http://www.footballiscominghome.info Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:59:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.footballiscominghome.info/the-players/englands-world-cup-ambitions-depend-on-rooneys-health/ http://www.footballiscominghome.info/the-players/englands-world-cup-ambitions-depend-on-rooneys-health/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:02:32 +0000 Peter Alegi http://www.footballiscominghome.net/?p=1822

When people ask me ‘Who will win the 2010 World Cup’ I tell them either Spain or England. Loaded with talent in the middle and up front, Spain have been magnificent in the past 3 years, as the Euro 2008 crown and the subsequent winning streak demonstrated. Meanwhile, Capello has resurrected an English side that didn’t even qualify for Euro 2008, mixing tactical acumen with more traditional Anglo attributes and an experienced player corps.

But my World Cup final prediction hangs on Wayne Rooney’s health. His severe ankle sprain suffered in the dying seconds of ManU’s last-gasp defeat to Bayern Munich not only complicates my future career as a pundit (ha!), but threatens the Red Devils’ title chase and England’s quest for World Cup glory.

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British football magazine FourFourTwo, just published (in the November issue) the list of the “100 Best Players in the World.” The choices are based on the input of the magazine’s journalists. Of course it will lead to all kinds of debate as “lists” are always subjective and don’t mean anything beyond getting fans talking. Generally I agree with the list. If you haven’t seen the list, here’s the top ten (I’ve listed them by country, since that’s an affiliation that does not change):


(1) Lionel Messi (Argentina)

(2) Ronaldo (Portugal)

(3) Xavi and Iniesta (Spain)

(5) David Villa (Spain)

(6) Fernando Torres (Spain)

(7) Steven Gerrard (England)

(8) Kaka (Brazil)

(9) Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

(10) Wayne Rooney (England)

Since I am an Afrophile when it comes to football, I was a bit surprised by only Eto’o’s inclusion in the top ten. So who were the other Africans who made into the top 100? Not much. Didier Drogba of Cote d’Ivoire came in at number 14, Michael Essien (Ghana, 18), Yaya Toure (of Barcelona and Cote d’Ivoire, 39), Freddie Kanoute (Mali, 43) and Maroume Chamakh (Morocco) at 81.

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