Young stars looking to take centre stage in South Africa

23 May 2010

THE World Cup kicks off in Johannesburg in 19 days and Scotland are not the only ones missing out on the party.


Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, two stand-out performers in the Inter Milan side which reached the 
Champions League final, didn’t make it into Diego Maradona’s Argentina squad.

Brazil coach Dunga doesn’t rate Ronaldinho. Luca Toni, Francesco Totti, Alessandro del Piero, and Fabio Grosso – previously crucial cogs for
defending champions Italy – missed Marcello Lippi’s bus. Raymond Domenech gazed into the stars and decided to leave Patrick Vieira, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri out of the France squad.

The list does not end there. Other high-profile names are sure to bite the dust as all 32 competing nations trim their squads to 23 names by June 1.

Scotland manager Craig Levein will also be absent, his decision to stay away reflecting a feeling that the World Cup has rarely seemed more remote from the here and now of Scottish football.

Levein decided to skip South Africa on the grounds that his time would be better spent perusing a series of 
friendlies. He and chief scout Mick Oliver were checking out Czech 
Republic against Turkey and the USA this week, and will watch Lithuania versus Ukraine, and Spain versus Liechtenstein next weekend. Most SPL scouts would be as well to do likewise.

There was a time where the likes of Oleg Salenko, Stephane Guivarc’h or Joos Valgaeren could be signed on the strength of their showing in a major finals. These days, pretty much anyone performing in South Africa is quite 
literally out of our league.

Without even the performances of a Les Mottram or a Hugh Dallas in which to take pride (or shame), the search for any vague Scottish interest becomes increasingly desperate. A fair number of Old Firm players may feature: Madjid Bougherra, Maurice Edu, DaMarcus Beasley, Georgios Samaras, Landry N’Guemo, Ki-Sung Yeung and Morten Rasmussen – may feature and former Celtic youngster Michael McGlinchey should have a role to play for New Zealand

But fortunately the World Cup is an event which does not need a kilt placed upon it. This tournament will witness a changing of the guard for many countries, and plenty of new names are hoping to make headlines. Here is a Sunday Herald rundown on a few worth keeping an eye out for.

Humberto Suazo (Chile, pictured): Finished top scorer of all the South American qualifying matches, no mean feat considering the 
competition. Extravagantly talented, the chunky 29-year-old is the established frontman of a team who fancy their chances of doing well under Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa. Has scored goals for fun since 
joining Real Zaragoza on loan.

Milos Krasic (Serbia): A gangly right-winger who has embraced fame late in his career. The 25-year-old inspired CSKA Moscow to the Champions League quarter-finals this season. He is the creative heart of a talented Serbia side which looks to have intriguing possibilities under Raddy Antic, a man who has the distinction of having managed both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Vladimir Weiss (Slovakia): The 20-year-old Manchester City winger is the manager’s son, but nepotism has had nothing to do with the emergence of a player with blistering pace and a great eye for a counter attack. His old boy, also Vladimir, was offered the Hearts job before the arrival of Csaba Laszlo.

Javier Hernandez (Mexico): Rated the best striker to come out of his country since Hugo Sanchez, which may explain why Manchester United have already signed the 22-year-old. One of three Mexico young guns under Carlos Aguirre, the others being 
Arsenal’s Carlos Vela and former 
Tottenham youngster Giovani dos Santos.

Jerome Boateng (Germany): The half-brother of Portsmouth’s 
Kevin-Prince Boateng and a 6ft 4in enforcer equally happy in midfield or defence. The Hamburg player marshalled Germany to the Under-21 European Championship last summer and has been linked with an £11 million move to Manchester City.

Angel di Maria (Argentina): A country with a plethora of potential attackers but it says it all that the 22-year-old Benfica man, who has already won the Olympics and Under-20 World Cup, is almost certain to play. Reportedly has a €40m release clause in his contract and has been linked with a summer move to Manchester United.


http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/english-football/young-stars-looking-to-take-centre-stage-in-south-africa-1.1029840