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Top 10 - South American Aggressive Midfielders

Matias Vulej, June 2 2010,
The bridge between defense and offense, only the most skilled can lead their teams towards victory

Leaders of their team's advance, most aggressive midfielders have to stand against the ferocity of the full backs or the tenacity of defensive midfielders, and thus speed to escape from their hunters and make their way towards their opponent's goal is mandatory. Usually excellent free-kickers, our list offers America's best, who will have to do without much World Championship experience, except for our number one.

1. Kaká

Kaka is the undisputed leader of Dunga's midfield, a veteran from the 2002 World Championship and current star in Real Madrid. Two times winner of the Golden Ball, Ricardo Dos Santos received almost every single individual distinction a player can get, from Best Serie A Player back in 2004 to the Marca Legend Prize only six months ago. Having wore the Brazilian colors on 73 occasions this midfield's beast scored 26 goals, one of the highest averages on its National Football Team.

 

With 1.86 mts height Kaka has the finesse of most of the smaller players coupled with the physical advantage of a giant. His technique is unchallenged in the midfield and his efficiency is to be feared by his rivals, even though a series of injuries has been keeping him below his optimum performance. Nevertheless the Brazilian is confident he'll be ready to perform at 100% for the first match, to claim Brazil's sixth World Championship

2. Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria received world attention during the last Olympic games, where he lead Argentina to the gold medal. From that moment on Maradona was unable to keep ignoring him, and his place as the ideal Messi's partner was rapidly confirmed by Argentina's coach. Rumors of the player leaving Benfica for €40 millions to join Jose Mourinho in Madrid have been sounding louder and louder during the last weeks, and it'd be understandable, especially having seen his performance during last week's friendly match against Canada, scoring a beauty on Argentina's third.

Having faced a long suspension for an aggressive behavior against Bolivia in La Paz during the qualifying stage  Di Maria appears to have learned his lesson and grown enough to become another commander of Argentina's cruise in South Africa, becoming another member of the fundamental ones in Maradona's strategy. He might be the biggest explosion of this World Cup.


3.Julio Baptista

La Bestia has been recovering its strengths in Rome during the last season, for an unsuccessful performance in Spain with the Merengues two years ago appeared to have drained all the ferocity he used to unleash when playing for Sevilla FC (scoring 50 goals in 81 matches).

But his luck with the Verdeamarelhos followed the early Spanish impulse; Julio Baptista was one of the most important players to claim 2007's Copa America, scoring a goal in the final against Argentina and finishing the competition having tasted the net three times. Dunga's words describe him perfectly: "he is very strong, very strong-willed. He is a winner, He can defend, he can attack and he can score goals"


4. Maxi Rodriguez

Called at the very last moment by Diego Maradona, Maxi Rodriguez is fighting to recover its place in Argentina's starting eleven, and his determination was shown against Canada last week scoring two goals, vanishing the shadows of doubts regarding his presence in South Africa. Scoring an average of 0.33 goals per game with the Albiceleste, La Fiera will have to fight with Jonas Gutierrez to lead Argentina's right wing, but the latter can also occupy a position in the back line... the possibilities are endless.

Former captain of Atletico Madrid, his present playing for Liverpool has been rather disappointing. Aged 29, he is one of the few Argentina's natural leaders in the midfield.


5. Elano

With 308 presentations and 79 goals, Elano is one of Dunga's secret weapons to lean the game on his side, for this 28 years old Brazilian's midfielder made it clear from its first match with the Verdeamarelho he was there to write history, scoring two goals against Argentina.

Actually performing in the Turkish Football with Galatasaray, Elano will be responsible for most of Brazil's midfield creation, as his experience as a jack-of-all-trades with Manchester City turned him into an incredibly balanced all-around midfielder with gunner's skills. In five words: A diamond in the rough.


6. Javier Pastore

One year ago Miguel Angel Cappa lead Club Atletico Huracan to the second position of the Argentinean league, and the main responsible for such unexpected standing in the Clausura was Javier Pastore, who was rapidly abducted by US Palermo, growing week after week to take the team to qualify for next year's Europa League. His performance during friendly matches under Maradona's command has forced him to adapt a position of right winger instead of his usual center positioning, but he has shown he can adapt to an infinite number of positions in the midfield.

One of Argentina's youngest players (he will turn 21 during the second week in South Africa) that might be the revelation of this competition. His association with Di Maria and Messi can be explosive.


7. Cristian Rivero

Cristian Rivero is the first Paraguayan midfielder in our list for his vast experience with the squad, and this might be the first step of a promising future in the European football, for during the last weeks his transfer to join Sunderland in England's league was confirmed.

One of Paraguay's deadliest aerials players, Rivero has an offensive versatility that knows no limit.
A key player in the Guarani squad, able to assist with the defense and run for the net when needed, Cristian Rivero will be responsible for leading Paraguay to the highly-coveted fifth encounter in the competition.


8. Matias Fernandez

The first Chilean name on our list, Matias Fernandez, will be responsible for leading Chile's right attack and to associate with Alexis Sanchez to take Chile past the group stage of this competition, for they'll be forcing two of the toughest defenses in the competition. Currently linked to Boca Juniors, Matigol has taken over Jorge Valdivia's role as Chile's conductor, and even though the people in not quite happy with the replacement of a legendary player as Valdivia, Fernandez has grown and lived up to the expectations he arose four years ago, when he was declared South American player of the year as well as Footballer of the Year in the Chilean league.

His enviable technique and ball control, as well as his dribbling speed makes him a must in any squad. 1.76 mts tall, Pelusa will be looking forward to strike his sixth goal with the Roja upon his debut in a World Championship.


9.Ramires

Benfica's midfielder Ramires might not find a place within Brazil's starting squad, but his skills makes him the ideal substitute for either Elano or Felipe Melo, even though he was one of the main players in the team that lifted last year's Confederations Cup. During this year he has become an irreplaceable part of Benfica's strategy, and there's much yet to do to take Brazil to the latter stages of this competition.

In less than one year Ramires has climbed from his time as a promise in Cruzeiro to a shinning present wearing the Verdeamarelho shirt. Able to adapt a defensive position as well as advance to the last meters of the field, Ramires might become Dunga's favorite to crush their rival's defense.


10.Marcelo Estigarribia

One of Paraguay's youngest players, Marcelo Estigarribia has shown during the last friendly matches he actually deserves a place in this top ten, for the ferocity of his shots from distance offer an opportunity to lean the game on his team's side. His connection with Jorge Achucarro (both players perform in Newell's Old Boys from Argentina) adds an additional flavor to his skills, and it looks like he has earned his place within the starting eleven.

With only 22 years, Estigarribia can receive international attention upon his performance in the World Cup, and it'll be determinant considering his time playing in Rosario is slowly running out. He has never earned a single title in five years as a professional footballer, and thus his trip to South Africa can completely change the course of what's waiting ahead for him.

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