Source: Daily_Mail
WORLD CUP 2010: Top of the World! England-based stars are primed for action
England will provide a record 125 players from 26 different clubs at the World Cup to underline its reputation as having the strongest league in the world.[LNB]Out of the 125, 109 of them played in the Premier League last season compared with 75 provided by Italy's Serie A and 57 from Spain's La Liga. That figure will grow next season, with every top-flight club bar Blackpool currently having at least one World Cup representative. [LNB]Chelsea have the largest contingent, 13, despite injuries that rule out Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien, while Liverpool could field a complete XI, starting with Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina. [LNB] On the ball: Liverpool's Fernando Torres is one of 125 English-based stars ready for action in South Africa[LNB]Incredibly, relegated Portsmouth have the same number of players at the World Cup as Manchester United - eight. And Championship clubs Ipswich, Reading, Middlesbrough and relegated Plymouth are also represented. [LNB]The big question is whether any of the England-based contingent can be the first World Cup winners since Arsenal pair Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit and Chelsea's Frank Leboeuf were part of the France team who triumphed in 1998. [LNB]Enlarge Before that, no player from an English club had won the World Cup since 1966 but the bookmakers are tipping Cesc Fabregas, of Arsenal, and Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Reina to be successful this time with Spain. [LNB]Torres has acknowledged playing in England has helped his game, saying: 'As a competition, the Premier League is the best. When you are talking about organisation, respect and having all the stadiums full every weekend, it is really nice to see that. In Spain they have some of the better players in the world but, as a competition, it is not as big as the Premier League. [LNB]'I've played in Spain and can tell you honestly, the Premier League is much better.' [LNB]Fabio Capello has picked his World Cup 23 exclusively from English clubs - the first time that has happened since 1998. In total, 26 of the 32 nations have players from England in their squads, with the USA next best represented with eight players in Bob Bradley's party. [LNB] New arrival: Mexico's Javier Hernandez will join Manchester United after the World Cup[LNB]There will be some intriguing club confrontations on the international stage. Portugal v Ivory Coast on June 15 will pit Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Paulo Ferreira against Chelsea colleague Salomon Kalou, even if Didier Drogba does not make it. [LNB]Holland v Denmark will see Arsenal's Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner in direct competition as well as Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger of Liverpool. And Aston Villa's England trio James Milner, Emile Heskey and Stephen Warnock could face team-mate Brad Guzan, of USA, in Rustenburg on Saturday. [LNB] The number of England-based players is certain to grow through the summer, with many Premier League bosses seeking new talent. [LNB]United have already snapped up Mexico's Javier Hernandez; giant Serbia striker Nikola Zigic has joined Birmingham; Paraguay's Cristian Riveros is going to Sunderland and Antonio Alcaraz to Wigan. Robert Koren, of West Brom, and West Ham's Guillermo Franco have been released this summer but played in England last season.[LNB] Click here to sign up for Sportsmail's daily World Cup emailFrank Lampard: This World Cup is my last chance to follow the boys of '66Emotional Lampard's England rallying call: There's still a World Cup to be won!Michael Dawson arrives in South Africa and gets straight down to trainingOh no, Rio! Freak injury ends England captain Ferdinand's World Cup [LNB]
