African All-Stars: 7 Players to watch at Africa Cup of Nations 2012 is a post from: Just
Football
"I think it is a responsibility for every proper club in Europe to go to the Africa Cup of
Nations to see what the market brings and what hidden talents are running around in Africa,"
Hoffenheim scout Lutz Pfannenstiel told the BBC on the eve of the African Cup of Nations 2012.
2011 Year of the Neymar is a post from: Just Football
He struts with the cocksure swagger of a born star and not only that, he can play a bit too.
2011 can be seen as the year Neymar truly broke through on the world stage.
Just Football's man in Brazil Paulo Freitas looks back at the year of the mohawked
one:
Neymar has been hyped since he was a youth player, but he finally established himself as
Brazil's new big star in the 2011 season, shining in most competitions.
Good Player Guide #19 Eduardo Vargas is a post from: Just Football
Eduardo Vargas
(Universidad de Chile / Chile)
Universidad de Chile have conquered the 2011 Copa Sudamericana in stunning fashion. Undefeated,
with only two goals against in twelve matches, and a delightful style of football that brought back
memories of La U's golden years in the '60s, when they were known as Ballet Azul and won five of
their fourteen league titles.
Good Player Guide #18 Nolito is a post from: Just Football
Nolito
(Benfica / Spain)
Signing a Barcelona player would, in itself, normally suffice to excite fans of any club.
However, the fact the Spanish forward was just one of a plethora of new signings at
Benfica this summer, which included the much heralded Bruno César, Enzo Pérez
and Axel Witsel, meant that when the 2011/12 season kicked off, Nolito was considered anything but
the star turn.
Good Player Guide #17 Kevin Strootman is a post from: Just Football
Kevin Strootman
(PSV Eindhoven / Holland)
The town of Ridderkerk in the province of South Holland doesn't hold many claims to fame but the
rise of one of their sons could put it on the map.
Good Player Guide #16 Granit Xhaka is a post from: Just Football
Granit Xhaka
(FC Basle / Switzerland)
Granit Xhaka's mother was confident, but not even she could expect to be proven right so
quickly. "Granit will play for Switzerland in the future," she told the Swiss media back in
2009.
Emerging talent: 12 players to watch at the Under-21 European Championships 2011 is a post from:
Just Football
The 2011 UEFA Under-21 European Championships get underway this weekend in
Denmark. This year's edition includes some surprise names, such as Belarus and first-time
qualifiers Iceland, as well as some big name absentees like Italy, Holland and 2009 winners Germany
who all failed to qualify this time around.
Good Player Guide #15 Mario Goetze is a post from: Just Football
Mario Götze
(Borussia Dortmund / Germany)
They say that good things come to those who wait. For German football fans, that certainly
seems to be the case, as they sit back and enjoy the fruits of the DFB's plan for long-term youth
development implemented at the turn of the millennium.
