50 players to watch at the World Cup - No 25 Wilson Palacios

07 May 2010 12:30

Football.co.uk continues its countdown of players to watch at this summer's World Cup with Wilson Palacios at number 25.

Name: Wilson Palacios

Age: 25

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

International Caps: 69

International Goals: 4

With strength both physically and mentally in abundance, Wilson Palacios has become an integral part of the team for both club and country.

An industrious, tough-tackling midfielder, Palacios played a major part in helping Honduras to only their second World Cup Finals in their history.

He has proved he can play in both an attacking and defensive central midfield role, playing more offensively for his country whilst being deployed primarily as a destroyer for Tottenham. He also began his career playing at right midfield for Olimpia and has played right-back as well, so he provides a very versatile option for Honduras.

Palacios has shown commitment to the cause as well, with his mental strength astounding many within the football world.

He turned up for crucial World Cup qualifiers in May last year, just days after burying his younger brother Edwin, who was the victim of a kidnapping and subsequent murder.

These mental and technical attributes are the sort of thing that convinced Tottenham to pay £12million for his services, whilst talk of a move to Real Madrid has surfaced in recent months.

- Sam Parker

THE STORY SO FAR...

No 26: Alexis Sanchez
No 27: Tim Cahill

No 28: Gonzalo Higuain
No 29: John Terry

No 30: Andres Iniesta

No 31: Maicon
No 32: Victor Obinna

No 33: Klaas Jan Huntelaar
No 34: Ryan Nelsen

No 35: Tranquilo Barnetta
No 36: Jozy Altidore

No 37: Robert Koren
No 38: Teko Modise
No 39: Simon Kjaer
No 40: Jong Tae-Se
No 41: Nadir Belhadj

No 42: Roque Santa Cruz

No 43: Park Ji-Sung

No 44: Nikola Zigic
No 45: Yaya Toure
No 46: Angelos Charisteas
No 47: Keisuke Honda
No 48: Hugo Lloris
No 49: Mario Gomez
No 50: Guiseppe Rossi

Source: DSG