World Cup Footballers in Fine Form Lionel Messi had a superb La Liga season for Barcelona. He was the top scorer in the league with 34 goals, most of then sublime and worth seeing.During the 2008/2009 La Liga season Messi and his team won all six titles that they played for including the coveted Champions League Trophy. Many supporters and admirers were looking for a similar season, relaizing that repeating the six title achievement would be almost miraculous. However they tried but came up short. Barcelona won the La Liga title but were knocked out of the Champions League by the eventual champion - Inter Milan.  Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid for 80 million after 6 successful seasons with Manchester United. While at Man United he won just about everything there was to win including the 2008 Ballon d'Or, and the 2007/2008 Champions League Trophy.His most prolific season at Man United was the 2007/2008 season in which he scored a record 42 goals in all competitions. He scored with his right foot, his left foot, his head and even had a fortuitous goal scored with his thigh. At the end of his first season at Real Madrid he scored 26 goals in La Liga behind Messi and his team mate Gonzalo Higuaín.  Wayne Rooney just completed a very successful season at Manchester United. After last summer's departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez to Manchester City, a lot more was asked of Rooney. Rooney has delivered with 26 Premier League goals.Rooney claims his improved form is down in part to Capello and his emphasis on team discipline. Capello suggested he conserve his energy, stop running all over the pitch and spend more time in the penalty area. Rooney took the advice. Rooney suffered an injury in April which prevented him from playing against Chelsea at home and rendered him ineffective against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. He is now fit and ready for the World Cup.  David Villa is a key part of Spain's quest to win the World Cup for the first time. He had a fine performance during Euro 2008 and many are counting on him to have a similar performance at World Cup 2010l.The bets are out for the World Cup top scorer: David Villa - Spain 8/1 Lionel Messi - Argentina 9/1 Wayne Rooney - Eng 10/1 Don't miss the Villa-Torres-Xavi show at WC10.  Midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez of Barcelona deserves a lot more credit than he gets. Messi's season would not be as successful if it had not been for the skills, vision and incisive touches of Xavi.Any doubt about Xavi's influence on Messi can be easily dismissed by looking at Messi's performance with Argentina. Argentina has no midfielder with the masterly of Xavi. Hence Messi does not get the incisive passes he is used to at Barcelona. Xavi will shine at the WC but Messi may not.  Didier Drogba just ended the 2009/2010 Premier League season as the top scorer with 29 goals for Chelsea FC. In the final game of the season he scored 3 second half goals in a 8-0 thrashing of Wigan FC. (Chelsea won the EPL Title.)In a friendly match between Ivory Coast and Japan, Drogba suffered a broken elbow as a result of a reckless tackle by Japanese defender Tanaka. On Monday June 7th it was reported that Drogba will stay in South Africa, since there is a chance he could still play in the World Cup.  Frank Ribery had an injury-plagued season but was in fine form at the end of the 2009/2010 Bundesliga season. He played a major part in Bayern Munich claiming the double this season. His contribution on the right wing was sorely missed during the Champions League Final which Inter Milan won.If France is to advance to the next stage of the World Cup Frank Ribery must put in some very good performances. France is wobbling under Coach Domenech.  Wesley Sneijder is a product of the hugely successful Ajax youth academy. He is one of a handful of attacking midfielders that seem to be a dying breed. He is good with both feet and is clinical at taking free-kicks.He scored 43 goals in 126 games for the Amsterdam club before moving to Real Madrid in 2007. Unfortunately he was shipped out of Real after just 2 years with the club. But he got his "revenge" as Inter won the Champions League in The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Real's home. |
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