Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Italy

Italy are in Group F and will play Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. This is the Italian squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Gianluigi Buffon, Club- Juventus, Age at World Cup (AWC) 32.

RB. Mattia Cassani, Club- Palermo, (AWC) 23.

CB. Alessandro Nesta, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 34.

CB. Fabio Cannavaro, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 36.

LB. Giorgio Chellini, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 25.

CDM. Daniele De Rossi, Club- Roma, (AWC) 26.

CM. Andrea Pirlo, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 31.

RW. Simone Pepe, Club- Udinese, (AWC) 26.

LW. Pasquale Foggia, Club- Lazio, (AWC) 27.

ST. Alberto Gilardino, Club- Fiorentina, (AWC) 27.

ST. Luca Toni, Club- Roma, (AWC) 33.

Subs

GK. Federico Marchetti, Club- Cagliari, (AWC) 27.

GK. Christian Abbiati, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 32.

RB. Gianluca Zambrotta, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 33.

CB. Alessandro Gamberini, Club- Fiorentina, (AWC) 28.

CB. Salvatore Bochetti, Club- Genoa, (AWC) 23.

LB. Manuel Pasqual, Club- Fiorentina, (AWC) 28.

CDM. Angelo Palombo, Club- Sampdoria, (AWC) 28.

CDM. Gernaro Gattuso, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 32.

RM. Mauro Camoranesi, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 33.

LM. Riccardo Montolivo, Club- Fiorentina, (AWC) 25.

ST. Antonio Di Natale, Club- Udinese, (AWC) 32.

ST. Giampaolo Pazzini, Club- Sampdoria, (AWC) 25.

Agree with my selections?

The Coach

Italy are coached by Marcello Lippi. Before coaching Italy (in his first stint as the national team coach) between 2004 and 2006 and wining the World Cup, over nineteen years Lippi was coach of various club sides in Italy winning five Serie A titles, four Italian Supercup, one Champions League, one UEFA supercup and Intercontinental Cup. In 2008 Lippi was reappointed as the Italian coach to help Italy win back to back World Cups.

Italy's Strengths

In Buffon Italy have arguably got the best goalkeeper in the world. Italy are also strong down the rest of the spine with experienced players in every position.

Italy's Weakness

Italy are weak on both of their flanks, especially the left side.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on United States of America

The United States of America are in Group C and will play Algeria, England and Slovenia. This is the USA squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Tim Howard, Club- Everton, Age at World Cup (AWC) 31.

RB. Steve Cherundolo, Club- Hannover, (AWC) 31.

CB. Carlos Bocanegra, Club- Rennes, (AWC) 31.

CB. Oguchi Onyewu, Club- AC Milan, (AWC) 28.

LB. Jonathan Spector, Club- West Ham, (AWC) 24.

CDM. Jermaine Jones, Club- Schalke 04, (AWC) 28.

RM. Clint Dempsey, Club- Fulham, (AWC) 27.

CM. Michael Bradley, Club- Borussia Monchengladbach, (AWC) 22.

LW. DaMarcus Beasley, Club- Rangers, (AWC) 28.

ST. Landon Donovan, Club- Everton, (AWC) 28.

ST. Jozy Altidore, Club- Hull City, (AWC) 20.

Subs

GK. Brad Friedel, Club- Aston Villa, (AWC) 39.

GK. Marcus Hahnemann, Club- Wolverhampton, (AWC) 37.

RB. Frank Simek, Club- Sheffield Wednesday, (AWC) 25.

CB. Jay DeMerit, Club- Watford, (AWC) 30.

CB. Clarence Goodson, Club- IK Start (Norway), (AWC) 28.

LWB. Edgar Castillo, Club- Tigres (Mexico), (AWC) 23.

CDM. Ricardo Clark, Club- Eintracht Frankfurt, (AWC) 27.

RM. Alejandro Bedoya, Club- Orebro SK (Sweden), (AWC) 23.

CM. Maurice Edu, Club- Rangers, (AWC) 24.

LM. Jose Francisco Torres, Club- Pachuca (Mexico), (AWC) 22.

ST. Charlie Davies, Club- Sochaux, (AWC) 23.

ST. Kenny Cooper, Club- Plymouth Argyle (Championship), (AWC) 25.

Agree with my selections?

The Coach

The USA are currently coached by compatriot Bob Bradley who has been in charge since 2006. Previously Bradley had been coach of various clubs in the MLS.

The USA Strengths

The USA main area of strength are the goalkeepers with all three of them playing in the English Premier League. The centre of midfield is also strong with three of the midfielders playing in the Bundesliga and the forth in Scotland.

The USA Weakness

The USA biggest weakness is in the depth of the wide midfielders. If Clint Dempsey or DaMarcus Beasley get injured their are question marks over the quality of their replacements.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Denmark

Denmark are in Group E at the World Cup and will play the Netherlands, Cameroon and Japan. This is the Denmark squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Thomas Sorensen, Club- Stoke City, Age at World Cup (AWC) 33.

RB. Lars Jacobsen, Club- Blackburn, (AWC) 30.

CB. Simon Kjaer, Club- Palermo, (AWC) 21.

CB. Daniel Agger, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 25.

LB. Michael Lamb, Club- Zenit St Petersburg, (AWC) 22.

CDM. Christian Poulsen, Club- Juventus, (AWC) 30.

RW. Dennis Rommedahl, Club- NEC Nijmegen, (AWC) 31.

LM. Simon Poulsen, Club- AZ Alkmaar, (AWC) 25.

CAM. Thomas Kahlenberg, Club- Wolfsburg, (AWC) 27.

ST. Nicklas Bendtner, Club- Arsenal, (AWC) 22.

ST. Jon Dahl Tomasson, Club- Feyenoord, (AWC) 33.

Subs

GK. Brian Jensen, Club- Burnley, (AWC) 35.

GK. Jesper Christiansen, Club- Copenhagen, (AWC) 32.

RWB. Christian Keller, Club- Kasinpasa S.K. (Turkey), 29.

CB. Per Kroldrup, Club- Fiorentina, (AWC) 30.

CB. Kristian Bak Nielsen, Club- SC Heerenveen, (AWC) 27.

LWB. Patrick Jan Mtiliga, Club- Malaga, (AWC) 29.

CM. Leon Andreasen, Club- Hannover 96, (AWC) 27.

CM. Daniel Jensen, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 30.

RW. Michael Silberbauer, Club- FC Utrecht, (AWC) 28.

LM. Simon Poulsen, Club- AZ Alkmaar, (AWC) 25.

ST. Tommy Bechmann, Club- SC Freiburg (Germany), (AWC) 28.

ST. Nicklas Pedersen, Club- FC Groningen (Netherlands), (AWC) 22.

Agree with my selections?

The Coach

Dane Morten Olsen has been Denmark's coach since 2000. Previously he had coached club sides in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

Denmark's Strengths

Denmark are a solid team across the field with their players playing for various clubs across Europe.

Denmark's Weakness

Denmark look to be lacking the type of playing that can make something out of nothing and in the end this is what could cost them at the World Cup.