EVERYTHING FOR A WORLD CUP SPOT

Written by Adolfo Ramirez | 03 February 2010

The world cup is getting closer and there are many important players that are doing everything to be considered for a spot in their respective national teams. All of these players used to be indisputable starters in past. But now the name is not enough. Here is a list of players trying to reach the ultimate football competition.

RONALDINHO

He was the best player of the world four years ago. He was supposed to be the star of Germany 06 but it was then when his brilliance and explosiveness ended, some say it was in the finals of the Champions league when he didn’t play like his usual self.

The world was missing for four years one of the biggest talents in football history, everybody wondering what happened with Ronaldinho. Even he stopped smiling.

As everybody knows now it was the lack of discipline and the love for clubbing what slowed down “Dinho”. After a slow start with AC Milan and some of the same problems with partying too much, he is officially back!! If you watch an AC Milan game you can see he’s got his game back, his Brazilian “Zamba” is back, and he is dancing in the field again, making defenders dance too. Maybe is because the world cup is around the corner but you can see his determination in every game, scoring goals, his vision of the field intact. If you compare him to any other athlete past or present in the world of sports it has to be “Magic Johnson” they have the same no-look pass that is so unpredictable and efficient. Even Brazil’s head coach said that Ronaldinho is once again in his plans. Every fan of football has to be happy for his return!

RONALDO
Ronaldo is the top scorer in the history of the world cup with 16 goals, he is now playing in Corinthians from Brazil and still is one of the best scorers around the world, many people think that if a player is not playing in Europe he is not playing at the best level, well that is not the case just see how many times South American teams have defeated the European champion. And the tournament in Brazil is very competitive; after all they are the five time champions of the world and every year many Brazilian players go to Europe and to every part of the world.

Ronaldo helped his team win the tournament named “Paulista” a very important tournament in Brazil, he scored two goals in the finals, and overall he scored 23 goals in 38 matches.

This year he will try to help Corinthians win the Libertadores cup which is the equivalent of the Champions League in South America. He still has issues with his weight but if he can get in shape and is healthy he is still Ronaldo, one of the best forwards in the history of the sport.


ROBERTO CARLOS
Roberto Carlos the former Real Madrid left back is now playing with his old friend Ronaldo in Corinthians. They will try to win everything this year since is the 100th anniversary of the Brazilian football club. He expressed his desire to play in the world cup. Dunga Brazil’s coach hasn’t comment about him but It seems that Roberto Carlos doesn’t have too much of a chance to make the national team. He is still playing at a great level, he could still be the starter left back in Real Madrid, he is not the explosive player that he used to be but he still has the skill and his powerful shot is intact.

ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO
Another historic player that recently has been playing better, his class is still the same he may have lost speed but the vision and the intelligence to improvise is there. He has to compete with many Italian forwards, he may make it as a substitute, he had that role in the last world cup but this time there are players that can take that spot such as Di Natale, Iaquinta, Gilardino, and Luca Toni. Let see if Marcello Lippi thinks Del Piero will be helpful for the world cup.

LUCA TONI
Toni who was recently acquired by AC Roma and is trying to prove that he is still the same striker; he didn’t have a chance to play for Bayern Munich once Van Gaal was the head coach. His injuries didn’t help either. He is now playing as a starter in AC Roma, and if he starts playing the way he is capable of, I don’t see a reason why he wouldn’t make the Italian National team. He is a very rare forward, with good skills, long, shots well with his right foot and his left foot, good with headers, just a complete forward.

RUUD VAN NISTELROOY
He was recently acquired by Hamburg of Germany and he is going to have an important role on the team, he’s been one of the top scorers in the world in the last decade but an injury sidelined him when he was at his best playing for Real Madrid.

He has the potential and the skills to prove to everybody that he can play in the World Cup. He can play as a starter or maybe a reserve role like Del Piero in Germany 2006 either way he is very useful for any team. Something that it’s been difficult for Ruud is to be able to stay healthy for a long period of time, hopefully he can do that in Hamburg, for a striker to have regularity is crucial. And he has to be 100% healthy if he wants to be considered for a spot in the Holland national team.

DAVID BECKHAM
Well David Beckham is maybe the player with most chances to be on this list. Since the only thing he had to do was to compete at a higher level than the MLS in order to make Capello’s list for South Africa. He is playing at his usual level with AC Milan. His kick is still as precise as ever. A player of his caliber is always welcome in any team, plus the team that has him is always going to make money with him. I’m sure Beckham will play his fourth World Cup.

ROBINHO
Robinho is returning to his first love: Santos of Brazil, the same football club of the mythical Pelé. Robinho is a clear example of players doing everything in order to have a spot in their national teams for the World Cup. After been injured Robinho lost his spot in Manchester City to Carlos Tévez. He knew that if he didn’t have minutes and consistency his chances for the World Cup were almost non existence. If he can regain his form he will be in South Africa since he is been a favorite of Dunga for a long time. He has to get in shape first of all and the rest of his game will come with that.

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