Awards season is coming up again with FIFA and France Football preparing to hand out their gongs for the best players of the year. Yet again the nominees appear to be a familiar bunch and some of them seem to be on the shortlists as much because of their reputations as their form over the last 12 months.

Unsurprisingly the FIFA short-list of 30 players, which the organisation says was “compiled by various groups of experts”,  is headed by Kaka, who steered AC Milan to the Champions League, although he also decided to sit out the leading international tournament of the year, the Copa America. Kaka also seems certain to win the Ballon d’Or.

It’s less easy to see how someone like Lilian Thuram gets on the list. Thuram was instrumental in France’s triumphs in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, but no one who saw his shaky performances at Barcelona last season could argue that he should be on the shortlist.

Similarly Fabio Cannavaro may have been a deserved winner in 2006 after leading Italy to the World Cup, but why is he still on the list this year after such a poor season at Real Madrid?

On the other hand there is no place for Daniel Alves, Sevilla’s incombustible wing back, who was the outstanding Primera Liga defender last season. Alves helped steer his club to a second successive UEFA Cup triumph and also scored in the final of the Copa America.

Thierry Henry is there and yet he spent much of his final season at Arsenal on the treatment table and has made a distinctly underwhelming start to his career at Barcelona. Fernando Torres also features, but the stand-out Spanish player of the last 12 months, Andres Iniesta, is nowhere to be seen.

Then again, where are the Croatian players who steered their country through a brilliant qualification campaign to claim their place at Euro 2008?

The France Football nominees tend to be more wide-ranging and well informed, but I still get the feeling that some of the real form players of the year have been overlooked.

We’d like your opinions on who was really the best player of 2007. Which other players deserve to be on the list? And why do you seemingly have to play for a “big” club or country to win the award?

We have a poll running at the main soccer site so please follow the link to leave a vote and give us your views on the awards season in the comments below.

PHOTO: AC Milan’s Kaka gestures during their Champions League Group D soccer match against Benfica at the Luz stadium, Lisbon, November 28, 2007. REUTERS/Marcos Borga

Consider for a moment the following: when the draw was made for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup last weekend England and Israel were both ranked in the second tier (of six) of the European nations.

This already shows that while Israel have learned a thing or two and have improved, there is something wrong with England.

In 1992, when Israel entered the European fold, they were treated as little more than minnows, perhaps only a bit better than Luxembourg or the Faroe Islands.

A decade and a half later, Israel are ranked 18th in Europe and 26th among all FIFA member countries. One can argue about the validity of the rankings, but the general trend is undisputable: the gap between England and Israel and many other countries of similar stature to Israel, has narrowed greatly.

My colleague Julien Pretot last week offered a brief outsider’s view on England’s failures in the match against Croatia. If you’ll forgive another intervention, this time from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, England’s problems seems to me to be about hunger and ambition.

Whenever Israeli players are interviewed before the start of a new season, or alleged details of their contracts are reported, they almost always portray a clear aspiration to move away from home to play in one of the continent’s big leagues.

How many up-and-coming English players look to better themselves by venturing to far-flung corners of the continent? I’ll bet you wouldn’t even need all the fingers of one hand to count them.

Of course, English players don’t need to go abroad to play alongside players of great talent, or to reach top levels of fitness. But it’s indisputable that English players could develop their skills in different ways by seeking a move abroad.

Young English players struggling to get regular games at their clubs could benefit greatly from regular action in other leagues. Playing for even modest clubs in major leagues like Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the Netherlands would help them develop as footballers and as people.

There has been a lot of talk lately about quotas but unless and until the Premier League has such a system in place isn’t it time for the English to do what the rest of the EU has been doing for years and take full advantage of the right to freedom of movement?

Ori Lewis is a Reuters correspondent based in Jerusalem

PHOTO: England international Owen Hargreaves, then of Bayern Munich, kicks the ball during training a day before last season’s Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, February 19, 2007. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

Is there a clear distinction between the good managers and the not so good, or can a manager be the right man for one position but not necessarily for them all?

This thought is triggered by speculation that Jose Mourinho might be persuaded to take over the England job following Steve McClaren, and by Paul Sturrock’s return to Plymouth Argyle.

Mourinho obviously has the necessary coaching credentials to manage England having won league titles in Portugal (Porto) and England (Chelsea), and his ability to change a game with an inspired substitution would be manna from heaven for England fans.

But Mourinho appears to have a low boredom threshold, does not suffer fools or criticism gladly, and often talks his way into trouble. Would he be able to deal with the great and good of the Football Association, the long gaps between internationals and the lack of preparation time with his squad?

He reminds me of Brian Clough, the unguided missile of the 1970s. Great manager, possibly the best in post-war English league soccer, but ignored by England much to many people’s disgust. The FA mandarins knew Clough would be out of their control and, with hindsight, it is almost certain his appointment would have ended in tears.

Now to Sturrock who returned this week for his second spell in charge at the mighty Argyle. Sturrock is a maestro at inspiring English lower division clubs to promotion – he took Plymouth up and then left them near the top of the third tier from where they clinched another promotion.

He led Sheffield Wednesday up to the Championship (second division) and then guided Swindon Town to promotion.

But the Scot failed spectacularly on his one attempt at Premier League management at Southampton. He was in charge for just 13 games and appeared to alienate the players, supporters and the club’s chairman before being shown the door.

What does all this prove? Perhaps that a club or country needs to be sure their manager is a “good fit”, something Newcastle United and Sam Allardyce might have considered before linking up.

Also, if a club find the right man, like Arsenal with Arsene Wenger and Manchester United have proved for 21 years with Alex Ferguson, they should stick with him through thick and thin.

Robert Woodward, London.  A proud Argyle fan

PHOTO: Jose Mourinho while Chelsea boss REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Every World Cup is special with its own unique atmosphere and I am not just quoting from the FIFA good news catalogue here, I am talking from experience.
 
I first saw a World Cup match as youngster in 1966 and have covered the last seven since Spain 1982 as a journalist.

After spending a week in South Africa, a country very different from when I was last here in 1976, I believe that the 2010 World Cup finals are going to be incredible — and like none that have ever been staged before.

We all know this is going to be the first World Cup on African soil, but it is also going to be the first World Cup held in a developing country, and in essence this new South Africa is less than 20 years old.

However, as they say in soccer speak, if you are good enough it doesn’t matter how young you are, and this young vibrant country is certainly good enough and equipped enough to host a dazzling, unique finals.

On Saturday, overseas journalists, many of whom were seeing a match in Africa for the first time, had their eyes opened when they witnessed the astonishing vibrancy, atmosphere and passion of the fans at the Soweto derby between Orlando
Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs moved to Durban to coincide with the preliminary round draw.
 
Put the noise generated by the fans at Anfield, St James’ Park and Schalke together, treble the volume and you’ll have some idea of the cacophony that lasted from an hour before kickoff till after the game finished.
 
Add into the mix the truly welcoming nature of the South African people — this cannot be under-estimated — and you’ll find yourself swept along on a tide of excitement.
 
Of course I am not being naive. We know there is widespread and brutal crime in South Africa, there is poverty, there are huge gulfs between rich and poor. But there have been social problems in every country that has staged a World Cup over the last 40 years. Perhaps the legacy of the 2010 World Cup might be to actually help South Africa improve some of these blights on its society.

Danny Jordaan, the driving force behind South Africa’s World Cup bid and the CEO of the local organising committee oversaw Sunday’s preliminary round draw in Durban that went off virtually without a hitch.
 
South Africa, as Jordaan said, is beginning to prove the Doubting Thomases wrong. I agree with him. Anyone who still thinks that the World Cup will not take place here should go and sit down in a quiet corner away from it all.
 
It’s going to be amazing.

PHOTO: FIFA President Sepp Blatter unveils the official poster for the 2010 World Cup at press conference in Durban, November 23, 2007. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

In the not-too-distant future, when youth and amateur football has virtually disappeared due to a total absence of referees, those at the top of the game might stop briefly to wonder if they played a part in its demise. The chances are, though, that they will instead blame the officials.

In Britain referees are deserting the amateur game in droves, sick of the violence, abuse and basic lack of respect that has taken all the fun out of the job for which a match fee of 22 pounds is hardly the reason they get out of bed.

As always, the school and park players take their lead from the top, and who can blame them? When they see players who abuse and undermine officials on a regular basis playing for their country and handed multi-million pound contracts, why would they behave any differently?

And when the managers wade in to say it is all perfectly reasonable, the game is in real trouble.

Chelsea have been charged, again, with failing to control their players after a group of them, led by captain John Terry, surrounded referee Andre Marriner on Saturday after he sent off Michael Essien for elbowing Derby County’s Kenny Miller in a Premier League game.

Essien appealed and, in a rare piece of quick action by the FA, had that appeal dismissed.

Did Chelsea manager Avram Grant condemn Essien for his attack? Did he apologise for his players surrounding the ref? He did not. 

“I don’t blame the players for questioning the referee on Saturday as the decision was unfair,” Grant said. ”They did it in the right way, going to the referee. For 30 seconds they said something and then the game continued. What is wrong with this? They didn’t do anything wrong.”

It was only a few weeks ago that the great and the good of football were talking about the lessons to be learned from the rugby World Cup, where players under just as much pressure but suffering infinitely more physical punishment, retained a respect for officials that utterly shames football by comparison.

Mitch Phillips is head of Reuters UK sports reporting

PHOTO: Chelsea’s John Terry (2nd L) reacts as team mate Michael Essien (unseen) is shown the red card during their English Premier League match against Derby County at Pride Park, November 24, 2007. REUTERS/Darren Staples

The opinion in some quarters is that the Champions League group phase has become predictable and dull but if you want an advert for all that is best in Europe’s elite competition you need look no further than Tuesday’s showdown between Sevilla and Arsenal.

From the moment the 40,000 Sevilla fans crammed into the Sanchez Pizjuan burst into a spine-tingling chorus of their centenary anthem you could sense that it was going to be a special night.

Two sides committed to high-class attacking football put on a display to remember complete with all the thrills and spills of a cup tie.

A new-look Arsenal side took the lead with a superbly crafted opener, featuring a neat back-heeled pass from the ever impressive Emmanuel Eboue, a great cross from Nicklas Bendtner and a cool finish from Eduardo da Silva.

But Sevilla held on when Arsenal threatened to swamp them, hit back with a stunning shot from their new signing Seydou Keita and then proceeded to take charge of the game.

A clever glancing header from leading scorer Luis Fabiano and a last-minute penalty from former Spurs striker Frederic Kanoute earned Sevilla a 3-1 win that secured them top spot in the group and a place in the last 16.

Before the match Arsene Wenger said Sevilla were one of the sides he thought could win the Champions League. Few people would argue with him on the strength of last night. It was not so much the fact that Sevilla became the first side to beat the Londoners since April but the manner in which they did it.

The level of intensity and commitment displayed by Manolo Jimenez’s side as well as their sheer technical brilliance make Sevilla one of the most exciting teams to watch in Europe and my tip to win the Champions League. What’s yours?

PHOTO: Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano (L) celebrates after scoring against Arsenal during their Champions League Group H match in Seville, November 27, 2007. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

The public row between Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett sent the media into hyperbolic overdrive. Just yesterday, Benitez was variously described as “living on borrowed time” and a “dead man walking“. 

The Spaniard certainly seemed to be playing a dangerous game by calling into question how much the co-owners knew about the transfer system and after that bizarrely monotone press conference you couldn’t help but wonder if Benitez was about to reach the same point of no return as another seemingly unsackable manager, a certain J. Mourinho two months ago.

Now the story, according to last night’s Liverpool Echo, is that Benitez wants to call a truce. The problem is, the club’s owners won’t be visiting again until the December 16 home game with Manchester United, leaving three long weeks for every comment to be interpreted. Oliver Kay in The Times this morning still says the most likely outcome to all this is the departure of the man who guided Liverpool to their fifth European Cup win.

We have a poll running at the main soccer site over whether Benitez could yet lose his job and we’d like your views back here on what could or should happen next.

Benitez spent a lot of money over the summer and it’s unclear as yet whether Liverpool are any more serious candidates for the title than in previous years. Certainly they are unbeaten in the league and only six points from the top but four home draws out of six is not league championship form.

But perhaps the key question is a simple one. If Hicks and Gillett believe Benitez is not the right man for Liverpool, then who is?

PHOTO: Benitez gestures as he speaks to his players during training at Melwood, November 5, 2007. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Andriy Shevchenko will be among the big names missing from Euro 2008 and there’s a fair chance you’ll be able to add Alessandro Del Piero to that list.

Del Piero was dropped for the victory over Scotland that clinched Italian qualification. Coach Roberto Donadoni has said the door is not closed on the Juventus striker, but also hinted the 33-year-old is getting too old for international football after a mediocre performance in his last Azzurri appearance against France in September.
 
Del Piero has not always featured in Claudio Ranieri’s Juve team this season and there was even a chance he could have quit Turin before signing a new contract last month.
 
Many pundits say Del Piero is now too slow in mind and body having spent last season in Serie B with Juve. They believe he is a spent force who rarely conjures up the magic which helped Italy to World Cup glory and inspired Juve to a series of scudettos and two European Cup finals.
 
Most Juve fans still adore their number 10, however, and he scored twice after coming off the bench in the team’s 5-0 win over Palermo at the weekend.

Some players in their thirties help national managers by retiring from international football, but Del Piero, like Beckham and fellow Italian exile Filippo Inzaghi, shows no signs of packing in.
 
Would you pick Del Piero for Italy or should he save his dignity by retiring from the national team now? Give us your thoughts in the comments.

Serbia’s Spanish coach Javier Clemente is going through the same ordeal as his axed England counterpart Steve McClaren after both sides missed out on Euro 2008.

Like McClaren, the 57-year old Clemente faces the wrath of an unforgiving soccer-mad nation and while he says he wants to carry on the chances of that look slim.

The big difference here is that the Serbian FA chiefs, who vowed to back him at the body’s December 6 meeting, may go down with him.

Hailed as a saviour when he took over in July 2006 following the Serbia and Montenegro state union’s dismal performances in last year’s World Cup, Clemente made no friends among the media or the fans in the months that followed when he said one must stay sober and realistic in victory and defeat.

Slip-ups in Kazakhstan and Armenia that derailed Serbia’s bid to reach their first major tournament as an independent nation made things worse as the pundits started sharpening their knives at approximately the same stage McClaren’s future with England looked doomed (see Kevin Fylan’s blog from March).

Like England, Serbia were thrown several lifelines by teams playing for pride rather than a berth in the Euro 2008 finals and squandered them all.

But while England fans saw their Euro hopes dashed by Croatia at the new Wembley Stadium in front of 80,000 disappointed fans, only a few hundred Serbia supporters turned up the same day for the home match with Poland, whose 3,000 travelling contingent were as shocked as reporters braving the November cold in Belgrade.

It came as no surprise when around 400 showed up for Serbia’s final game at home to Kazakhstan on Saturday, rescheduled twice due to heavy snow. The meaningless 1-0 win provided an anti-climax to Clemente’s valiant effort to take a young side lacking international experience to a major tournament at the first time of asking.

Like McClaren, the lively Basque has taken full responsibility and refused to criticise either the fans or the players, even though he was let down by both when he needed them most.

But should managers shoulder all the blame for defeat in a sport as complex as football? Doesn’t the manager need support, through thick and thin, to stand a chance?

PHOTO: Javier Clemente gives instructions during a Serbia training session in Brussels, August 21, 2007. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Just four days after Croatia’s 3-2 win at Wembley cost England a place at Euro 2008 the two nations were drawn in the same group in qualifying for the next major competition, the 2010 World Cup.

As Reuters sports editor Paul Radford notes in his report from Durban, there were gasps from inside the hall as Croatia went into Group Six to join the English.

But should England be relishing the prospect of almost instant revenge, or dreading the prospect of playing a side that were technically and tactically superior in their two matches?

Having dropped to the second pot after the fiasco, England must have breathed a sigh of relief to avoid Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands among the top seeds.

But surely, they will be wary this time of a young, hungry and talented Croatian team that sent shock waves through Europe with an outstanding performance at the new Wembley Stadium.

Having qualified for six out of seven major tournaments since they became an independent nation in 1992, Croatia quickly acquired the stature of dark horses, not least for their third-placed finish at the 1998 World Cup in France.

While Ukraine have a chance of joining the hunt for an automatic berth and a play-off spot reserved for the best eight second-placed teams from nine groups, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra are likely to feature merely as also-rans.

Can England turn the tables on the team that beat them twice in the Euro 2008 qualifiers or will Croatia stretch their impressive streak at the expense of the Three Lions once again? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.