I am taking on the daunting task of bringing you the hottest in World Cup soccer players. I am getting a bit of a late start, but since it's still first round, I'll have a chance to represent every team in the tournament at least once, I hope. A song to get you in the mood followed by our match ups of the day...
New Zealand V Slovakia
New Zealand All Whites have made it to the World Cup only once before, in 1982. This year, coached by Ricki Herbert, New Zealand beat out Bahrain to make it into the tournament.
WINSTON REID #4, Defender, born in New Zealand’s largest city Auckland in 1988, Reid has a Maori middle name, ‘Wiremu’. Moved with family to Denmark at age 10. Plays for Denmark Super League club FC Midtjylland during regular season.
Slovakia is appearing for the first time in a major international competition, steadily rising through the ranks since independence in 1993.
JAN DURICA #16, Defender, signed early by Slovakia's current coach, Durica contributed to the winning of the Slovak Cup and the Slovak Championship before moving to Moscow. Now plays for German club Hannover.
Finalists in UEFA 2004 and semi-finalists in the 2006 World Cup in Berlin, Portugal has shown some of the most "dazzling" football without actually winning a major prize.
CRISTIANO RONALDO #7, Forward, two years after heart surgery at age 15, Ronaldo made his first team appearance with Sporting Lisbon, scoring twice in the game. Named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008. Plays for Real Madrid.
Cote d'Ivoire are the African favourites in this World Cup. Eliminated in the first round in 2006, Les Elephants did not lose a match during qualifying for 2010. England's former coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, leads the Ivory Coast in his third World Cup appearance.
SALOMON KALOU #8, Forward, followed in brother Bonaventure's footsteps and moved to Europe to play in the Netherlands, earning the Johan Cruyff Award in 2005 as the most promising young player of the year. In 2006, at age 21, Kalou signed with Chelsea, where he remains.
SALOMON KALOU #8, Forward, followed in brother Bonaventure's footsteps and moved to Europe to play in the Netherlands, earning the Johan Cruyff Award in 2005 as the most promising young player of the year. In 2006, at age 21, Kalou signed with Chelsea, where he remains.
Brazil v. North Korea
Five-time world champions, Brazil, are heavily favoured in every World Cup tournament they play in. They are the only team to have played in every single World Cup. Coached by Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri, better known as "Dunga" (Dopey, like the Dwarf)
ROBINHO #11, Forward, nicknamed "The New Pele," helped his team Santos to the Campeonato Brasileiro prize in 2002 at just 18 years old, followed by another league title in 2004 before moving to Real Madrid. In his first two seasons with Real Madrid, Los Merengues won both La Liga medals. After an impressive stint with Manchester City, Robinho moved back to his beloved Santos.
Five-time world champions, Brazil, are heavily favoured in every World Cup tournament they play in. They are the only team to have played in every single World Cup. Coached by Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri, better known as "Dunga" (Dopey, like the Dwarf)
ROBINHO #11, Forward, nicknamed "The New Pele," helped his team Santos to the Campeonato Brasileiro prize in 2002 at just 18 years old, followed by another league title in 2004 before moving to Real Madrid. In his first two seasons with Real Madrid, Los Merengues won both La Liga medals. After an impressive stint with Manchester City, Robinho moved back to his beloved Santos.
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North Korea (Korea DPR) is making a showing for the first time since going to the final 8 in 1966. Playing with a largely domestic team, Korea DPR braved a gruelling 20 month qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup.
RI CHOL MYONG #19, Midfielder, the 22 year old Pyongyang native has represented North Korea at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Started in the Opening Qualifiers for 2010 World Cup.
RI CHOL MYONG #19, Midfielder, the 22 year old Pyongyang native has represented North Korea at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Started in the Opening Qualifiers for 2010 World Cup.
-Laura
Photos from:
http://www.comoxvalleygraphics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/winstonreid.jpg
http://www.fijilive.com/sports/files/story_pic/4ba2cd59148ec.jpg
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http://www.soccer.ru/images/UserFiles/Futbal-Jan-Durica.jpg
http://www.igol.pl/images/articles/jandurica.jpg
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00006/Durica_280x420_6784a.jpg
http://cdn.epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/cristiano-ronaldo.jpg
http://widget.bigoo.ws/community/media/87/9787.JPG
http://www.megateamblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/cristiano-ronaldo-4169-41.jpg
http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/salomon-kalou-415x600.jpg
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00055/salomon-kalou_280x45_55064a.jpg
http://www.persmuseum.nl/bastiaanheus/images/09.jpg
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.robinho-soccer.com/robinho-wallpapers/robinho-wallpapers-02.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.robinho-soccer.com/robinho-wallpapers.html&usg=__8qtbI_qn1IQbOn7x38nkj82aCdg=&h=768&w=1024&sz=48&hl=en&start=109&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=754H0O5ASR1OEM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drobinho%26start%3D100%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1
http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/2801robinho07_415x275.jpg
http://mini.tyson.free.fr/Photos_HQ/Robinho.jpg
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bJa21o2QHceK/340x.jpg
http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00000qE6UirZneQ/s
I love the Brazilian guy's smile!
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