Goalkeepers will have a major to role to play and guide their team to a winning position in 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Somehow, goalkeepers do not have that craze and popularity like strikers or midfielders, despite their hard work. However, it needs to be remembered that they are the ones who finally save the ball from entering into the net. A team can have excellent strikers but without a good keeper, it can never prosper. There are quite a few goalkeepers who are expected to perform excellently in South Africa and lift their respective teams to the winner’s seat. Let us see who can be the probable ones to bet your money on:
Iker Casillas (Spain): He is perhaps the best keeper in global football at 
this moment. The captain of the Spanish football team, this 28 year old is expected to make some stunning saves once he wears the gloves for the national side. Casillas has that fitness and common sense which makes him so formidable against penalty shots. There has been lots of matches where he has single handedly lifted the side through his awesome saves.
Julio Cesar (Brazil): He has already entered the list of all time great 
Brazilian goalkeepers at such a young age. A proud winner of the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009, this 6 feet 1 inch player of Portuguese descent has played 47 times for the national side since 2004. A lot is expected from him in 2010 World Cup.
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy): 32 year old Buffon, nicknamed Gigi is like a pillar 
for the Italian side. He played a pivotal role in the penalty shoot out versus France and made his team champions of the 2006 World Cup. This year too, this Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year for 9 times, will do his bit for the Azzuris. For over a decade now, he has been an important part of the national side with more than 100 appearances.
Tim Howard (USA): This 31 year old goalkeeper is an important part of 
USA football team. He was the best keeper in the Confederations Cup 2009 and hopes to improve his form in this year’s world cup. A regular for Everton at the club level, he has made 50 appearances for the national squad.
David James (England): The strong goalkeeping skills of David James will 
surely give more confidence to the English football side. After the departure of David Seaman, James has successfully done duties for his home side and has performed excellently in humdingers. He already has 50 caps for the national team and is expected to prove his mettle on the South African soil.
It remains to be seen whether the gloves also prove their part this World Cup in South Africa along with the boots and lift teams to the winner’s podium.
1. Switzerland
