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Top 10 - South American Debutants

Matias Vulej, June 8 2010,
10 players will be given for the first time an opportunity to lead their teams towards a new championship. Will their hunger for glory be enough?

 

These last years have brought many surprises to international football, and most of these players are soon to become legends. This time, they'll have to show their versatility and skills in South Africa. Argentina's flavor of the month, Angel Di Maria, is our top choice, even though Alexis Sanchez is a formidable opponent as the top debutant.

1. Angel Di Maria

Everyone is talking about Angel Di Maria, and it makes sense, considering the last four years could've hardly been any better for El Pibito, being widely recognized as Argentina's next super star. Jose Mourinho might have Di Maria as an offering to join Real Madrid, as rumors involving a €40 million transfer from Benfica to the Merengues received major attention from world's press. Another one of Argentina's Gold Medal winners in 2008's Olympic Games, Di Maria will have in this competition to opportunity to shine brighter than ever.

 



Having missed almost half of the matches he could have played for Argentina in the qualifying stage due to an infraction against Bolivia, Di Maria has now grown to control his nerves and concentrate on what he does best. In only eight matches Di Maria has won its place in Argentina's starting squad. Will he live up to the expectations his position in the team has arisen?


2.Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez is without a doubt a diamond in the rough, and this is something Marcelo Bielsa is well aware of. Aged 21, Wonderkid has only been able to lift three titles in his short footbalistic history, and none of them has been obtained while wearing La Roja. Nonetheless, his prowess in opponent's area as well as his unrivaled speed will be determinant for Chile to finish between the two bests of its group.

His ability to send lethal aerial balls call for a reduced number of goal for this young Chilean player, even though he did manage to score 11 times wearing its National Team colors. His presence was determinant for Chile to finish as one of America's best, and team's followers have grown more and more into Alexis Sanchez. This championship will be his opportunity to be consolidated as one of Chile's leaders, as well as receive more attention from Europe's giants. His future with Udinese Calcio will probably depend on his performance in South Africa, and this is something he is clearly aware of.

3. Lucas Barrios

Lucas Barrios was nationalized to be able to wear the Guarani colors in South Africa, and Diego Maradona is slowly regretting not having taking advantage of Borussia Dortmund's top striker, whose performance wearing Paraguay's shirt has been more than satisfying, scoring at least one goal in every match played. The Panther came at the best time for Tata Martino and his squad, as the absence of two notable strikers would have severely weakened Paraguay's offense if it wasn't for Barrios sheer expertise.

His brilliant present has already awakened the interest of AC Milan, who appears to have offered €40 million to sign him before the beginning of the World Cup, for as long as his performance increases more and more the numbers can grow higher and higher. On 91 official matches he managed to score 76 goals, a whooping average of 0.83 goals per game. If Paraguay makes it through the Group Stage, much will have to do with Barrios' skills as a gunner.


4. Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez has been the ideal partner to sharpen Uruguay's offensive to its maximum when joined with Diego Forlan, for this young striker (currently playing for Ajax Amsterdam) is without a shadow of a doubt experiencing its footbalistic peak, having netted 47 goals in 46 matches during this season for either the Eredivisie or international competitions. With the Celeste Suarez has been within the starting eleven in every single match of the qualifying stages, scoring 10 goals.

Right-footed, he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year, claiming the KNVB Cup and becoming the Eredivisie's top scorer. Oscar Tabarez's squad might be lacking consistency in the middle and security between the posts, but both their strikers can turn any game around based only on their individual capabilities.


5. Humberto Suazo

Humberto Suazo has always been a deadly striker, and all America had to suffer his fierceness, becoming South American Top Striker in the Qualifying Stages of this World Cup and claiming his place in America's best Eleven team. As if this was not enough, ha has recently broken an important mark, becoming the Chilean striker that scored the biggest amount of goals in a single season, with 51 conversions. With his experience and skills, the only reason why he occupies a place in our top ten debutants is that Chile was placed 7th during 2006's qualifying stages, missing its ticket for the cup.

Chile's main strength is their unstoppable offense, and that's the reason why Humberto Suazo is the second Chilean striker in our top five.


6. Jonas Gutierrez

Jonas Gutierrez has become Diego Maradona's ace behind the sleeve during the qualifying stage, either to join the offense or cover one of the bands in the back, owner of an unrivaled speed and endless stamina. A cornerstone of Newcastle United's strategy, during this season he has performed on almost every match, scoring 4 goals and earning the Football League Championship with Newcastle.

His place in Argentina's starting squad is guaranteed, for Diego Maradona declared early this year his team is "Mascherano, Messi, Jonas and eight more" and for the moment he might assume a defensive role to aid Maradona take advantage of Argentina's many fearsome strikers. Against South Africa he will perform its 17th match with the Albiceleste, eager to score a second goal with its National Team colors.


7. Javier Pastore

One of Argentina's brightest revelations during the last two years has been Javier Pastore, whose exploding season with Huracan one year ago caught instant attention from Europe, becoming US Palermo's leader and conductor. Aged only 20, he is Maradona's natural replacement for Juan Sebastian Veron or Angel Di Maria, depending on the position Messi might assume during the championship. 1.87 mts tall, his versatility can offer Argentina a whole new attack point, and with the speed of their strikers a simple change in the course of an action can prove lethal.

In two matches with the Albiceleste El Flaco has not been able to taste the net. Javier Pastore is without a doubt another of the players that might explode during this championship, but his absence in Argentina's starting eleven condemns him to the 7th position.


8. Nilmar

Brazil's offensive trident will have in Nilmar much of what Dunga was in need of for this African trip, as this 25 years old striker claimed its place within Brazil's starting eleven after an incredible debut (scoring 8 goals in 10 official matches with the Verdeamarelhos). Having already won the Confederations Cup, South American Cup and World Cup U-20 with its National Football Team, Nilmar Honorato Da Silva will have to lead Brazil to its sixth World Cup, a task that doesn't seem too difficult considering the excellent performance of Dunga’s team during the last friendly matches.

This season has been another glorious one for this young Brazilian, scoring 17 goals in 42 matches with Villareal. Dunga will be traveling to South Africa with only four strikers, and Nilmar has his place almost assured in the end of the field. His speed and fierceness on his rival's area makes Nilmar one of Brazil's key players to lift once again world's most coveted trophy.


9. Oscar Cardozo

Oscar Cardozo is a natural born striker, one of Paraguay's key players without a shadow of a doubt. Seven years ago he surprised everyone playing in the Paraguayan league, scoring 29 goals in its first season in the first division with Club Nacional. After a short stop on Argentinean football (and a goal average higher to 0.66 per game), Cardozo was given an opportunity to show his skills in Europe, and he did not let this opportunity waste, quickly becoming one of Benfica's most prolific strikers, with 56 goals in 84 matches. His presence always comes in times of great need, relying on his individual capabilities to get through any defense, no matter how closed it seems.

Wearing the Guarani colors Cardozo has only been able to taste the net 4 times in almost 30 matches, and now Lucas Barrios is solidly established leading the offensive it will be tough for Cardozo to become Paraguay's offensive lighthouse. 1.94 mts tall, his aerial presence will not be wasted by a team known by its tactical abilities and its ability to exploit their advantages to its maximum. Tacuara Cardozo will have to make this championship a personal matter to earn his place in Paraguay's history. Will he succeed?


10.Martin Palermo

36 years old, Martin Palermo is undoubtedly the oldest debutant of this competition, but having never wore Albiceleste's color in a world championship, he has nonetheless earned respect from almost every single striker in the world, showing a fierce determination to be always on the right place at the right time. A master header, Diego Maradona trusted him the lead of Argentina's offense during the last matches of the qualifying stages and if it wasn't for his security in the area Argentina could have never got to the world championship. With Boca Juniors he was close from finishing Argentina's Clausura as top striker, if it wasn't for Mauro Boselli's hattrick in the last match.

During the last season he became Boca Juniors' top striker of all times, but this has not shadowed his two goals against Real Madrid during 2000's International Cup as the peak of his career, catching instant attention from Europe and performing in Villareal the following season. Six years ago he returned to Boca Juniors, and even though he was unable to maintain its former level he has already scored over 100 goals with the Xeneizes. Argentina's tallest player will have to fight for its opportunity in the field, but he has already shown he's got what it takes to become the bearer of Maradona's strategy.

 

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