BLUES SEEKING GLORY; Goodison Park stars may hold key to lifting World Cup.

Byline: Dominic King

SOME have queried the choice of host nation, others have voiced concerns about the quality of stadia and safety issues but one thing will never be in doubt.

The closer we get to the start of the 2010 World Cup, those players who have a chance to represent their countries in South Africa will be straining every sinew to make what could be a once in a life time opportunity come true.

Given that David Moyes has assembled a cosmopolitan group of players, Everton are sure to have a healthy representation and there is even grounds for thinking that, come this time next year, the squad may even be home to a World Cup winner.

England, after all, will be among the favourites to challenge for that shining, shimmering gold trophy and Joleon Lescott - provided he maintains the outstanding consistency he has shown during his time on Merseyside - is likely to be in the 22-man party that Fabio Capello selects.

But he might not be the only Lion from Goodison Park.

Prior to suffering that sickening knee injury, Phil Jagielka was finding his feet in the England set-up, while Leighton Baines has emerged as a genuine challenger to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge at left-back.

Both men will be determined to use the new campaign as a platform to show Capello they need to be considered and Jagielka - as he continues on the road back to full fitness - will have taken heart that Capello called on him in a crucial qualifier against Ukraine in March.

And, whisper it quietly, if Jack Rodwell makes the progress that many at Goodison hope and envisage, do not be surprise if he happens to be mentioned as a surprise contender to be included - if he doesn't make this one, he will be a certainty for 2014 in Brazil.

Only a calamity of enormous proportions will stop England from heading to Africa but two Blues whose places at the greatest footballing show on earth have long since been secured are Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar.

Pienaar, of course, will lead the home defence and this proud South African showed during the recent Confederations Cup that neither he or his compatriots will let themselves down in front of the eyes of the world.

He has heard all the talk about stadiums being left half-built and the possible criminal threat to tourists, particularly in his home town of Johannesburg, but steps have been taken to ensure that the competition will run smoothly.

South Africa's government have invested huge sums of money to combat the problem, will the former mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, has been asked for helping in lowering the crime rate and Pienaar is sure things will go according to plan - on and off the pitch.

"The grounds they have built are really impressive," says Pienaar, who grew up in the Westbury township of Johannesburg with his mother and three sisters.

"A lot of work has gone into it making the World Cup a success and I'm sure it will be."

"It was a shame we were beaten in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup but there was no disgrace in losing to Brazil. We knew there was something we could have achieved but it was still a great learning experience.

"The World Cup is still a long way off but we have a young team and we can only build on this. Confidence is what's been lacking.

"We've talked a lot about self-belief and we showed that against Brazil but unfortunately they are a superior team who can score from anywhere."

Scoring from anywhere is something that Cahill knows about and his knack for being in the right place at the right time, as he showed in the summer of 2006 when becoming the first Australian to hit the target at the World Cup finals.

Those two goals turned Cahill into a national icon and another double blast against Japan in June ensured Australia qualified for South Africa as Group winners and there is no disguising how much he enjoys playing for the Socceroos - regardless of all the air miles he clocks up.

"Being with Australia put things into perspective after the FA Cup final defeat," said Cahill.

"Playing those games for my country helped me recover, as I would have needed to play another 10 games for Everton to make me feel better after what happened at Wembley.

"When you''ve got a passion for football and a manager, you play even better than what you do (normally). We fly halfway around the world because we want to but it's even better flying halfway around the world for a manager that looks out for your body.

"Pim (Verbeek) also looks out for you mentally as a player and as a person outside of the football pitch.

"Things like that you cannot put a price on and for us I think as a country we're very blessed to have someone with Pim''s knowledge and to be going to the World Cup again."

Only time will tell how many Evertonians will eventually head south next summer but it is safe bet that Tim Howard will be in goal for the United States, as he was during the Confederations Cup, and Joseph Yobo will captain Nigeria, for whom Ayegbeni Yakubu will lead the line.

If Louis Saha transfers the talent he has been showing in training to the big stage, France could conceivably give him the chance for missing the 2006 World Cup final through suspension, while Jo has ambitions of muscling into Brazil's squad - as Mikel Arteta does with Spain.

So when you take all that into account, one thing is absolutely certain; if those players fulfil their potential and stake irresistible claims, they will be a part of a thriving Everton team - and that can only be good news for David Moyes.

CAPTION(S):

KICKER: Evertonians should have plenty to shout about next summer with handful of Blues aiming to play a part in the World Cup in South Africa, including (from left); Yakubu, Tim Cahill, Joseph Yobo, Tim Howard, Steve Pienaar, Jo, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott and Louis Saha WORLD STAGE: A general view of Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa as work continues this month