A Star Is Born - Little Boy Blue's World Cup Countdown

The world stage beckons for the players of all thirty-two competing nations.  Over the years various stars have stamped their identity on the World Cup - Pele, Garrincha, Charlton, Eusebio, Rivelino, Cruyff, Muller, Kempes, Maradona, Baggio, Zidane, Owen, Ronaldo - and no doubt there will be a few aiming to make it big in South Africa over the next month or so.   Kaka has yet to hit the high note in the World Cup but, just as Ronaldo had to wait until 2002 to make up for the disappointment of France'98, I reckon Kaka is about to be the inspiration behind Brazil's sixth triumph.  He has had an in and out season at Real Madrid but he will be fresh for the challenge ahead and, with Robinho and Luis Fabiano there to support him, it spells big trouble for those others with their eyes on the trophy.   Similarly, Lionel Messi will have been disappointed with his showing in Germany four years ago.  If Diego Maradona is brave enough to give him a free rein, the wee man from Barcelona could do a helluva lot of damage.  He too will benefit from the presence of those around him - Milito, Higuain and Tevez - and I dream of a Brazil v Argentina showdown, especially if the top attackers can break free of the attention of their markers.   It is hard to believe Waybe Rooney is only twenty-four.  He seems to have been around for an age but, if he can stay free of injury, he could be the driving force behind England hopes of fulfilling their ambition.  Often too much is expected of one player but, if anyone is capable of shouldering England's burden single-handed, it has to be Rooney.   Christiano Ronaldo needs to put the disappointment of a trophyless season at Real Madrid behind him if he is to make his mark in South Africa.  Just like Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo appears to have been strutting his stuff for ever but, with Portugal's 'Golden Generation' - Figo, Couto, Rui Costa etc - having moved on, the onus will be on the former Man Utd man to produce someething really special, even more so now that Nani has pulled out.   While Kaka, Messi, Rooney and Ronaldo are established stars, there are one or two younger men who might be about to take the world by storm.  French hope lies with Yoann Gourcuff so much so that coach Domenech made the amazing decision to go to South Africa without Karim Benzema.  Gourcuff's attacking bursts from midfield should be a feature of France's campaign and, while Arsenal prepare to offer megabucks to take him from Bordeaux to the Emirates, this World Cup could be making of him, seeing potential develop into genuine quality.   And Scots fans won't forget Holland's Eljero Elia who cashed in on big Davie Weir's mistake to grab the goal which enabled Holland to kill off Scotland's hopes at Hampden last September.  He'll benefit from having the experience of Kuyt, Robben and Huntelaar around him.   The partnership of David Villa and Fernando Torres will be vital to Spain's hopes.  Both are pretty short odds to be the World Cup's top goalscorer but I'm more inclined to have a wee flutter on Brazil's Luis Fabiano to benefit greatly from Kaka's promptings.  And Germany will be reliant on Miroslav Klose's and Lukas Podolski's eye for goal, hoping to rekindle memories of hit-men like Muller, Voller and Rummenigge.   My first World Cup memory is of 1962, when film of games would be flown back to the UK from Chile for a late night showing.  With Pele kicked out of the tournament in the first game, Garrincha emerged as the star, scoring some cracking goals, including two in the 3-1 victory over England in the quarter-finals.   Mexico 1970 has to be the best World Cup of the modern era.  With colour TV and 'live' satellite transmission, it was great to see the Brazilians turn on the style, with the explosive shooting and manic goal celebrations of Rivelino being a highlight of the competition.   It would be great if somebody seized the opportunity to stamp his imprint on this World Cup to give us memories to savour through the years to come.   Tomorrow:  WINNERS AND LOSERS.  LBB takes one last look at the contenders before the World Cup gets underway.