World Cup Players to Watch, Part 1

I've picked 14 teams I think have a chance to do some damage in the World Cup this year. Why 14? I dunno. Fourteen is a good number. Guti wears and Mike Scioscia wore 14. 14 is a nice number. Here's part 1:

Brazil: Felipe Melo
Felipo Melo began the season as the subject of a tug of war between Arsenal and the Old Lady of Turin and one of the “hottest prospects”of the transfer market in a race where everyone lost. By the end of the season Melo was just happy to get out of Italy for a while. The weak link of Dunga’s more defensive minded Brazil is its double pivot double question mark. Gilberto was old four years ago and the player who will be forced to pick up the slack in the center will be Melo. You’ve got to give it to Dunga, though, in realizing the weakness of his team, and knowing that he will most likely have enough in attack to get the job done, he’ll use two defensive midfielders to the chagrin of his nation.

Spain: David Villa
Since the monkey-erasing back scratching that was Euro 2008, Del Bosque has replaced the role of Marcos Senna with Xabi Alonso and Picaboo Busquets. Combined with the Fernando Torres injury, David Villa will be forced to take the main responsibility for finishing. Luckily for Spain, he’s proven he’s up to the task and Spain has the deepest midfield and goalkeeping in the tournament, along with some of the best defending and, in Villa, a lethal strikeforce. If Torres can provide meaningful pitch-time, look for Villa to have a chance at the Golden Boot.

Italy: Antonio Di Natale
Lippi’s choice of formations and tactics in qualifying and friendlies has been, in a word, schizophrenic. Overall, it’s probably good for Italy, but terrible for anyone trying to make predictions. More maddening for Italian fans is Lippi’s choice to axe Toni, Totti, Rossi, Cassano, and Balotelli. Lippi seems to have taken performance and attitude over skill and talent. More power to him; the guy has won more World Cups than I have. Nevertheless, he’s going to need someone to step up. Antonio Di Natale seems like the guy most suited to give it a go. I guess...