When I was working on my best squad of the World Cup in South Africa, I was looking at each team’s most likely starting eleven. I’ve looked everywhere, but I didn’t find it on the internet. That’s why I wanted to make this post.
Assuming every team will play 4-4-2, I think these will be the most likely players to play in the starting eleven of each major team of the WK 2010. You can correct me if you think I’m wrong in the comment-area at the bottom of this post.
Brazil
Info: Brazil are the most successful national football team in the history of the World Cup. They’ve won it 5 times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). They are also the only country that played in every World Cup. Brazil were first in the qualifications with 34 points. Brazil are also the hosts for the World Cup 2014. The topscorer for the Brazilian squad is Luis Fabiano with a stunning 25 goals in only 36 caps. He currently plays for Sevilla in Spain. This year here scored 21 goals in 34 appearances for Sevilla.
Prediction: I think Brazil have a good chance getting far in the tournament. I think they will get a 3th place.
Squad:
| Cesar Julio | ||||
| Maicon | Juan | Lucio | Daniel Alves | |
| Elano | Gilberto Silva | Káka | Filipe Melo | |
| Robinho | Luis Fabiano |
Spain
Info: Spain have a great team with a lot of great players, such as Xavi and David Villa. Spain are called the Red Fury (La Furia Roja). Spain are the current European champions, having won the UEFA European Championship in 2008. Spain have qualified for the FIFA World Cup twelve times. The topscorer for the Spanish squad is David Villa with 37 goals in 56 caps. He currently plays for Valencia in his own country. In the season 2009/2010 he scored 28 goals in 45 appearances for Valencia. On 19 may 2010 he signed a contract with Barcelona for 4 years and will earn € 7 million per season
Prediction: witch such a squad they will get far, but I think the will not be able to win it. I give them a place in the semi-final
Squad:
| Casillas Iker | ||||
| Ramos Sergio | Puyol Carles | Pique Gerard | Arbeloa Alvaro | |
| David Silva | Xavi | Alonso Xavi | Iniesta Andres | |
| Torres Fernando | Villa David |
England
Info: England have a great squad, but in my opinion, they only have 1 great striker. They have a lot of talent on the midfield, but the goals all need to come from Wayne Rooney. England are one of seven national teams to have won the FIFA World Cup, which they did in 1966 when they hosted the finals. They became first in their qualifying group with 27 (only 1 loss). The topscorer for the England squad is of course Wayne Rooney with 25 goals in 60 caps. He plays for Manchester United in his own country and scored 34 goals in 44 appearances.
Prediction: I think England have a great squad, but with only one top striker they will have to have some luck to come far in the World Cup. I give them a place in the quarter final.
Squad:
| Green Robert | ||||
| Johnson Glenn | Ferdinant Rio | King Ledley | Cole, Ashley | |
| Lennon Aaron | Lampard Frank | Gerrard Steven | Wright-Phillips Shaun | |
| Rooney Wayne | Bent Darren |
I think Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon will swich during the matches… Or they will choose for Joe Cole on the left midfield!
France
Info: France are also one of the seven national teams to have won the World Cup, which they did in 1998 when they hosted the Cup. France has also won two UEFA European Football Championships, winning the first in 1984, led by Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini, and the most recent in 2000. The topscorer for the France squad is Thierry Henry, he scored 51 goals in 120 appearences. Theres only one major bummer and that’s the linking of Ribery and Benzema to the prostitude Zahia Dehar. If they can forget this they will play some good football!
Prediction: With a great Franck Ribery and the talent of Yoann Gourcuff they could get far, I give them a place in the quarter final.
Squad:
| Lloris Hugo | ||||
| Evra Patrice | Abidal Eric | Gallas William | Clichy Gael | |
| Gourcuff Yoann | Ribery Franck | Diarra Lassana | Malouda Florent | |
| Henry Thierry | Anelka Nicolas |
Argentina
Info: Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world, and is currently seventh in the FIFA world rankings. They’ve won the World Cup twice (1978 and 1986). Argentina and France are the only national teams which have won the three most important men’s titles recognized by FIFA: the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympic tournament. They were very lucky to have qualified for the World Cup in South Africa, they became only 4th in the qualifications. The topscorer for Argentina at the moment is Lionel Messi scoring 13 goals in 44 caps. His statistics for this year are simply stunning, he scored 47 goals for this team Barcelona in 53 appearences. If he has a great tournament, he will become the best player ever!
Prediction: If Messi has some fuel left after a tirering season, they could win the World Cup. So I grant them the first place in South Africa!
Squad:
| Sergio Romero | ||||
| Otamendi Nicolas | Demichelis Martin | Walter Samuel | Heinze Gabriel | |
| Rodriguez Maxi | Di Maria Angel | Mascherano Javier | Messi Lionel | |
| Higuain Gonzalo | Milito Diego |
They have a lot of attackers (Tevez Carlos, Palermo Martin, Aguero Sergio), but I think these two will make the cut.
The Netherlands
Info: The Netherlands reached two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 and won the European Cup in 1988. The Netherlands are famous for the color orange. The Dutch fans are always dressed in orange clothes! Therefore every stadium they are in turns orange. The Dutch squad have a lot of talented players like Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder. The topscorer for the Dutch is Robin Van Persie scoring 17 goals in 43 caps. He plays for Arsenal in England where he scored 10 goals in 20 appearences, but he also has 8 assists! Not bad I think!
Prediction: I think The Netherlands have some potential to get far, but not very far. Let’s give them a place in the quarter final.
Squad:
| Stekelenburg Maarten | ||||
| Heitinga John | Boulahrouz Khalid | Mathijsen Joris | Van Bronckhorst Giovanni | |
| Sneijder Wesley | Van der Vaart Rafael | De Jong Nigel | Robben Arjen | |
| Kuyt Dirk | Van Persie Robin |
Germany
Info: Germany is one of the three most successful national teams at international competitions, having won a total of three World Cups and three European championships. Germany is known as a tough squad. You have to play your best for the full 90 minutes to beat them. Germany became first in their qualifying group with 26 point (only 2 draws in 10 games). The topscorer for the German squad is Miroslav Klose, he scored 48 goals in 95 caps. He currently plays for Bayern Munchen and didn’t had a great season, he only scored 6 goals in 36 appearances.
Prediction: Germany has a pretty good squad, if Klose can find the goal again I give them a place in the final, but they will lose it against Argentina.
Squad:
| Neuer Manuel | ||||
| Boateng Jerome | Westermann Heiko | Mertesacker Per | Lahm Philipp | |
| Schweinsteiger Bastian | Trochowski Piotr | Muller Thomas | Ozil Mesut | |
| Podolski Lukas | Klose Miroslav |
Italy
Info: Italy is among the top teams in international football and the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil. Italy is also called the azzuro (azure blue, the color of their shirts). The topscorer for Italy is Alberto Gilardino scoring 16 goals in 39 caps. He currently plays for Fiorentina where he scored 18 goals in 43 appearances
Prediction: Italy is a, how can I put it… a somehow old squad. That’s why will not be able to reach the semi-final of the World cup. I give them a place in quarter final.
Squad:
| Buffon Gianluigi | ||||
| Zambrotta Gianluca | Chiellini Giorgio | Cannavaro Fabio | Bonucci Leonardo | |
| Camoranesi Mauro | Pirlo Andrea | Gattuso Gennaro | De Rossi Daniele | |
| Gilardino Alberto | Di Natale Antonio |
Portugal
Info: Portugal have great players in their squad. With Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo, I think they have the best wingers in the world! Portugal reached the final of the European Cup in 2004 which they’ve lost against the Greek. In 2006 they reached the semi final of the World Cup in Germany. The topscorer and captain of the Portugees squad is Cristiano Ronaldo, he scored 22 goals in 71 caps. He currently plays for Real Madrid where he scored a stunning 33 goals in 35 appearances, that’s almost 1 goal per app.
Prediction: As I said already, they have some great players in their squad, but that’s not enough. Not everything can come from Nani and Ronaldo. That’s why the will only reach the quarter final.
Squad:
| Eduardo | ||||
| Paulo Ferreira | Bruno Alves | Ricardo Carvalho | Miguel | |
| Simão | Pepe | Deco | Nani | |
| Hugo Almeida | Cristiano Ronaldo |
Who do you think will win it? If I had to bet, I would say Argentina or Spain
Who do you think will topscorer of this World Cup? I think it will be Lionel Messi, I hope it for him, because after such a great season, he deserves it!
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