The 11 players to buy after this World Cup

People will look back at this World Cup and remember it as the one where artistry won over power; the one where Africa and South Africa lifted their international standing manifold thanks to their wonderful organisation. The sigh of  relief at no untoward incidents will certainly drown out the sound of the vuvuzela from memory.

Spain or the Netherlands will write their own main script for history on Sunday and while Spain have the edge, the Netherlands were picked by me as outsiders to win right at the beginning. So count me in with the octopus and the parakeet, and any other fauna given to World Cup predictions.

Amidst the dissertation and celebration and post-World Cup blues that will affect the world, a clutch of players will make their way from relative obscurity in relatively smaller clubs to the big names in England, Spain and Italy. Possibly even the Bundesliga, which, after Germany’s showing should reclaim its top-flight status. And who knows, should Holland win, the Dutch league may also stage a comeback.

I have taken the trouble to put together a playing eleven of those who have caught the eye at this year’s World Cup. My system of picking these players is a bit different from Paul’s (the octopus).

The player must not play for a big club, currently (with one or two exceptions). The player must not have been a big name before the World Cup. The player’s team must have made at least the second round in South Africa.
Basically, if you are a scout, these are players who have the potential to be stars of the future.

Here is my Future All Stars XI from the Fifa 2010 World Cup in South Africa:

Richard Kingson (Ghana, goalkeeper)
Kingson is one of those keepers who will always have the coach on tenterhooks. He seems prone to the Rob Green-type of gaff. On the other hand he has the ability to make great saves. At this World Cup, Kingson made more great saves than mistakes. In fact, he was a key in Ghana making the quarters. Kingson is at Wigan, but rarely played. He may well be up for grabs.

Diego Lugano (Uruguay, central defender)
Lugano, Uruguay’s captain, leads the first of many South Americans who caught the eye at the World Cup. Currently playing at Fenerbahçe, Lugano was the rock of Uruguay’s defence and an inspirational leader on the pitch. If he had played against Holland in the semis, the Dutch might have struggled. Lugano has solid technique, he is quick and strong in the air. Buy him.

Issac Vorsah (Ghana, central defender)
Issac Vorsah could well be a Marcel Desailly in the making. He has the physicality and the speed to quickly turn an opposition on its heels. At 6ft 5in he couldn’t be a pretty sight for any forward. At this World Cup, Vorsah, along with John Mensah, were at the heart of a tough Ghanaian defence. He is currently with Hoffenheim. Might be available at a bargain price.

Martin Caceres (Uruguay, wing back)
Caceres currently does play for a big club - Juventus. But given that Juve have struggled for the past two years in both, Europe and at home, a ‘bigger’ club might want to give Caceres a dekko.
A tireless worker, Caceres is well capable of winging it down the line in attack. As he showed at this World Cup he is not afraid to make the tough tackles and put his body on the line. A total team player. Which is why Juve may not let him go.

Cha Du Ri (South Korea, wing back)
The sight of Cha Du Ri’s bald head was always a comforting one for South Korean football fans. He marshaled the Korean defence and played his own role in helping them get to the round of 16 from a very tough group. At 29, Du Ri is no spring chicken and may only have a few years left in him. Especially given the tireless pace of his game. He plays for Freiburg, but would make any top club team proud.

Thomas Muller (Germany, right midfield)
Let’s face it. Thomas Muller is one of the top three players of this World Cup. If he handles his career correctly, he will be one of the greats. Muller is not just pace and power and great goal-scoring ability. He is also captain material. A go-to man. Bayern Munich would rather close down than sell him, I would imagine. But, if a Manchester United or Chelsea could prise him away, he could be a real season winner.

Kevin-Prince Boateng (Ghana, Left midfield)
Germany and Ghana were fighting over this Boateng brother. At Portsmouth he did not really show us his game. But, he certainly did playing for the Black Stars in South Africa. At 23, Boateng can be developed into a major midfield talent. He has a centre-half’s presence with a winger’s agility. His goal at this World Cup suggests there is more in his locker. Portsmouth is relegated in the Premier league, but must Boateng suffer the same fate? I think he deserves to stay up.

Michael Bradley (USA, central midfielder)
US coach Bob Bradley has done a wonderful job with the US team and his son Michael. After being dropped for the USA’s second game, Bradley Jr came back strongly and put on performances that made the world sit up and take notice. A hard-tackling, fast passing midfielder, Bradley would be ideal to sit in the pocket infront of the back four and move the ball up the park. Borussia Mönchengladbach currently own him. A buy reccomendation if ever there was one.

Keisuke Honda (Japan, attacking midfielfer)
CSKA Moscow is where Honda plays. I reckon he will not be a cheap buy. Not only did Honda more than impress at this World Cup, he was fantastic during the last Champions League as well. A complete player in the Lionel Messi mould, Honda may well be under-rated right now, but he has world-class written all over his play. Break the bank for this one.

Nelson Valdez (Paraguay, forward)
Valdez was magnificent in his performance against Spain in the quarterfinals. Had he been on the field instead of Roque Santa Cruz he would have taken that last minute chance that Paraguay got without a doubt. Valdez is the kind of bustling forward that forces mistakes from defences. He is also the ideal foil for an out-an- out striker to play off. Currently at Borussia Dortmund he may well be already on his way to England. Watch out for him.

Robert Vittek (Slovakia, forward)
Robert Vittek, like Slovakia, slipped in and out of this World Cup almost unnoticed. Vittek is the opposite of the traditional star striker. He has a hatchet-man vibe about his game and his goals are anything but pretty. Yet, he gets them and he got four in four games at this World Cup. Upfront you need a poacher, a shameless oppurtunist. Vittek is your man. Again at 28, he may not have a lot of football left. Currently at Turkish club Ankaragücü, Vittek is certainly a buy for now.

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