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Top Goalkeepers

Half of the world has tuned its televisions to sports channels in order to witness the minutest advancement and update in the FIFA World Cup 2010 going on in South Africa. In football, role of a goalkeeper is of vital importance as he is the player who is bound to defend each and every goal attempt from the opponent team. If a team lacks a good and capable goalkeeper, it is not considered as a good football team. To be the best team out there, a team’s goalkeeper ought to be a great player.

In this article, I am going to discuss top 5 goalkeepers that are able of making history in FIFA World Cup 2010. These keepers might not turn out to b the best in world cup; I am only suggesting it on the basis of their past performances, career history and playing strategies.

1. Iker Casillas (Spain):

This youngster is thought of as the best goalkeeper in the world these days. Known as San Iker (means Saint Iker) in his club Real Madrid, he is a fast and cool minded goalkeeper.

1. Age: 29 years
2. Height: 184 cm
3. Shirt number: 1
4. Current club: Real Madrid
5. International Caps: 109
6. First International: Sweden – Spain (3rd June 2000)

He was called at the Real Madrid at the age of 17. Since then, he has been a consistent good goalkeeper. His achievement list is long; victory in 1999-2000 UEFA Champions League, victory in FIFA U-20 World Cup 1999 edition, victory of Madrid in 2001 – 2002 Champions League etc.

Photo By trumpetflickr

In 2000, this great player was voted Europe’s Best Player under the age of 21. Since 2002, Casillas has maintained the number 1 shirt in his club team. Real Madrid reclaimed the 31st La Liga title in 2007-08 with the great aid of this brilliant player, who did not let the opponent teams’ goal attempts succeed. He allowed only 32 goals in 36 games. He has signed contract with Real Madrid that will keep him at the cub till 2017. Though there have been made real high bids for him by the clubs; the loyal goalkeeper has ‘no intentions of leaving his boyhood club’.

He began his international career in under-17 team. Later, he became the captain of under-17 team, and then moved forward to the national team. IFFHS named him world’s best goalkeeper in 2008. His award list is as follows:

Individual Awards:

• Bravo award (2000)
• Don Balon Award for breakthrough player of the year (2000)
• IFFHS Best goalkeeper (2008-09)
• LFP Best goalkeeper (2008-09)
• FIFA/Fifpro World’s best goalkeeper (2008-09)
• Royal Order gold medal for Sports Merit

2. Julio Cesar (Brazil):

This Brazilian goalkeeper is on top of the favorite list of Brazilian coach. Brazil is a brilliant football playing country and has produced some of the greatest footballers in the history. Julio Cesar Soares de Espindola is commonly known as Julio Cesar.

1. DOB: 3rd September 1979
2. Height: 186 cm
3. Shirt number: 1
4. Current club: Inter (ITA)
5. International Caps: 53
6. First international: Brazil – Chile (8th July 2004)

He started his career with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo in 1997. He eventually made himself able of being considered the first choice goalkeeper for 2004 Copa America. In 2005, he signed an official contract of three years with Internazionale. In 2009, he was named the best player of 2008-09 by ESPN Brasil. In 2009, he signed a contract with Inter which will expire in 2014.

Photo By Escola de Goleiros Camisa 1

His international career began in 2003 as a backup to Dida. He has a lot of goalkeepers ahead of him which were given priority over him in international games, but his hard luck made everyone believe that only he should be the number one choice goalkeeper for Brazil.

3. Gigi Buffon (Italy):

This Italian goalkeeper is one of the best keepers this country ever had. Great performance in FIFA World Cup 2010 is expected of him.

1. DOB: 28th January, 1978
2. Height: 190 cm
3. Shirt number: 1
4. Current club: Juventus (ITS)
5. International caps: 102
6. First international: Russia – Italy (29th October 1997)

He started his club career at a very young age with the youth system of Parma in 1991. He was only 13 then. Due to his consistent good performance, the world renowned Italian club Juventus offered him a world record goal keeper transfer fee of £32.6 million, which was happily accepted. In March 2004, he was named one of the top 125 greatest living footballers by Pele.

Photo By blastedpersona

He started his international career in 1997 when he was called up as an injury replacement at the age of 19. He was there in World Cup 1998 but as a second choice, and did not play a single match. In world cup 2006, he conceded only 2 goals; outstanding indeed.

Individual Awards:

• Bravo Award (1999)
• UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player (2003)
• UEFA Club Football Awards: Best Goalkeeper (2003)
• FIFA 100
• Yashin Award (2006)
• 2006 FIFA world cup All Star Team
• European Footballer of the year (Silver Ball) (2006)
• Serie A Goalkeeper of the year (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)

4. Hugo Lloris (France):

This 23 years old French goalkeeper is the number 1 choice not only for his club but also for the country.

1. DOB: 26th December 1986
2. Height: 188 cm
3. Shirt number: 1
4. Current club: Lyon
5. International caps: 14
6. First international: France – Uruguay (19th November 2008)

He began his career at the age of 6 at CEDAC which was a cultural center that offered various activities. Coached suggested to him to switch to goalkeeping, and he did so. When he was 10, he joined Nice’s youth academy. Afterwards, he joined Lyon and is there since then. He made his debut his international career being in under-18 team in 2004.

Photo By charentelibre

Individual Awards:

• Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the year (2008-09, 2009-10)
• UNFP player of the month (April 2008, September 2009)

5. Mark Schwarzer (Australia):

He is in the team for years, and has been considered the number 1 choice for national team since long.

1. DOB: 6th October 1972
2. Height: 196 cm
3. Shirt number: 1
4. Current club: Fulham
5. First international: Canada – Australia (31st July 1993)

He started his career at the age of 19 and played with many clubs like Marconi Stallions, Dynamo Dresden, FC Kaiserslautern, Middlesbrough and Fulham. His international career began in 1994 world cup qualifier. He has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Though he is aging with time, his reflexes are still sharp and quick.

Photo By krmcguire

All of these 5 goalkeepers are expected of showing iconic performances. Let us see how their performance goes in FIFA World cup 2010.