Scots absent, but ten players will fly SPL flag in South Africa

Published on Tuesday 1 June 2010 22:28

TEN players who finished the season plying their trade in the SPL have secured a place at the World Cup after yesterday's Fifa deadline saw all 32 competing squads for the tournament in South Africa finalised.

The tally is an improvement on the 2006 finals in Germany when just nine players from Scotland's top flight were involved, including four from a Trinidad and Tobago squad which also included two from the SFL. As Scotland's absence from the biggest footballing show on earth lengthens, here are the ten men to whom at least a certain degree of parochial interest can be attached.

MADJID BOUGHERRA

(Algeria)

The Rangers defender was a star turn in Algeria's qualification for the finals for the first time since 1986 and also helped them to reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Arguably he contributed more to his country's success last season than he did to his club's trophy collecting as injuries and international commitments limited his appearances for the Ibrox side.

LANDRY NGUEMO

(Cameroon)

The Nancy midfielder managed to complete his season-long loan at Celtic with his reputation intact despite the club's wretched fortunes under Tony Mowbray. Re-established himself in the Cameroon squad under former Rangers manager Paul le Guen and is expected to make the starting line-up in South Africa.

GEORGIOS SAMARAS

(Greece)

The tall striker is the source of apoplexy for many Celtic supporters but his place in Otto Rehhagel's squad this summer was never in doubt. The 25-year-old played an influential role in Greece's qualification campaign, including a stunning pass to set up the play-off-winning goal against Ukraine.

SOL BAMBA

(Ivory Coast)

The first Hibernian player to go to the World Cup finals since Ecuador defender Ulises de la Cruz in 2002. Bamba looks likely to form a central defensive partnership with Kolo Toure for a talented Ivory Coast squad who many believe could prove a surprise package under Sven Goran-Eriksson's management. Bamba scored in the friendly draw with Paraguay this week.

EDSON BRAAFHEID

(Netherlands)

The Bayern Munich left-back's loan spell at Celtic will not be recalled with any great fondness by the Parkhead club's followers as he singularly failed to impress before being dropped from the side by interim manager Neil Lennon following Tony Mowbray's dismissal. Managed to retain his place in the Dutch squad regardless.

MICHAEL McGLINCHEY

(New Zealand)

The former Celtic youngster returned to Scotland at the end of the season to play eight games on loan at Motherwell from Central Coast Mariners in a bid to ensure his place in New Zealand's first World Cup finals squad since 1982. The diminutive 23-year-old midfielder, who was born in Wellington, will now represent the land of his birth in South Africa three years after playing for Scotland in the Under-20 World Cup finals in Canada.

DUSAN PERNIS

(Slovakia)

Signed by Dundee United during the January transfer window, the goalkeeper enjoyed an outstanding first five months with the Tannadice club to catapult himself into contention for the Slovakian squad. While Legia Warsaw's Jan Mucha remains Slovakia's first-choice 'keeper, Pernis is now pushing him hard and could see some action in South Africa.

KI SUNG YEUNG

(South Korea)

The 21-year-old midfielder found his first-team opportunities limited at Celtic after joining the Parkhead club from FC Seoul in January but he showed enough ability to suggest that he may yet prove to be a decent legacy of Tony Mowbray's reign. Ki is a regular first pick for the South Koreans and is likely to feature alongside Manchester United's Park Ji Sung in their central midfield.

MAURICE EDU

(United States)

The Rangers midfielder returned to fitness with the Ibrox club in time to cement his place in the American squad and the 24-year-old is expected to be in the starting line-up for their opening fixture against England on 12 June. Regarded as a player the Americans will build their side around in future years, Edu will look to seriously enhance his reputation in South Africa.

DaMARCUS BEASLEY

(United States)

The experienced winger will play in his third successive World Cup finals for USA despite failing to make any significant impression with the Rangers first team last season. Out of contract this summer, Beasley will not be returning to Ibrox but his country hope he can remain an influential performer for them over the next few weeks.

&#149 At the 2006 World Cup finals, the following nine SPL players were involved: Dado Prso (Rangers/Croatia), Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic/Japan), Artur Boruc (Celtic/Poland), Maciej Zurawski (Celtic/Poland), Marvin Andrews (Rangers/Trinidad & Tobago), Densill Theobald (Falkirk/Trinidad & Tobago), Russel Latapy (Falkirk/Trinidad & Tobago), Collin Samuel (Dundee United/Trinidad & Tobago), Hamed Namouchi (Rangers/Tunisia).

Trinidad & Tobago also had two Scottish First Division players in Dundee's Kelvin Jack and St Johnstone's Jason Scotland.