By Angela Asante/Live Soccer TV
For the first time in the history of the World Cup, as much as six nations will represent the African continent. They are Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Algeria, and the tournament’s hosts South Africa. Among those six teams is a bunch of big names and of rising stars.
Today, LiveSoccerTV.com looks at the top 12 African players that are expected to shine during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Check out the list of the 12 African players that should rock the stage in South Africa and carry the hopes of the Black Continent. Now the list doesn’t only contain aged experience players. There’s also room for fresh faces like FIFA U-20 World Cup’s best player Dominic Adiyiah. But in the first part of this coverage, LiveSoccerTV.com contemplates six players – two of which come from the Ivory Coast.
1) Didier Drogba - Cote d'Ivoire
The Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire striker is regarded as one of the world’s finest striker. Drogba is fierce in front of goal and even though he cannot compare his pace to Cristiano Ronaldo or Arjen Robben’s, he can boast about his accurate shots in open play and set pieces. Didier Drogba can score from any distance and from any angle.
People will just need to remember his goals against Hull City on the first day of the 2009/10 English Premier League season. Free-kicks, penalties, headers; Drogba is good on the ball in all these three categories. He will enter the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament as England’s Golden Boot winner and as Africa’s Player of the Year titleholder. With the support of Cote d’Ivoire’s numerous talented players, Didier Drogba could embody the fighting spirit of Africa.
2) Samuel Eto'o - Cameroon
He’s broken records over records in Europe like in Africa. The former Barcelona star has won almost anything a player could dream of in club football. His historic days with the Blaugrana are gone but he has experienced something new in Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho.
Samuel Eto’o seems to have lost the goal scoring touch he had five years ago and which saw him achieve a high status at the side of Ronaldinho. Still, Eto’o is a good passer and a humble national team captain for Cameroon. The 2010 World Cup will offer him the chance to emulate the legendary Roger Milla.
3) Kadeir Kaita - Cote d'Ivoire
This is a player who proves his patriotism for Cote d’Ivoire in each game he plays. He is fast, full of tricks, and he is physically strong. He is the type of midfielder who can turn defenders into school boys with his attacking instinct. He is great on both wings and dangerous in counter attacking situations.
Goals? Kader Kaita can stun goalkeepers with his long range firing shots. The only regret he might have felt in 2010 was during the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. He certainly thought that his 88th minute screamer against Algeria would put the Elephants through to the semifinals of the competition on a 2-1 score line. However, Cote d’Ivoire’s sloppy defense and Algeria’s resilience made the difference. The Elephants surprisingly lost 3-2 after extra-time and Kader Kaita’s wonder goal subsequently proved meaningless. Kaita will surely come back more dangerous than ever at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
4) Peter Odemwingie - Nigeria
His playing style is quite similar to Fernando Torres’ or Cristiano Ronaldo’s. He has quick feet, a flexible body which he uses to dance his way through defenders. He doesn’t have the best of goal scoring records as a winger/striker in the Nigerian national football team. But the 2008 Beijing Olympics (where Nigerian finished second behind Argentina) and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments have certainly offered him immense experience as a captain ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
5) Andre Dede Ayew Pele - Ghana
He is arguably the most exciting midfielder in the Ghana’s Black Stars squad but his hard work is yet to be recognized by the fans back home. Rumors suggest that the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup winning captain got his place in the Ghanaian squad through bribery as he is the son of the legendary Abedi Pele.
But Andre Dede Ayew Pele prefers to talk on the pitch through his aggressiveness and his commanding play. Above all, he often comes to the rescue of his team during crucial moments. A proof: his equalizer against South Africa in the knock out stages of the 2009 FIFA U-20 tournament and his lone goal in Ghana’s do-or-die group stage match against Burkina Faso during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. A trademark performance during the 2010 FIFA World Cup could see him enjoy international recognition.
6) Benny McCarthy - South Africa
Do you remember the guy from the 1998 African Cup of Nations who scored four goals in a space of 13 minutes against Namibia and eventually topped the tournament’s goal scoring chart with seven goals alongside Egypt’s Hossam Hassan? The name is Benny McCarthy; Bafana Bafana’s all time goal scorer.
The 32-year-old striker is arguably the most controversial football personality in South Africa. His commitment to the national team has been an issue for the past 10 years. McCarthy even retired from international football in 2002 before returning to the squad in 2004 on a irregular basis. But current coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has guaranteed him with trust. Statistically, Bafana Bafana have a feeble goal scoring record. Benny McCarthy will try to solve the hosts' problem in front of goal.
Showing posts with label Samuel Eto'o. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samuel Eto'o. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Eto'o off as Portugal beat Cameroon
By Stephen Fottrell/BBC Sport, Covilha, Portugal
Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o was sent off on his return to the Indomitable Lions side, as his team slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Portugal.
The Inter Milan striker was dismissed in the first half for a second bookable offence in quick succession after returning to the side for their final two World Cup warm-up games.
A frustrated and agitated-looking Eto'o received his marching orders for a high tackle on Portugal left-back Duda, immediately after being booked by the referee for protesting, following the opener from Raul Meireles.
The Cameroonians looked unsettled after their captain's departure, and were well beaten by a Portuguese team who looked a lot more polished and confident ahead of their departure for South Africa - in stark contrast to their visitors.
The Indomitable Lions are now six games without a win, but drew some little comfort from an impressive debut for German-born striker Eric Choupo-Moting, who has just been cleared to play for the west Africans.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto also put in an impressive performance on the left, after a shaky start.
However, Paul Le Guen's team looked low on confidence and ideas throughout, grabbing a single goal through substitute Achille Webo's speculative shot which ended up in Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo's bottom left-hand corner.
Portugal were a team on the trail of a confidence-boosting performance themselves after a demoralising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde last week, and duly found one, with Cristiano Ronaldo producing an assured captain's performance, creating most of his team's opportunities.
Ronaldo is still seeking his first goal for his country in almost two years, but he saw his former Manchester United team-mate Nani produce a fine chip for the winner, after Meireles had grabbed a brace.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Eto’o threatens to walk away from World Cup
By Rob/World Cup Blog
Samuel Eto’o eh? He sure knows a thing or two about team stability. Though he seemed to have calmed down in recent times (to the point where Didier Drogba has stopped becoming the poor man’s Eto’o in terms of unpredictability) he lashed out today, claiming he might just walk away from that big party in South Africa afterall.
Why? Because Cameroon legend, Roger Milla spoke out and claimed that Eto’o “hasn’t brought anything to our national team”.
Milla of course is Cameroon’s answer to Pele, delighting fans the world over twenty years ago as he lit up Italia 90. Pele has a habit of speaking out of turn every now and then, but mostly everyone ignores it. Eto’o however is clearly a more sensitive soul.
“…is it worth me going to the World Cup? I’ve still got some days to think about it but I’ll see if my taking part is important because I don’t need this in my career. It is always before tournaments that bitter people wake up. What has he [Roger Milla] done? He hasn’t won the World Cup.” is what Eto’o said exactly.
Harsh words indeed. Although I don’t recall Samuel Eto’o winning the World Cup just yet either. Though he has won basically everything else.
Perhaps it is little more than a tantrum, and its tough to image that Eto’o would walk away from the biggest stage on Earth – an African World Cup no less – just because a former player said some mean things about him.
He wouldn’t be the first iconic player to walk away from appearing a World Cup by any stretch of the imagination. In different circumstances, Johan Cruyff decided he didn’t want to go over to Argentina to play in 1978 (Holland got to the final and lost that time around).
I hope he does get his head down and go though. It kinda makes me sad when great players from different eras argue (maybe because the fantasist in me wants to see them play together), but what a blow it would be, not just for Cameroon and their hopes at the World Cup, but also for African football as a whole. Along with Drogba, Eto’o is the most recognisable name in African football, and a World Cup on African soil without him in it is just unimaginable.
Samuel Eto’o eh? He sure knows a thing or two about team stability. Though he seemed to have calmed down in recent times (to the point where Didier Drogba has stopped becoming the poor man’s Eto’o in terms of unpredictability) he lashed out today, claiming he might just walk away from that big party in South Africa afterall.
Why? Because Cameroon legend, Roger Milla spoke out and claimed that Eto’o “hasn’t brought anything to our national team”.
Milla of course is Cameroon’s answer to Pele, delighting fans the world over twenty years ago as he lit up Italia 90. Pele has a habit of speaking out of turn every now and then, but mostly everyone ignores it. Eto’o however is clearly a more sensitive soul.
“…is it worth me going to the World Cup? I’ve still got some days to think about it but I’ll see if my taking part is important because I don’t need this in my career. It is always before tournaments that bitter people wake up. What has he [Roger Milla] done? He hasn’t won the World Cup.” is what Eto’o said exactly.
Harsh words indeed. Although I don’t recall Samuel Eto’o winning the World Cup just yet either. Though he has won basically everything else.
Perhaps it is little more than a tantrum, and its tough to image that Eto’o would walk away from the biggest stage on Earth – an African World Cup no less – just because a former player said some mean things about him.
He wouldn’t be the first iconic player to walk away from appearing a World Cup by any stretch of the imagination. In different circumstances, Johan Cruyff decided he didn’t want to go over to Argentina to play in 1978 (Holland got to the final and lost that time around).
I hope he does get his head down and go though. It kinda makes me sad when great players from different eras argue (maybe because the fantasist in me wants to see them play together), but what a blow it would be, not just for Cameroon and their hopes at the World Cup, but also for African football as a whole. Along with Drogba, Eto’o is the most recognisable name in African football, and a World Cup on African soil without him in it is just unimaginable.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Meet the soccer studs of 2010 South Africa World
By Debra Black/The Star
With the city soon to explode in World Cup fervor — after all, the kick off is on June 11 — the Star has put together a list of the sport’s hottest players.
With apologies to those who think it is sexist to judge a man by the shape of his abs, we scanned through hundreds of pictures of players to come up with our Top 15. (Sigh, what a difficult task it was!)
After hours of gazing and deliberating we have picked our favourites, some of whom just happened to be in Nike’s “Write the Future” commercial. And let’s be clear: these guys are not only hot off the field, but also on the field.
And so here is our list of the Top 15 World Cup Hotties, with photos and biographical information (with information and quotes from ESPN’s Soccernet.com).
It’s a totally arbitrary list, so feel free to weigh in with your thoughts by sending us pics of your favourites at webmaster@thestar.ca with the subject line “Soccer.”
1) Didier Drogba: Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Drogba is considered to have “aerial prowess and power” and few can surpass his strength. The 32-year-old’s physical assets were enough to rile Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is said to be annoyed that he had to share June’s Vanity Fair cover with this Ivory Coast wonder boy. At 1.88 metres and 83.8 kilograms, Drogba, who plays for Chelsea when he’s not supporting his country in the World Cup, is considered one of the best centre forwards in the world. His play is often theatrical and temperamental.
2) Kaka: His real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite but he’s known around the world as Kaka, a common nickname for those named Ricardo and something his younger brother Rodrigo, also a soccer player, calls him. The 28-year-old midfielder, who is 1.85 metres and weighs 73 kilograms, is playing for Brazil in the World Cup. The Real Madrid player is not only handsome but has been described as a “highly skillful player, a great shot, superb vision for a pass.” He is considered “one of the best footballers of the past few years” and, according to soccer legend Pele, Kaka ‘is the best player in the world because he is the most complete player.”
3) Cristiano Ronaldo: The 25-year-old Portugal midfielder — next to David Beckham, who sadly is not playing in the World Cup — is said to be the best known player on the planet. Known for his pace and mesmerizing footwork, Ronaldo, named for his father’s favourite actor, Ronald Reagan, was the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008. Many believe it’s time for him to live up to his billing on the world stage. At 1.85 metres and 75 kilograms, his physical attributes can be seen both on and off the field.
4) Yoann Gourcuff: The 23-year-old forward on the French team will be setting hearts aflutter both on and off the soccer field. Gourcuff, who plays for Bordeaux, is considered a “very creative and technical playmaker” with an “outrageous array of tricks and dribble moves and artistic vision.” Some have dubbed him the man who will succeed France’s Zinedine Zidane. Gourcuff, 1.85 metres and 79 kilograms, is considered by soccer aficionados and casual observers alike as perhaps “the next big thing.” And for the purposes of our list, that’s both on and off the soccer fields of the world.
5) Marco Borriello: Italy’s 27-year-old handsome heartthrob and striker for AC Milan has captured as much media attention for his affairs of the heart as for his work on the soccer field. He has been described as a “a strong, physical target striker known for his rocket left leg, commanding aerial presence, ability to track back on defence and his penchant for scoring spectacular volleys.”
6) Carlos Bocanegra: The United States captain has been described as having great strength and deceptive speed with a powerful aerial presence. He is adept at both heading away attacks and finishing off set pieces on the opposite end of the field. Bocanegra, 33, is also very pleasing to the eye and will be sure to win over many female fans. He plays with Rennes in France’s top flight as either a left back or in the centre.
7) Iker Casillas: Spain’s 29-year-old goalkeeper is said to have a “strong claim to the title of the finest goalkeeper of his generation.” A player for Real Madrid, he was nicknamed San Iker or Saint Iker. Casillas says he believes that the Spanish team has “the perfect group going into this World Cup and the truth is we will fear no one.” His talents as a goalkeeper are strong and he is said to have “impressive reflexes, superb agility and innate ability to pull off a spectacular save.” He is also extremely superstitious — every time Real Madrid scores a goal he has to touch his own crossbar, reports ESPN soccernet. He could also however be a very hot star of his own telenovel.
8) Guillermo Ochoa: This hunky 24-year-old goalkeeper for Mexico is considered a “promising young player.” At 1.83 metres and 72 kilograms, Ochoa has a “long reach and is good on crosses.” However, his popularity has distracted him from giving it his all, critics say. He is said to “command his box calmly, but has sharp reflexes that enable him to reach balls seemingly destined for the back of the net.” What else would you need?
9) Samuel Eto’o: Cameroon’s 29-year-old forward is seen as one of the top strikers in the world. His physicality on the field has brought him many honours, including African Player of the Year three consecutive times and an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon. His last name is pronounced “eh-toe.” Eto’o plays for Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A. At 1.79 metres and 75 kilograms, Eto’o’s face was part of a promotional poster for the 2010 World Cup. His face and neck were superimposed on the map of Africa, instantly making him a hottie.
10) Steven Pienaar: South Africa’s 29-year-old midfielder may be slight but he’s all muscle and speed. Known as the “Little Peanut,” Pienaar, who plays for Everton, is the host country’s “main man,” according to sports critics. The 1.75 metre, 57.8 kilogram player is described as “hard-running” with “limitless energy and indomitable spirit.” Born in Johannesburg, Pienaar is not only handsome and agile but a bit of a philosopher — a surefire hit with many who like their athletes brainy. “Everything my country has worked for in soccer comes down to this moment, the World Cup in our own country,” he says. “For a few weeks, at least, I think people will forget their problems, forget their troubles of the past and have a smile on their face.”
11) Fabio Cannavaro: The 36-year-old captain of Italy’s team may be a little older than others on the list, but he’s just as hot. He’s described as a “great reader of the game with exquisite positional sense.” He may, however, be a little short for a centre back or central defender. His career high was winning the World Cup for Italy in 2006. Cannavaro, who is 1.75 metres, 75 kilograms, is said to have a strong presence as a leader and is tough and cool-headed. Don’t count him or his team out. He has vast appeal, especially among more mature women. Sigh.
12) Theo Walcott: England’s 21-year-old midfielder is short and compact and 100 per cent muscle. He has been heralded as the “great hope” for British soccer. A back injury in the 2009-2010 season sidelined him for the start of the season with Arsenal. He is said to have lightening speed, “superb finishing” and a brain for soccer. Still relatively young, much is expected of Walcott at the World Cup and beyond. This hottie will undoubtedly make everyone’s list of hunks.
13) Landon Donovan: The 28-year-old forward for the United States is known for his “pace, ability to put the ball in the back of the net and tenacity on the pitch.” Born in Ontario, Calif., this hunky player is considered the key to the American team’s success at the World Cup in South Africa. What’s not to love?
14) Sulley Muntari: Ghana’s 25-year-old midfielder is prone to picking up yellow and red cards. He has had clashes with Ghanian authorities and was sent home from the Athens Olympics for disciplinary reasons. However, he’s a “top-class central midfielder or left-winger who has skill and cunning” with a “gritty side.” Gritty or not, his well-toned body has many dreaming of him. And his portrait in Vanity Fair, hiding his face with one hand as if to cover a giggle, has made many aware of the cultural sights to be found in Ghana.
15) Fernando Torres: Spain’s 26-year-old forward plays for Liverpool. At 1.85 metres and 78.7 kilograms, Torres is as hot as a sultry night in Madrid. In the last World Cup he scored three goals. His nickname is El Nino or The Kid. He is known as a goal scorer who is quick, strong and impressive. He is cool and calm in front of the goal. His style is described as “clinical, classy, deadly.” He is even considered a possibility as a contender for winning the Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer, in the World Cup.
Special mentions: To the hot guys who didn’t make it to the World Cup: Carlton Cole, a striker for West Ham, is described as a “strong, athletic, hard-working, a real team player.” Anyone who saw his picture in Vanity Fair has seen some of his assets. The 26-year-old, who was born in Surrey, is 1.91 metres tall and weighs in at 77.0 kilgrams of muscle. Observers say he is “capable of the spectacular.” As well, the Star would like to acknowledge Andriy Shevchenko, who hails from the Ukraine and is considered one of the best forwards in the game. He sadly is not in the World Cup either. But his abs and tattoo alone made an editor or two swoon.
With the city soon to explode in World Cup fervor — after all, the kick off is on June 11 — the Star has put together a list of the sport’s hottest players.
With apologies to those who think it is sexist to judge a man by the shape of his abs, we scanned through hundreds of pictures of players to come up with our Top 15. (Sigh, what a difficult task it was!)
After hours of gazing and deliberating we have picked our favourites, some of whom just happened to be in Nike’s “Write the Future” commercial. And let’s be clear: these guys are not only hot off the field, but also on the field.
And so here is our list of the Top 15 World Cup Hotties, with photos and biographical information (with information and quotes from ESPN’s Soccernet.com).
It’s a totally arbitrary list, so feel free to weigh in with your thoughts by sending us pics of your favourites at webmaster@thestar.ca with the subject line “Soccer.”
1) Didier Drogba: Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Drogba is considered to have “aerial prowess and power” and few can surpass his strength. The 32-year-old’s physical assets were enough to rile Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is said to be annoyed that he had to share June’s Vanity Fair cover with this Ivory Coast wonder boy. At 1.88 metres and 83.8 kilograms, Drogba, who plays for Chelsea when he’s not supporting his country in the World Cup, is considered one of the best centre forwards in the world. His play is often theatrical and temperamental.
2) Kaka: His real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite but he’s known around the world as Kaka, a common nickname for those named Ricardo and something his younger brother Rodrigo, also a soccer player, calls him. The 28-year-old midfielder, who is 1.85 metres and weighs 73 kilograms, is playing for Brazil in the World Cup. The Real Madrid player is not only handsome but has been described as a “highly skillful player, a great shot, superb vision for a pass.” He is considered “one of the best footballers of the past few years” and, according to soccer legend Pele, Kaka ‘is the best player in the world because he is the most complete player.”
3) Cristiano Ronaldo: The 25-year-old Portugal midfielder — next to David Beckham, who sadly is not playing in the World Cup — is said to be the best known player on the planet. Known for his pace and mesmerizing footwork, Ronaldo, named for his father’s favourite actor, Ronald Reagan, was the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008. Many believe it’s time for him to live up to his billing on the world stage. At 1.85 metres and 75 kilograms, his physical attributes can be seen both on and off the field.
4) Yoann Gourcuff: The 23-year-old forward on the French team will be setting hearts aflutter both on and off the soccer field. Gourcuff, who plays for Bordeaux, is considered a “very creative and technical playmaker” with an “outrageous array of tricks and dribble moves and artistic vision.” Some have dubbed him the man who will succeed France’s Zinedine Zidane. Gourcuff, 1.85 metres and 79 kilograms, is considered by soccer aficionados and casual observers alike as perhaps “the next big thing.” And for the purposes of our list, that’s both on and off the soccer fields of the world.
5) Marco Borriello: Italy’s 27-year-old handsome heartthrob and striker for AC Milan has captured as much media attention for his affairs of the heart as for his work on the soccer field. He has been described as a “a strong, physical target striker known for his rocket left leg, commanding aerial presence, ability to track back on defence and his penchant for scoring spectacular volleys.”
6) Carlos Bocanegra: The United States captain has been described as having great strength and deceptive speed with a powerful aerial presence. He is adept at both heading away attacks and finishing off set pieces on the opposite end of the field. Bocanegra, 33, is also very pleasing to the eye and will be sure to win over many female fans. He plays with Rennes in France’s top flight as either a left back or in the centre.
7) Iker Casillas: Spain’s 29-year-old goalkeeper is said to have a “strong claim to the title of the finest goalkeeper of his generation.” A player for Real Madrid, he was nicknamed San Iker or Saint Iker. Casillas says he believes that the Spanish team has “the perfect group going into this World Cup and the truth is we will fear no one.” His talents as a goalkeeper are strong and he is said to have “impressive reflexes, superb agility and innate ability to pull off a spectacular save.” He is also extremely superstitious — every time Real Madrid scores a goal he has to touch his own crossbar, reports ESPN soccernet. He could also however be a very hot star of his own telenovel.
8) Guillermo Ochoa: This hunky 24-year-old goalkeeper for Mexico is considered a “promising young player.” At 1.83 metres and 72 kilograms, Ochoa has a “long reach and is good on crosses.” However, his popularity has distracted him from giving it his all, critics say. He is said to “command his box calmly, but has sharp reflexes that enable him to reach balls seemingly destined for the back of the net.” What else would you need?
9) Samuel Eto’o: Cameroon’s 29-year-old forward is seen as one of the top strikers in the world. His physicality on the field has brought him many honours, including African Player of the Year three consecutive times and an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon. His last name is pronounced “eh-toe.” Eto’o plays for Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A. At 1.79 metres and 75 kilograms, Eto’o’s face was part of a promotional poster for the 2010 World Cup. His face and neck were superimposed on the map of Africa, instantly making him a hottie.
10) Steven Pienaar: South Africa’s 29-year-old midfielder may be slight but he’s all muscle and speed. Known as the “Little Peanut,” Pienaar, who plays for Everton, is the host country’s “main man,” according to sports critics. The 1.75 metre, 57.8 kilogram player is described as “hard-running” with “limitless energy and indomitable spirit.” Born in Johannesburg, Pienaar is not only handsome and agile but a bit of a philosopher — a surefire hit with many who like their athletes brainy. “Everything my country has worked for in soccer comes down to this moment, the World Cup in our own country,” he says. “For a few weeks, at least, I think people will forget their problems, forget their troubles of the past and have a smile on their face.”
11) Fabio Cannavaro: The 36-year-old captain of Italy’s team may be a little older than others on the list, but he’s just as hot. He’s described as a “great reader of the game with exquisite positional sense.” He may, however, be a little short for a centre back or central defender. His career high was winning the World Cup for Italy in 2006. Cannavaro, who is 1.75 metres, 75 kilograms, is said to have a strong presence as a leader and is tough and cool-headed. Don’t count him or his team out. He has vast appeal, especially among more mature women. Sigh.
12) Theo Walcott: England’s 21-year-old midfielder is short and compact and 100 per cent muscle. He has been heralded as the “great hope” for British soccer. A back injury in the 2009-2010 season sidelined him for the start of the season with Arsenal. He is said to have lightening speed, “superb finishing” and a brain for soccer. Still relatively young, much is expected of Walcott at the World Cup and beyond. This hottie will undoubtedly make everyone’s list of hunks.
13) Landon Donovan: The 28-year-old forward for the United States is known for his “pace, ability to put the ball in the back of the net and tenacity on the pitch.” Born in Ontario, Calif., this hunky player is considered the key to the American team’s success at the World Cup in South Africa. What’s not to love?
14) Sulley Muntari: Ghana’s 25-year-old midfielder is prone to picking up yellow and red cards. He has had clashes with Ghanian authorities and was sent home from the Athens Olympics for disciplinary reasons. However, he’s a “top-class central midfielder or left-winger who has skill and cunning” with a “gritty side.” Gritty or not, his well-toned body has many dreaming of him. And his portrait in Vanity Fair, hiding his face with one hand as if to cover a giggle, has made many aware of the cultural sights to be found in Ghana.
15) Fernando Torres: Spain’s 26-year-old forward plays for Liverpool. At 1.85 metres and 78.7 kilograms, Torres is as hot as a sultry night in Madrid. In the last World Cup he scored three goals. His nickname is El Nino or The Kid. He is known as a goal scorer who is quick, strong and impressive. He is cool and calm in front of the goal. His style is described as “clinical, classy, deadly.” He is even considered a possibility as a contender for winning the Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer, in the World Cup.
Special mentions: To the hot guys who didn’t make it to the World Cup: Carlton Cole, a striker for West Ham, is described as a “strong, athletic, hard-working, a real team player.” Anyone who saw his picture in Vanity Fair has seen some of his assets. The 26-year-old, who was born in Surrey, is 1.91 metres tall and weighs in at 77.0 kilgrams of muscle. Observers say he is “capable of the spectacular.” As well, the Star would like to acknowledge Andriy Shevchenko, who hails from the Ukraine and is considered one of the best forwards in the game. He sadly is not in the World Cup either. But his abs and tattoo alone made an editor or two swoon.
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