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Brazil's Alexandre Pato - Source: Reuters -
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Last week we brought you this
Top 10 stars to look out for at the World Cup ,
this week, continuing tvnz.co.nz's Top 10 build-up we look at the
up and coming stars of the tournament
10. Giuseppe Rossi - Italy
With an aging line-up, and a lack of creativity in the national side, reigning World Champions Italy are in desperate need of a little bit of youth and finesse - luckily for coach Marcello Lippi - American born-Italian Giuseppe Rossi has that in spades.
Rossi is a versatile forward who, though relatively inexperienced at international level, showed enough promise in his early career that he was signed by Manchester United at the tender age of 17.
After a stint at Newcastle, Giuseppe was later sold to La Liga side Villarreal, but could one day be heading back to Manchester as Alex Ferguson made sure to put a buy-back clause in the deal that took the 23-year-old to Spain.
Rossi was first called up to the Italian national side in October 2008 and scored his first goal for the side in a friendly against Northern Ireland, but he really came to the attention of the world when he scored two goals against the side of his birth in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
9. Oscar Cardozo - Paraguay
He may be known as somewhat of a late bloomer - but at 26-years of age Benfica's Oscar Cardozo is quickly becoming one of football's hottest targets.
'Tacuara', as he is also known, has been in cracking form in the 2009/2010 Portuguese season, netting 18 goals in 21 games.
He also came to the attention of the European football world after netting two in his side's 5-0 thrashing of Everton in the Europa League, before almost knocking their Merseyside neighbours out with three goals in two games against Liverpool.
Named Paraguayan footballer of the year in 2006 and 2009, Cardozo is renowned as a free-kick specialist, and a decent show at the World Cup could see this 40 million pound-rated star be joining up with fellow countryman Roque Santa Cruz at Manchester City by the end of the summer.
8. Eljero Elia - Netherlands
While the Netherlands could be the dark horses of the World Cup, 23-year-old Eljero Elia may prove to be the unlikely star of the tournament.
Since rising up the youth ranks of ADO Den Haag, the 2009 Dutch Football Talent of the Year (other players to have won this award are Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Dennis Bergkamp) has continued to impress with his incredible pace and keen eye for goal and now is showcasing his talent at Hamburg, where he claimed two man of the match awards in his first four games for the Bundesliga side.
And while the former Liverpool target may have only made just two appearances for the national side, he managed to break Scottish hearts are scoring the only goal in Holland's 1-0 World Cup qualification win over Scotland.
Elia may struggle to break into the starting line-up in a team littered with goalscoring talent though Netherland's coach Bert van Marwijk is thought to be keen to showcase this rising talent.
7. Yoann Gourcuff - France
Just like Italy, ailing world football heavyweights France have come under scrutiny about their aging team after they struggled to qualify for the World Cup - but they do have an up and coming talent in their midst in the form of Bordeaux midfielder (and ladies favourite) Yoann Gourcuff.
Playing for Les Bleus since 2008, Gourcuff made his mark when he netted a spectacular goal from 30-yards against Romania in a World Cup qualifying clash and he has made such an impression on France manager Raymond Domenech that he has put the 23-year-old in the attacking midfielder position where he will provide much-needed pace for the likes veteran strikers Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka.
His position is also the one vacated by Zinedine Zidane (who ended his international career with a bang, and a headbutt in 2006) and he will want to do his best to impress on football's biggest stage as the 30-million pound rated ace has recently become a target for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
6. Alexis Sanchez - Chile
While Chilean star Alexis Sanchez may have been making waves with people in the know for the last few years (he was named by World Soccer Magazine as one of the 50 most exciting teenagers in the world game in 2007) the 2010 World Cup will finally his time to shine.
Known as El Nino Maravilla (The Wonder Boy) Sanchez is almost a veteran in football terms after he was picked up at the age of 15 to play for Chilean side Cobreloa, before making a name for himself as a versatile midfielder at Serie A side Udinese, when he has been banging in the goals since 2008.
Although he made his debut for the international side in April 2006, this will be Sanchez' first showing in a World Cup - where he no doubt be hoping to make a good impression after being named as one of Alex Ferguson's main transfer targets.
5. Jozy Altidore - USA
After injury struck rising star Charlie Davis, US footballs great hope now sits on the shoulders of fiery 20-year-old Jozy Altidore.
After earning attention for his goalscoring prowess with MLS side New York Red Bull at the age of 16 this New Jersey native has continued to go from strength to strength and became the most expensive MLS player to be sold abroad when he made a $12m move to Villarreal in 2008.
And although things didn't quite work out for the striker in Spain, he is now trying to prove he is worthy of a place in Bob Bradley's World Cup squad with Hull City after he joined the Premier League strugglers on-loan, but he may not need to as his international credentials speak for themselves after he became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for the US in their 3-0 qualifying win over Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.
4. David Silva - Spain
In a team literally bursting with big names it is easy to forget the likes of Euro 2008 winner David Silva, but after a star-turn at Euro 2008 this lightening quick attacking midfielder will no doubt be making headlines again in 2010.
Since rising up the ranks of Spain's youth team, alongside Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas, Silva has been impressing and was called up to the Spanish senior squad in 2006.
Just like his Spanish partner in crime, David Villa, there is not a week that goes by without the Valencia talent being linked to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid and given his ability to out pass and outwit any defender - his stock is sure to increase considerably should he put on yet another spectacular performance in South Africa.
3. Gonzalo Higuain - Argentina
While the juggernaut that is Cristiano Ronaldo has been grabbing all the headlines for Real Madrid - there is one player who has been flying somewhat under the radar - that is until now.
With an impressive 26 goals in 31 appearances for the La Liga side, French-born striker Gonzalo Higuain is helping to keep Real right in the title hunt, while also showing Argentina coach Diego Maradona just why he was right to call him up to the national side.
After initially rejecting calls from both the Argentine and French national sides because he was undecided where his international career lay, Higuain finally settled on Argentina - but it wasn't until 2009 that the 22-year-old was called up to the national side.
The move came after mounting pressure on Maradona from fans and the media and he promptly scored on his debut in the side's crucial 2-1 win over Peru. He has now scored two goals in four appearances for Argentina, and the thought of him linking up with Lionel Messi in attack this summer no doubt has football fans foaming at the mouth.
Alexander Pato - Brazil
While the likes of Kaka, Ronaldinho and Robinho are often the first names that come to mind when people think of Brazil, Alexander Pato is a name that could soon to be on everyone's lips in 2010.
After helping Brazil win the 2007 South American Youth Championship Pato then scored his first goal for the senior national side on his debut against Sweden in 2008, beating football icon Pele's record of scoring a goal within seconds of his international debut proper.
Since then Pato has continued to be a rising star for AC Milan, scoring 14 goals in 25 appearances for the Serie A giants in the 09/10 season making him a main target for Chelsea boss Carlos Ancelotti, who has been trying to lure the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge since he took the reins this season.
But with an injury that has kept him on the sidelines since March, not to mention rumours about his "constant partying" - Pato is sweating on whether he will be called up for Dunga's side, which would be a real shame as this natural finisher looks to be shaping up to be a real world football star..
1. James Milner - England
It may have been a long time coming, but after impressing so much for club and country as an England U-21 midfield star, many wouldn't disagree that Aston Villa's James Milner is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
The former Leeds and Newcastle player -who made his Three Lions debut under Fabio Capello in 2009 - has impressed so much it has even lead England U-21's boss Stuart Pearce to say he believes the 24-year-old could be more important to the England squad than Wayne Rooney.
And it is the 2010 Young Player of the Year's tough temperament, slick passing and foresight that has elevated him to a new level, making him one of Aston Villa's key players and a sure-fire England star of the future
The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11. Come to
TV ONE, TVNZ7 and tvnz.co.nz for selected group and second stage
matches LIVE, including every All Whites match. We also have every
match from the Quarter finals, through to the Final showdown - all
LIVE - as well daily highlights from every beautiful
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