Unknown Players who have impressed in the World Cup

[BrooklynRed]

Steven Chirandolo, the US RB was good.

Agree... it was a close call that he would even play over Jonathan Spector (who is awful), so I was well pleased with his performance... good going forward, decent in defense.

[peekay]

Agree... it was a close call that he would even play over Jonathan Spector (who is awful), so I was well pleased with his performance... good going forward, decent in defense.

He owned Milner. Defensively he was good too. However, couple of 80 year old nans in a wheel chair would have looked against SWP and Milner today. But he did well tracking Cole's runs.

[destinydude]

I thought Michael Bradley was very good yesterday. He pissed all over Gerrard and Lampard in midfield

[Fernandinho]

his brother bob bradley looks a decent prospect, unfortunately he spent the whole match on the bench

[destinydude]

his brother bob bradley looks a decent prospect, unfortunately he spent the whole match on the bench

Isnt Bob his father?

[Neil Young]

Robert Green?

Wayne Rooney. He was Unknown tonight!

Oh well, if we're going to get all satirical in this thread too, how about that Gerrard lad who played for England?

We might have got fourth with him in the team last season instead of our captain.

[Pablo]

All goalkeepers so far, apart from that Mexican clown.

He prefers to be called El Payoso

[Mostar]

Tschabalala was good for south africa yesterday, looked like a very good player.

I also like him. Seems to have some pace, can pass and is fairly strong technically.

[lickedlollipop]

Plus he has the best name.

[CJ]

Oh well, if we're going to get all satirical in this thread too, how about that Gerrard lad who played for England?

We might have got fourth with him in the team last season instead of our captain.

i woud say calling it satire is giving me credit i dont deserve.

[Norbs]

Isnt Bob his father?

Chances are there's another member of the family called Billobob

[Fernandinho]

haha it was a joke...

[sevennilphil]

Anthony Annan of Ghana, defensive midfielder...despite being tiny (a la Mascher) he was super strong, great feet and rarely gave it away.

[MrsB]

World Cup 2010: The reputation of African goalkeepers is in safe hands

Vincent Enyeama's performance against Argentina changed the view of Africans between the sticks.

Owen Gibson in Johannesburg
guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 June 2010 20.31 BST



Vincent Enyeama Nigeria's Vincent Enyeama, yellow, produced what could prove to be the goalkeeping performance of the World Cup against Argentina. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

While Robert Green was grimly picking the ball out of the net on Saturday night, Nigeria's Vincent Enyeama was still accepting plaudits for a man-of-the-match performance against Argentina. In an inversion of the usual stereotype some Europe-based goalkeepers have struggled in the opening few matches of this World Cup while several African goalkeepers have excelled.

Enyeama's display was described by no less an attacking force than Lionel Messi, who he denied on at least five occasions, as "phenomenal". Diego Maradona praised his "exceptional performance" as he repelled wave after wave of Argentina attacks.

While other goalkeepers, from Green to Australia's Mark Schwarzer, appear to have been struggling with the way the new Adidas ball behaves at altitude, the 27-year-old saved his team from a drubbing and may have already delivered the best goalkeeping display of this World Cup.

Enyeama's brilliance did not come as any surprise to those who have been following the fortunes of this Nigerian team for some time. Frequently their best player during qualifying, the Hapoel Tel Aviv keeper was linked last summer with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal and Wigan both said to be interested.

A few more performances like Saturday's and he could well seal a switch to England, with West Ham United rumoured to be the latest club to express an interest. But it is not just Enyeama who has turned conventional wisdom about African goalkeeping on its head during the opening week of the first World Cup on the continent.

While some of the goalkeeping in this year's Africa Cup of Nations still left much to be desired, the standard so far in South Africa suggests that among the top nations there has been a marked improvement.

"Goalkeeper remains a problem position for many of Africa's best teams but there are enough very good keepers to end the stereotype of the 'typically naive African goalkeeper'," said Steve Bloomfield, author of the book Africa United: How Football Explains Africa. "Enyeama has been Nigeria's best player for some time and would not look out of place at a top European club. Cameroon's Idriss Kameni is a regular in La Liga while Egypt's Essam El Hadary would, despite his age, still do a good job in the Premier League."

There have been other fine performances in the opening matches. Richard Kingson may not be able to get a game for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League but minutes before Asamoah Gyan scored the penalty that made Ghana the first African nation to secure a victory in this World Cup, he made a crucial stop from Serbia's Milos Krasic that ensured a clean sheet.

South Africa's goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune was also praised in the wake of his team's opening draw with Mexico, during which he helped to repel a first‑half onslaught that could have left the hosts embarrassed. Gary Bailey, the former Manchester United keeper who is now a commentator in his native South Africa, said Africa's No1s could not be ranked among the best in the world until they had proved themselves at Europe's top clubs.

"One good match does not mean that Enyeama is a great goalkeeper and one bad match does not mean that Green is a bad goalkeeper. You need to judge a goalkeeper over the course of a tournament or a full season, not on one match," he said.

"There have been good African goalkeepers in the past. But you tend to judge great players by who the biggest clubs are prepared to buy. You'd have to say the top five goalkeepers in the world are all European, with maybe one South American."

However, he conceded that with the eyes of the world on South Africa for the next month, Enyeama and others have the opportunity to make a name for themselves. "In a tournament you have got eight or nine matches. You don't have to be in the top 10 in the world to have a great eight or nine matches. This is a real chance for some of those guys to impress."

Bloomfield said that while there would still be indifferent performances by African goalkeepers – hotheaded Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi's howler against Slovenia being a case in point – one legacy of this World Cup might be an end to lazy stereotyping. "We should view African goalies the same way we view their European counterparts. Some are great, some are mediocre and others are in between. The worst mistake of the World Cup is likely to be Green's but I didn't hear anyone refer to it as 'typically naive European goalkeeping'."

Nigeria

Vincent Enyeama

Regarded as one of the best keepers in Africa since forcing his way into the Nigeria squad for the 2002 World Cup, where he kept a clean sheet against England. He helped the Nigerian side Enyimba win the African Champions League in 2003 and 2004 which earned him a transfer to Israel. The 27-year-old is expected to move on this summer.

South Africa

Itumeleng Khune

Hopes to celebrate turning 23 on Sunday by helping his country into the last 16. In his teens he played outfield but has been in goal since catching the eye of a coach while filling in for an injured team-mate. Now plays for Kaizer Chiefs, where his brother is a striker. Saved a penalty from Spain's David Villa in last year's Confederations Cup.

Ghana

Richard Kingson

Injury and unimpressive form meant he did not play a single minute of league football for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League last season but his experience ensured he kept his place in the national team despite the emergence of Daniel Agyei, who was in goal for the Ghana team that won the U-20 World Championship last year.

[Helios Creed]

I've been impressed by a couple of unknowns so far, but I don't know their names.