These are 15 of the key players you need to know over the next month to blag an understanding of 'the beautiful game' when you strike up conversation with strangers anywhere.

1. The Networkers
World Cup
Survival Guide
From
The 15 key players you need to
know about this World Cup.

2. Name: Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Forward
Team: Portugal
Important because: He’s their
captain, a Ballon d’Or winner
(like the football Oscars) and
regarded as one of the best
players in the world.
Do say: “I know Ronaldo, he’s
the really really well paid guy
that loves to flash his abs.”
Don’t say: “Doesn’t he play
for Man United?”

3. Name: Lionel Messi
Position: Forward
Team: Argentina
Important because: Best player
in the world with four Ballons
d’Or. Needs to deliver at the
world cup to be considered as
the best ever.
Do Say: “He's just unplayable in
that false 9 position, a
footballing genius.”
Don’t Say: “Why are they letting
a midget play for their team? Did
he win a competition?"
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4. Name: Neymar
Position: Forward
Team: Brazil
Important because: The main
man in the Brazil team right now,
the pressure will be on him to
provide Brazil's creative and
goal-scoring threat.
Do Say: "Did you see Neymar's
goal of the century? The lad has
some tekkers"
Don’t Say: "The thing I like most
about Neymar is his hair."
http://bbc.com

5. Name: Wayne Rooney
Position: Forward
Team: England
Important because: Strong,
skillful, determined. On his day
he's England's best player but
has struggled in previous World
Cups not scoring a goal.
Do Say: "Don't lose your head
Rooney, England can't afford
another Portugal 2006."
Don’t Say: "Anything to do with
Granny's..."
http://sports.inquirer.net

6. Name: Andrea Pirlo
Position: Midfield
Team: Italy
Important because: The man
that makes Italy tick, possibly the
best deep lying playmaker in the
world with his vision and passing
range second-to-none.
Do Say: "Did you know he's won
Seria A four consecutive years
now?"
Don’t Say: "Andrea? I didn't
know Italy had female players in
the team."
http://khelnama.com

7. Name: Mario Balotelli
Position: Forward
Team: Italy
Important because: First black
player to appear for Italy in a
major international tournament.
He was the unexpected star of
the last European Cup, leading
his team to the finals against
Spain.
Do Say: ”He’s an explosive but
unpredictable talent – on and off
the pitch."
Don’t Say: ”He’s a bit of a
wallflower that guy, isn’t he?"
http://aliveforfootball.com/

8. Name: Philipp Lahm
Position: Defence
Team: Germany
Important because: Defender of
the German team's faith and the
youngest ever team captain
despite his height (or lack
thereof).
Do Say: ” You won't catch him
scoring a header."
Don’t Say: ”Don't call him lame,
which is the actual meaning of
his surname in English."
http://static.goal.com/

9. Name: Ashkan Dejagah
Position: Forward
Team: Iran
Important because: Played in all
of the international youth age
groups for Germany, but decided
to play for Iran as homage to his
parents. Donated his DNA profile
for scientific research on sports-
related injuries and training.
Do Say: “He's got the moves like
Dejagah, He's got the moves like
Dejagah!"
Don’t Say: ”Is he related to
Mick?"
http://www.donaukurier.de/

10. Name: Didier Drogba
Position: Forward
Team: Ivory Coast
Important because: After
earning success with Chelsea, he
set up the Didier Drogba
foundation in 2007 to help raise
funds for the Red Cross in his
native Abidjan, and improve the
standard of life in his country.
Do Say: “Didier Drogba: Chelsea
Legend."
Don’t Say: ” Didier Drogba:
Shanghai Shenhua Legend."
http://static.goal.com/

11. Name: Marouane Fellaini
Position: Midfield
Team: Belgium
Important because: Manchester
United and Belgium midfielder,
most famous for his towering
frame and notable hair do, his
team are being touted as dark-
horse contenders this World
Cup.
Do Say: “I’d have a flutter on
Belgium at those odds."
Don’t Say: ”He’s worth
£27m?Man United fans think
that was great value for money
don’t they?"
http://images.football365.com/

12. http://images.planetf1.com/
Name: Luis Suarez
Position: Forward
Team: Uruguay
Important because: He’s been
on fire of late, menacing
defences and scoring for fun as
Liverpool and Uruguay’s star
striker.
Do Say: “Could be a contender
for the Golden Boot."
Don’t Say: ”Could be a
contender for the Oscars the way
he goes to ground."

13. http://mediadb.kicker.de/
Name: Shinji Kagawa
Position: Midfield
Team: Japan
Important because: Named
Asian Football Confederation
International Player of the Year
in 2012, this attacking
midfielders is Japan’s best hope
of progressing to the knock-out
stages.
Do Say: “He’s an intelligent
player with a knack for finding
the right pass."
Don’t Say: ”Can footballers be
described as intelligent?"

14. Name: Clint Dempsey
Position: Midfield
Team: USA
Important because: Versatile
player who can score goals (he’s
still Fulham’s top goal scorer),
he’ll help give the USA an edge
with his toughness and
resilience.
Do Say: “He loves a good diving
header, he does."
Don’t Say: ”He’s a bit of softie
really."
http://soccerball365.com/

15. http://t.reyqui.com
Name: Andrés Iniesta
Position: Midfield
Team: Spain
Important because: Considered
to be one of the best players of
his generation, he’s helped
power Spain to a World Cup
victory (scoring the winning goal)
and 2 x European Cups in the last
6 years.
Do Say: “Balance, control, vision
and creativity, he’s got it all."
Don’t Say: ”What a show-off."

16. http://bubblews.com/
Name: Wesley Sneijder
Position: Midfield
Team: The Netherlands
Important because: He’s won a
string of club trophies, but came
up second best in the last World
Cup. Frequently named man of
the match via public vote, he’ll
be keen to help them emerge
victorious this time, despite
general skepticism about their
chances.
Do Say: “I reckon he’ll curl this
free kick into the back of the
net."
Don’t Say: ”What’s an
ambidextrous dead-ball
specialist when it’s at home? Can
you get an NVQ in that?"

17. The Networkers
World Cup
Survival Guide
From
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