FROM Laurie Hughes and Alex Parker, through Ray Wilson and Roger Hunt, and now Steven Gerrard and Tim Cahill, Merseyside has always had a strong presence at the World Cup.
But this summer there promises to be a host of former Liverpool and Everton players lighting up the tournament, with 19 former Merseyside-based players set to feature.
The England squad alone houses four, with former Liverpool stars David James, Peter Crouch, Stephen Warnock and Emile Heskey along with Wayne Rooney, once of Everton persuasion.
France are next on the list. While most will instantly think of former strikers Nicolas Anelka and Djibril Cisse, few will remember the third ex-Liverpool man – Alou Diarra.
Spain, too, have strong Liverpool connections. Vicente del Bosque will call upon Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, both of whom left Anfield for Real Madrid a year ago.
Australia are another with a pair of former Merseysiders, with Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill appearing in red and blue respectively.
Only one other nation houses two former players, although Everton fans would probably prefer not to admit it. Morten Olsen’s Denmark selection has a blue edge to it, with both Lars Jacobsen and Per Kroldrup among the 23. Between them they made just six league appearances at Goodison, with Everton fans hard pushed to recognise either.
They will recognise Landon Donovan though. The 28-year-old is USA’s captain and all-time record goalscorer, and became a firm favourite during a two-month loan spell at Goodison earlier this year.
Which leaves the rest, and there are one or two Merseyside blasts from the past lurking among the so-called lesser nations. Rigobert Song, once of Liverpool, will be appearing in his fourth World Cup finals with Cameroon this summer, while winger Mark ‘Speedy’ Gonzalez will make his debut with Chile.
Philippe Senderos failed to make much of an impact during a loan spell at Everton this season, but will play for Switzerland this summer, and England could well run into former Liverpool defender Carl Medjani when they take on Algeria in their Group B clash.
Medjani, like Diarra, failed to make a senior appearance during three years at the club, but will now do something Ian Rush and Neville Southall never could – play at the World Cup.
