Source: Daily_Mail
THE LIST: Sportsmail's 50 players to watch at the World Cup - Nos 40-31
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who will light up the World Cup? Plenty of superstars on show in South Africa play or have played in the Barclays Premier League - so we know what to expect from the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo. But, as a special treat, we've picked out the ones to watch who have never starred in the English top flight. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Who will write their name into World Cup history this summer? [LNB]Sportsmail gazes into the crystal ball for this week's edition of The List.[LNB]We're counting down the top 50 players who we reckon could play a blinder in South Africa and join the icons of all time, which we charted last week.[LNB]There are the veterans getting one last shot at finals immortality and teenagers hoping to get on the pitch to announce themselves on the big stage. [LNB]There are those who need a big tournament after a poor domestic season and countless more who will be looking for a big move off the back of their exploits.[LNB][LNB]THE REST OF THE LISTReadNos 50-41ReadNos 30-21ReadNos 40-31ReadNos 20-11ReadNos 10-1There is just one rule for our List: none of these players has plied his trade in the Barclays Premier League. Sorry, Cristiano.[LNB] We figure you probably know those guys well enough already (though you'll probably know our No 1 quite well too!).[LNB]As ever, we want to know what you think. So join the debate on our message boards or by adding your comments at the bottom of the article as we reveal 10 icons each day this week till our No 1 emerges on Friday.[LNB]Enjoy...[LNB] Gold standard: Mark Bresciano is crucial to Australia's success[LNB]40) Mark Bresciano (Australia)The key man in the Socceroos midfield didn't live up to the billing at Germany 2006. His team still managed to make the second round and felt a little robbed in going out to eventual winners Italy. [LNB]But now Bresciano and Everton star Tim Cahill will really have to be at their best to help Australia out of the tricky Group D with Germany, Serbia and Ghana.[LNB]Prediction: The 30-year-old almost joined Manchester City from Palermo three years ago and a good performance in South Africa will make him Bresciano City's 423rd target of the summer. However, he'll go on to forge a reputation as the best player in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.[LNB] Super six: Michel Bastos has solved Brazil's left back headache[LNB]39) Michel Bastos (Brazil) The Lyon midfielder only made his international debut in November's victory over England in Oman. Played out of position at left-back Bastos impressed enough to instantly remedy Dunga's problem position. Just as well, next in line is one-time Tottenham flop Gilberto.[LNB]Prediction: Bastos will score a stunning free kick from 30 yards in the opening match, negating the point of having Dani Alves on the bench as an impact sub. Mistaking him for Robinho, North Korea's Kim Yong-Jun will swap shirts after the match and only realise his disappointment once back in Pyongyang.[LNB]Giant barrier: Samir Handanovic [LNB]38) Samir Handanovic (Slovenia)The giant Udinese keeper couldn't do much behind a hapless defence in Serie A this season, but he was the star of a mean Slovenia side that conceded just four goals in 10 Group Three games. He went on to frustrate Andrey Arshavin's Russia in the play-off and keeps his older cousin Jasmin Handanovic out of the side.[LNB]Prediction: England will look jealously at Handanovic in the third Group C game after deploying each of their own glovesmen in an unconvincing rotation system. [LNB]37) Tranquillo Barnetta (Switzerland)The Swiss Beckham/Ronaldo/Messi (delete as appropriate) already has World Cup pedigree after starring from the right flank as Switzerland somehow topped their group only to suffer penalty shootout misery at the hands of Ukraine. [LNB]The 25-year-old Bayer Leverkusen man will have to be at his best again if his side are to get through a group including Spain, Chile and Honduras.[LNB]Prediction: Barnetta will impress, only for Philippe Senderos to undo all the good work as the defence resembles Swiss cheese.[LNB] Swiss big cheese: Tranquillo Barnetta is the main man in red[LNB]Wanted man: Oscar Cardozo [LNB]36) Oscar Cardozo (Paraguay)One thing Paraguay have are strikers, even if gunshot victim Salvador Cabanas is unable to make the trip. Roque Santa Cruz, Nelson Valdez and now the recently acquired Argentine Lucas Barrios. [LNB]But the one who the scouts want to see is Cardozo after a stunning role in Benfica's Portuguese League-winning season which saw him hit 26 in 29 appearances.[LNB]Prediction: The 27-year-old Everton target will score three in the group stage before defeat by Holland in the second round sends him packing.[LNB]35) Park Chu-Young (South Korea)The lightning quick forward made a breakthrough at Monaco this season, scoring nine in 22 appearances after a difficult first term in Europe. He can also play wide if former Middlesbrough shocker Lee Dong-Gook is chosen as the spearhead and will be vying with Celtic's Ki Sung-Yong (see No 44) for free kick-taking duties.[LNB]Prediction: Park will impress enough for Fulham to reignite their interest enough to make him the new Seol Ki-Hyeon.[LNB] Red hot: Park Chu-Young (right) has an eye for goal[LNB]34) Gregory van der Wiel (Holland)The 22-year-old has been hailed as the successor to Michael Reiziger and it is looking increasingly likely that he will follow his compatriot in leaving Ajax for Barcelona (though not via AC Milan this time). [LNB]Van der Wiel was named young player of the year in Holland for last season and impressed visiting scouts with his raiding runs from the right of defence.[LNB]Prediction: Van der Wiel's attack-from-defence approach typifies a style that makes everyone fall in love with Holland this summer. However, he's more Winston Bogarde than Reiziger once he gets to the Nou Camp and struggles to get a look-in ahead of Dani Alves.[LNB] Future's bright: Van der Wiel[LNB]Wing wizard: Andres Guardado[LNB] 33) Andres Guardado (Mexico)The 23-year-old Deportivo La Coruna winger was considered one of the best youngsters at Germany 2006 despite only playing an impressive cameo in the defeat by Argentina in the second round. [LNB]Guardado likes to get a right backs, has impressive close control and is Mexico's main set-piece taker.[LNB]Prediction: No longer on the fringes, Guardado tears South Africa apart in the opening game and is lauded as one of the good old-fashioned-get-to-the-byline-and-cross-it wingers. Earns a shampoo deal for his exploits.[LNB]Lynchpin: France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan [LNB]32) Jeremy Toulalan (France)No Patrick Vieira? No problem. Lyon's Toulalan has emerged as the heartbeat of the France side in recent years, maturing into a Mascherano-type midfielder who does the simple things well and leaves the flair to the likes of Franck Ribery.[LNB]The 26-year-old faces even more responsibility now in the absence of Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra but showed in Lyon's Champions League campaign that he's cool under pressure, such as when filling in at centre half against Liverpool.[LNB]Prediction: Toulalan holds a fragile French side together through the group stages, but don't be surprised if they fail to get much further.[LNB] Pedigree: Lucio celebrates scoring the winner in the Confederations Cup final[LNB]31) Lucio (Brazil)Jose Mourinho tamed the galloping centre half from a big guy who liked to charge forward every five minutes to one who just does it three or four times a game. [LNB]The Inter Milan defender is the bedrock of an uncharacteristically solid Brazil team and provides his own share of goals too, such as the winner in the Confederations Cup final against the United States in South Africa a year ago.[LNB]Prediction: He of the big eyebrows enters World Cup iconography as the captain who lifts the trophy when Brazil are crowned champions for a record sixth time on July 11.[LNB] The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail'stop 50 World Cup kitsSportsmail'stop 50 manager quotesSportsmail'stop 50 players to have never won the titleSportsmail's top 50 signings of the seasonSportsmail's top 50 most entertaining teams in historySportsmail's top 50 of golf's major miraclesSportsmail's top 50 National Hunt HorsesSportsmail'stop 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail'stop 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail'stop 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail'stop 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail'stop 50 sporting venuesSportsmail'stop 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail'stop 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail'stop 50 goal poachersSportsmail'stop 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail'stop 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail'sgreatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail'stop 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail'stop 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail'stop 50 Ashes heroesSportsmail'stop 50 players of the Premier League season
