World Cup 2010 Blog: “Two All-Whites could get their first caps at the World Cup” plus 1 more

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Two All-Whites could get their first caps at the World Cup Posted: 09 May 2010 07:29 PM PDT When the New Zealand World Cup squad was announced today, there was naturally plenty of excitement to go around, but for Aaron Clapham and Winston Reid (pictured), there is more than just the honor and thrill of being selected to a World Cup roster. These two players have the chance to do something extremely rare – get their first national team cap at a World Cup. Reid is probably the better known of the two players, at least in European football circles, but we’ll forgive you if you can’t put a face to the name. The central defender plays his club football for FC Midtjylland in Denmark, and is a dual citizen of both New Zealand and Denmark. The Danes have played him at the U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels, but he has never earned a senior cap, and came out recently and made it clear that his senior preference was to play for the All-Whites. Aaron Clapham is a midfielder for Canterbury United in New Zealand. Manager Ricki Herbert told TVNZ in New Zealand: “Aaron has come into this group and looked very comfortable. He is the type of player that should be around the international scene for many years and he has a big future in the professional game”. What a way to start your international career. There’s no guarantee, of course, that making the squad means getting any actual time on the pitch in South Africa, but if one of these guys does step on for New Zealand, or (dare I say) if Clapham gets a chance at goal, it could be one of the storybook moments at this World Cup. >> To follow the All-Whites through the World Cup and beyond, check out New Zealand World Cup Blog. You can also follow the blog on Twitter and Facebook.

Rooney vs. Drogba, Round 2: The World Cup Posted: 09 May 2010 01:24 PM PDT Today, as you probably know, Chelsea wrapped up the Premier League title with a 8-0 hammering of Wigan at Stamford Bridge. Of those eight, three belonged to one Didier Drogba, making his season total an impressive 29 league goals. Wayne Rooney added none to his total, also 26 going into the final round, and so Drogba will be the Premier League golden boot winner. The question is: Will he also be able to outscore Rooney in the World Cup? Which do you think has the better shot at the honor of top scorer in South Africa? Drogba certainly has added to his case lately, and probably has the edge on form. Rooney had a ridiculously productive winter, but with nagging injuries, has fallen off of his incredible early-season pace. In today’s 4-0 win over Stoke, Rooney again aggravated his groin injury. However, to win the golden boot in the World Cup, you need two things – to score goals in the (relatively easier) group stage, and to have your team advance far in the tournament, and on these points, England and Rooney may have the advantage. Statistically, Cote d’Ivoire’s Group G looks the harder one, both to score in and advance from. Brazil and Portugal are two very difficult opponents, though admittedly North Korea probably offers the best chance of either group to pile on goals. If either Drogba or Rooney is going to get a World Cup hat trick, I’d put good money on it being Drogs against North Korea. England’s Group C opponents (Algeria, Slovenia and the USA) are weaker overall, and I have to put their chances of getting into the second round a bit higher, but there’s no team as clearly weak on paper as North Korea in Group G. So, I put it to you, the readers, to make your early predictions. Who will score more?

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