchester United at Old Trafford which helped turn the tide in Bayern’s favour.

There are a number of other factors which can be considered but once again nothing really surpasses the feeling of winning what is recognised as the world’s greatest honour in sports and the most watched event in the world. In addition, the Champions League is played on a yearly basis while the World Cup is a major event played every four years which gives it even more emphasis and makes it more exclusive. Only seven countries have won the World Cup   at one of the 18 total events played so far while the Champions League is in its 55th season (and ironically in its 18th under the current format) and has been won by 21 different clubs.

The countdown to South Africa 2010 may have started but there is still plenty of time for surprises to take place in terms of team selections and final squad lists. Coaches may spring a surprise or two and call upon unfamiliar names or perhaps the likes of the erratic Raymond Domenech will pick some unknown players.

Setting aside unforeseen events, injuries, suspensions or lack of form, a considerable number of players are all but guaranteed a spot o their national team’s roster heading to South Africa. It is perhaps early to confirm who has already scored his ticket to the World Cup but a few names will always surface when considering the most likely top scorer of the tournament. The top scorer does not have to be a striker so a number of attacking midfielders and wingers will be included on this potential list as shown below:

- Wayne Rooney: The English forward is still a young 24-year-old star player who will be the focus of Fabio Capello’s attacking schemes come next summer. Rooney scored 12 goals in 30 league appearances last season for Manchester United but he has already managed seven strikers in 11 games this season in the Premiership. The young forward has scored 25 times in the 55 matches he has played for his country. His last goal came in the World Cup qualifying destruction of Croatia (5-1 home triumph) back on 9 September 2009.

- David Villa: The striker has an impressive record with both Valencia and Spain. He has found the net on 35 occasions in just 54 appearances. This implies the talented player has a better strike ratio than a goal every two games. Villa has scored a remarkable nine goals in 10 la Liga games this season. He forms a frightening partnership with fellow attacker Fernando Torres.

- Fernando Torres:The Liverpool striker does not have Villa’s impressive scoring record but he is still a very dangerous man inside the box. He has netted 23 goals in 71 international appearances for Spain. His scoring tally with Liverpool is impressive as he notched 24 goals in 33 league appearances in his first season at Anfield and followed that with 14 strikes in 24 matches in the Premier League. This season Torres is amazingly on 10 goals in just 10 games.

- Didier Drogba: The Ivory Coast striker is one of the most lethal players at the international level having notched 41 goals in only 60 caps for his country. Drogba has been in great form this season for Carlo Ancelotti as he has found the back of the net nine times in 12 league appearances. Drogba is a nightmare for defenders when on form due to his strength, pace and scoring abilities.

- Luis Fabiano: His goal tally stands at 25 in the 36 times he has represented Brazil. He scored twice in the important 3-1 victory over Argentina in Rosario on September 5, 2009. Luis Fabiano was top scorer in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 with five goals, including a double against the Unite States in the final. He has five goals to his credit this season in just seven la liga appearances.

- Lionel Messi: The talented player is considered by many as the best player in the world at the moment. He has only managed 13 strikes in 41 appearances for Argentina but he has been in stunning form for Barcelona. He led the club to a treble last season after scoring 38 goals in 51 total appearances for the club while also providing assists on 18 other goals. He had 23 goals in 31 league appearances last season and he is on course to match or even beat the impressive figure having already scored seven times in just 10 la Liga matches. Messi is a delight to watch as he takes on defenders while making it look easy.

- Kaka: The former Milan icon has scored 26 times for Brazil in 73 appearances. He was instrumental in Milan’s success in Europe during the 2006-07 season as the club won the Champions League on the back of his incredible performances. He would finish top scorer in the European competition that season with 10 goals. He is now part of Real Madrid’s second Los Galacticos era since the turn of the century. The talented Brazilian has only managed three goals in 10 matches in la Liga as he tries to adjust to life after Milan.

- Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese missed Portugal’s play-off triumph over Bosnia but he should be back for South Africa 2010 barring any injury. The current Real Madrid star has managed to find the net 22 times in 68 matches for Portugal. He has scored five goals in just five appearances for Los Blancos as he is out injured. His scoring record with Manchester United was remarkable having scored 17 goals in 34 matches in the league during the 2006-7 season and then followed it with a stunning 2007-08 season capped by his 31 goals in 34 appearances in the Premiership. In his final season with United, he scored 18 times in 33 matches in the league. He won the European Golden Shoe during the remarkable 2007-08 season as the leading scorer across all the top divisions in Europe.

- Thierry Henry: Currently the man behind the most controversial use of his hand to contribute to a goal! His handball assist to William Gallas eliminated the Irish and sent France to South Africa 2010. The striker was extremely lethal during his spell with Arsenal but his scoring tally with Barcelona is quite respectable as he managed 19 goals in 29 matches last season. He has played 117 times for France and scored 51 goals.

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.

In football attacking players often get most of the praise when their team is achieving results while players in other positions are often overlooked. Defenders are typically ignored when accolades and awards are given out, yet it would be wrong to underestimate the contribution and influence of key defensive players such as Italy’s Paolo Maldini or France’s Lilian Thuram, just to name a couple of outstanding talents.

At the moment, the pool of skilled and astute defenders is perhaps shrinking but there are still a number of remarkable centre-backs and full-backs. Below is a list of some of the famous defenders who are likely headed to South Africa 2010 unless there is a major surprise such as injury or suspension:

- Brazil’s Maicon Douglas:  The right-back is a nightmare for opposition players with his speed and skills. He is perhaps more famous for his marauding runs than his defensive abilities but that should not take away from his solid defensive contribution. He often retrieves the ball and starts his team’s next attack.

- England’s John Terry: The heart beat of a Chelsea side which won a number of league and cup titles since 2000. The centre-back is quite influential in the locker room and on the pitch. He is England’s best defender and captains both club and national team. Terry often puts his body on the line and is quite strong on the ball and in the air.

- Spain’s Carles Puyol: The captain of a talented Barcelona team and one who can play both as a centre-back or full-back. He has won the Champions League twice already as well as Euro 2008 with Spain. His presence in the back-line guarantees a resolute, experienced and assured presence which puts his fellow defenders and the goalkeeper at ease. He will be key to Spain’s fortunes considering the other defenders are not up to his level.

- Serbia’s Nemanja Vidic: Perhaps Manchester United’s best defender and the  main reason behind the team’s solid defensive displays last season. United went on a record run of 14 consecutive games while keeping a clean sheet and Vidic deserves a decent chunk of the credit for that remarkable achievement. He has won three consecutive Premier League titles as well as the Champions League once. He will be crucial for Serbia’s hopes in advancing beyond the group stage in South Africa.

- Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini: Some may consider him as a surprise inclusion but those who have watched him play for Juventus and Italy know that this player can stop the best opposition players. Chiellini was an absolute colossus for Italy during Euro 2008 and was probably one of the very few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing tournament for the Azzurri. He was able to contain Spain’s lethal duo David Villa and Fernando Torres preventing both from getting on the score sheet during 120 minutes. He started as a left-back before being moved to centre-back position by former Bianconeri coach Claudio Ranieri. Italy will rely on his rock-solid and aggressive approach as captain Fabio Cannavaro continues his decline with age.

Obviously there are other defenders to consider but those remain some of the solid names expected to perform well during next summer’s World Cup. The likely exclusion of Alessandro Nesta due to his international retirement means he will not be included in this discussion. Nesta has been performing admirably for Milan this season after returning from a long-term injury. Defenders from both France and Portugal have been excluded because both countries are not assured of a spot next summer in South Africa.

Argentine ace and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has had quite a year.  After leading Barcelona to an unprecedented treble in the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Ray he is now up for both the Ballon d’Or (European footballer of the year) and the equally prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year.

Last year Messi was beaten to both awards by Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo, then at Manchester United.  Chosing between the two stars is an almost impossible task in all honesty but for me personally Messi just about edges it and he is the favourite for both awards this time round.  After playing a massive part in Barcelona’s success it would be scandalous if he didn’t win one of the awards, if not both.  Ronaldo may have made the mega-money move to Real Madrid and he too enjoyed a fantastic season, but perhaps not quite as fantastic as the campaign he enjoyed when he lifted both awards.

Anyway, here are the shortlists of nominations for both awards.

FIFA World Player of the Year (23 players):

Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast),

Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil),

Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribery (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

The Ballon d’Or (European footballer of the year – 30 players):

Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona),

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Kaka (Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Maicon (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), David Villa (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona),

Yaya Toure (Barcelona) Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Diego (Juventus), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal).

The winner of the Ballon d’Or will be announced on December 1, while the winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year will be announced on December 21.

The majority of these players will be on display at next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.  The French contingent still have to get through a play-off with the Irish, which is by no means a done deal.  Portugal face the relatively unknown quantity of Bosnia-Herzegovina in their own play-off so Ronaldo may not make the tournament in South Africa if the Bosnians pull off an upset.  I wouldn’t dismiss Bosnia either in fairness, they have their own stars such as Edin Dzeko (a fellow Ballon d’Or nominee) amongst others and they will put up a decent fight.  Messi will certainly be at the tournament, and that can only be a good thing for the spectator.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who provides World Cup 2010 betting news for Betfair.

Most of the heavy favourites have already qualified for the World Cup due next summer in South Africa. Previous World Cup winners such as Brazil, Germany, England, Argentina and Italy (also current WC Winners) all booked their spot in South Africa following a long and arduous road. Some teams such as Argentina have struggled while others such as England have cruised, yet the World Cup stage is a different playing field and previous results will not count. The only two teams with an outside chance that have yet to qualify are France and Portugal while the Spaniards have impressed in their group following their 2008 triumph in Europe.

Spain cannot be overlooked due to its rich talent, in particular the likes of David Villa, Xavi Herndandez and Fernando Torres among others. Other than Spain, the English national team under Italian Coach Fabio Capello had an impressive tally of points after convincingly navigating the qualifying group stage. Capello can count on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard to carry England all the way into the final stages.

The Brazilians and the Germans as well as the Italians often perform their best when it matters most. Brazil has a plethora of talent beginning with current Real Madrid star Kaka and stretching to right-back Maicon who plays for Inter Milan. The Italians are current World Cup holders so there will be additional pressure on the Azzurri to perform following  a relatively uninspiring qualifying campaign. It will be wrong to undermine Italy’s chances when considering that Gianluigi Buffon is recapturing his best form which had him labeled as the best custodian in the world while Daniele De Rossi remains a considerable driving force in the midfield engine room.

While Argentina had a horrendous sequence of results before securing qualification  in the very last match, it is not wise to exclude the Argentines from the list of potential winners though Diego Maradona as a coach has shown over and again that he not only lacks the know-how but also is clueless when it comes to strategies, team selection and tactics. After all, Argentina still has Lionel Messi though he continues to underperform when compared to his exploits with Barcelona.

Will one of the traditional powers (i.e. Brazil, Germany or Italy) or will an emerging nation (Spain and England) or a new rising team (Ivory Coast) triumph in South Africa? For the record no European team has ever won outside Europe and the trend could very well continue if Brazil performs up to expectations or perhaps a surprising African package rises to the occasions just as the South Koreans did in Asia 2002 when they made it to the semi-finals.

Last week was the end of the European club season and history was made. I think you know where I’m going with this week’s World Cup Buzz Team Of The Week. Remember that the winner made headlines and/or played matches during the calendar week of May 25 – May 31. The winner is:

FUTBOL CLUB BARCELONA (ESP)

Was there any doubt about this week’s winner? No. Barcelona became the 1st Spanish team to win the Treble. They finished their magical season with a powerful 2-0 win in the UEFA Champions League Final against English champs Manchester United. Goals by Samuel Eto’o & Lionel Messi sealed the win for the Blaugrana. Barcelona becomes the 5th team to win a European continental treble joining Celtic in 1967, Ajax in 1972, PSV Eindhoven in 1988, Manchester United in 1999. Congratulations to the best club side in the world and the winner of the World Cup Buzz Team Of The Week.