Introducing the pretenders (part three)

Some just missed my final cut and didn't get in, causing no end of sleepless nights for them; some missed their country's final cut but would have been in (Adam Johnson, Neymar, Sergio Canales), but here is a last look at the pretenders, the final 6.

  

Marek Hamsik (Slovakia) Age 22

Cracking player.  Attacking midfielder capable of scoring goals and pulling the strings for his team.  Had another excellent season for Napoli weighing in with a dozen goals, and has found the net 8 times in 30 appearances.  Very much becoming part of the fabric at Naples where he is idolised.  Slovakia are in the same group as Italy.  Heaven help Hamsik should he knock Italia out.  Horses heads could be the least of his problems.

Lee Chung Yong (South Korea) Age 21

Not just a token entry from Asia, oh no.  Lee has arrived in England and acquitted himself very, very well in a poor Bolton side.  Anyone that can look a bit tasty in their first season in the premiership clearly has something about him, and this feller has that.  Quick, skillful, determined and a bit of a dead ball maestro.  Big things await.

Pedro Rodriguez (Spain) Age 22

Or Pedro, as you'll have most likely heard him referred.  Scores.  Lots.  Just one of those players that has an absolute knack of finding the onion bag, but he's more than just a poacher.  Often played as a winger by Pep Guardiola for Barcelona, Pedro likes to have a go and is as effective a sub as you are likely to find.  So with this in mind IBWM fancies Pedro as the surprise star of South Africa 2010; "and to think Brian, this lad isn't even first choice".

Luis Suarez (Urugay) Age 23

Today could be the day that Suarez really explodes onto the world stage.  Put it this way, it's inevitable now.  A group A match for his country against a France side that may very well be on the cusp of implosion is probably just what Luis fancies.  Having netted an incredible 49 goals in his last 48 games for Ajax (you read that right), Suarez is clearly an in form striker.  Partners the prolific Diego Forlan (never thought we'd say that at one time eh?) for his country, so I think it might have been a difficult night's sleep for Raymond Domenech.

 Gregory Van Der Wiel (Holland) Age 22

Former centre back that has turned into a marauding and exciting right back for Ajax and his country.  Clearly a lover of the tattoo parlour, Van der Wiel is very much on the shopping list of a number of clubs including Arsenal and Manchester City.......although he quite fancies a move to Barcelona.  How Dani Alves sees that though is open to conjecture.  Good player though, keep an eye on him.

Eren Derdiyok (Switzerland) Age 22 - tomorrow

Big lad at 6' 3" thats gradually working his way up Europe's ranks.  A powerful striker that has been registering a goal in just about every three games in his first season with Bayer Leverkusen but only netted twice for his country.  That will change though.  Young Eren has all the attributes to suggest he is going to be at the top for a long time to come.  Cow bells and all.