World Cup Players to Watch
The eyes of the world will turn to Germany in 2006 and here are the top players to watch out for.
Mexico: Rafael Marquez
Mexico's Rafael Marquez has enjoyed much success since he moved from his home club Guadalajara in 1999. Beginning his European career with AS Monaco as a defender, Marquez won the French league in his first season. In 2001/02, Marquez stepped up into the midfield and helped Monaco take the French Cup. A high profile move to Barcelona followed in 2003, and the following year he helped Barca capture the Spanish title. A Mexico international since the age of 17, Marquez won the 1999 Confederations Cup with his country and was named captain for the 2002 World Cup team. Playing in his previous role as a defender for Mexico, Marquez combines his midfield mastery with defensive skills to great effect, making him a confident ball player and distributor from the Mexican back four.
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon
Two-time goalkeeper of the year, marketing icon and Italian demigod, Gianluigi Buffon, 27, has been a regular in the Italian goal since the 2000 European Championships. The nephew of former national team keeper Lorenzo Buffon, Gianluigi actually started out as a field player before moving between the posts in his early teens. He quickly proved his talents, signing with Parma in 1995 and then, in 2001, with Juventus Turin, who made him the most expensive goalkeeper in history when they signed him for 36 million pounds. Though struggling through injury recently, his 2003 and 2004 goalkeeper of the year awards speak for themselves. If Italy makes it far, it's because "Gigi" is having a good tournament.
Ivory Coast: Didier Drogba
The temperamental Chelsea striker uses his big body to his advantage, out-muscling opponents to control the ball and out-jumping defenders to head in goals. But it's Didier Drogba's ability to lose the men marking him and lurk, unnoticed by opposing defenders, that is his most valuable asset. Since transferring from Olympique Marseille to Chelsea in 2004 for $45 million, he's battled for the starting job with Argentine star Hernan Crespo -- winning out more often than not. He's Ivory Coast's shining star on the international stage and is one of the big reasons they're taking part in the World Cup for the first time in history.
Paraguay: Roque Santa Cruz
Roque Santa Cruz has led the line for Paraguay since arriving on the international scene as a precocious 18-year-old. He soon became a fans' favorite, earning the name "Babygol," and starred in Paraguay's 2002 World Cup campaign. Despite being an international hit, Cruz has failed to make a consistent mark on the Bayern Munich side. Still, his strong heading ability and quick feet have been used to full effect when he is featured. The 2006 World Cup will give the 24-year-old the chance to expand his already impressive reputation on his national side.
Poland: Tomasz Frankowski
Tomasz Frankowski started his professional career in France before moving to Japan for a season with Nagoya Grampus 8. The Polish striker returned to the country of his birth in 1998 and joined Wisla Krakow. A prolific scorer, he won the Polish Ekstraklasa's golden boot last season with 25 goals in 26 league appearances, earning himself a move to the Spanish Segunda Division's Elche CF after 172 league appearances for the Polish giant and 114 goals. His goal output for the national side has been consistent, and Frankowski was a deciding factor in Poland's advancement into the finals.
Serbia and Montenegro: Mateja Kezman
Mateja Kezman could do no wrong at PSV Eindhoven. A consistently free-scoring attacker with the Dutch Eredivision team, he was the league's top scorer in 2003/04 which attracted the check book of Chelsea. He featured sporadically in the London side's march to the Premier League title, scoring just four goals in 25 appearances. Unhappy at the club's rotation policy, Kezman moved to Atletico Madrid at the end of the season. Kezman is beginning to make a mark for his country, and if his confidence is high this summer he will certainly add to his five international goals in Germany.
Saudi Arabia: Sami Al-Jaber
Germany 2006 will be Sami Al-Jaber's fourth World Cup for Saudi Arabia. The popular striker became the first Asian to score a goal in two consecutive World Cups when he hit a penalty at USA '94 and then repeated the feat with a spot-kick in France in 1998. The 30-year-old has an Asian Cup winners' medal to his name when Saudi Arabia won the tournament in 1996. Al-Jaber has been at leading Saudi club Al-Hilal since 1987 and only a brief stint on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in England has interrupted his one-club standing. The experienced attacker will be hoping add to his World Cup goals when he turns out for the "Sons of the Desert" in Germany.
Germany: Michael Ballack
While Bayern Munich fans may spend much of the Bundesliga season wondering if Ballack will still be theirs next season, the rest of Germany will be wondering if the boy wonder can become man of the moment and lead Germany to World Cup glory on home soil. The undoubted star of the Germany team, Ballack combines a combative midfield role with creativity and attacking prowess. A player who can drag his teammates back into a game by sheer will, Ballack, when on top form, can be like having an extra man on the pitch. While few doubt his talents, question marks remain over his temperament and his resolve when things begin to slip beyond his considerable control.
USA: Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller took over from goalkeeping legend Tony Meola as the number shot stopper in the US game. A successful export, Keller has been between the posts in England, Spain and Germany, where he currently tends goal for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Keller has played over 90 times for his nation including in the 2002 World Cup and notched 44 international shutouts, making him one of the US' most experienced players and on some people's short list of the world's best goalkeepers.
France: Thierry Henry
The World Cup prompts mixed emotions for Thierry Henry. A fledgling member of the victorious French team in 1998, Henry was a rising star when the likes of Zidane and Deschamps guided Les Bleus to the world crown. An established and honored team member in Japan/Korea four years later, Henry was one of many disappointments as France crashed out goalless in the first round. Come 2006, the rejuvenated French will be hoping Henry's form at Arsenal will help restore some pride on the global scene. A striker with few rivals, Henry attacks with pace and seems to tally goals with a sixth sense for the back of the net. At the cutting edge of a fully functional France team, Henry can be awesome.
Ukraine: Andriy Shevchenko
The Ukrainian hitman is one of the most feared strikers in the game today. Shevchenko came to prominence as one half of the Dynamo Kiev strike force, partnering with Sergei Rebrov, that drove the Ukrainian club to five consecutive league titles. His remarkable scoring record for Kiev led to a move to AC Milan, where, far from wilting under the spotlight, the Ukrainian excelled further, helping the Rossaneri to the Serie A title and Italian Cup in 2003/04 and the Champions League in 2002/03. He was named European Player of the Year in 2004. The World Cup will give "Sheva" the chance to bring his scoring prowess onto the global stage for the first time.
South Korea: Ji-Sung Park
Ji-sung Park began his career with Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000 before moving to PSV Eindhoven. It was South Korea's national coach Guus Hiddink who spotted Park's potential to make the leap from Asia to Europe during Korea's phenomenal run to the semi finals of the 2002 World Cup. Park followed Hiddink to PSV in 2003 where he gradually built a reputation as one of the most highly-regarded young midfielders in Europe as PSV clinched Holland's League and Cup double in 2005. Park's performances in a range of midfield positions caught the eye of Manchester United who signed him 2005 and made room for him on the first team right away. A regular in the national side from a young age, South Korean fans hope Park will inspire his country to further World Cup successes.
Sweden: Fredrik Ljungberg
Freddie Ljungberg seems to have been on the international scene forever. A stalwart of the Sweden team since Euro 2000, the 28-year old has been a constant presence in the midfield ever since. Likewise, Ljungberg has made the attacking midfield role his own at Arsenal, who he joined in 1998. Behind Highbury legend Dennis Bergkamp, Ljungberg is Arsenal's longest serving player. His international career, over 50 games for Sweden, has been punctuated by trademark tenacious performances. Ljungberg's commitment can never be questioned for his country; his determination even on the training field is well-known, even notorious (he was involved in a fight with colleague Olof Mellberg over a tackle in preparation for the 2002 World Cup). Sweden will hope his recent injury problems are behind him as they head to Germany in 2006.
Iran: Ali Karimi
Bayern Munich's Iranian gem debuted in 1998 for the national team and has scored 32 goals for his country since then, emerging as Iran's most important playmaker. In 2005, Munich saw enough of Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki's talent at Al Ahli Dubai to sign the sometimes feisty midfielder to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old, considered by some to be "Asia's Maradona", has performed admirably as a backup to Michael Ballack, sporting an arsenal of no-look passes and creative shots. The 2004 Asian Soccer Player of the Year's technical skill on the ball is second nature, and look for him to direct the Iranian attack in their uphill battle to get out of the group stage.
Japan: Makoto Tanaka
Japanese defender Makoto Tanaka came to the fore on the international scene when he starred in the Japan team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, just two years after he made his J-League debut for Jubilo Iwata. Under Tanaka’s marshalling, Japan made it into the knock-out stages of their own World Cup before timidly giving way to Turkey in a sudden-death defeat. He was, however, omnipresent in the Japan team that went all the way in the 2004 Asian Cup and was back to his commanding best at the 2005 Confederations Cup. Tanaka has twice been named in the end-of-season J-League Best XI. Japan will look to his experience in guiding the team through the difficult terrain of a Europe-based World Cup in 2006.
The Netherlands: Arjen Robben
If Arjen Robben manages to stay fit, international coaches at the 2006 World Cup will have to deploy their speediest defenders to keep pace with the Flying Dutchman. In his first season at Chelsea, Robben proved that given a chance to hug and the ball to his feet, he could use devastating pace to rip open even the most parsimonious of defenses. Injuries have curtailed the former PSV Eindhoven winger's progress, but if he regains full fitness Robben will be an integral part of coach Marco van Basten's plans.
Switzerland: Alexander Frei
A journeyman in his early career, Alexander Frei led the Swiss at Euro 2004 after a prolific season with his French club Rennes, his fifth professional club after spells at Basle, Thun, Luzern and Servette. But the tournament was spoiled for himself and his team when he was suspended for spitting at England's Steven Gerrard in Switzerland's 3-0 group defeat. It was a shame the tournament ended so inauspiciously for Frei after his five goals in qualifying were instrumental in helping the side finish tops in a tough group. His form didn't surprise anyone who had seen the goal-poacher put 18 balls in the net in his first 27 caps. If that weren't enough, Frei's pace and power also saw him finish second in France's 2004 goal scoring charts, and he is seen as the ideal complement to veteran strike-partner Stephane Chapuisat's guile.
Ghana: Michael Essien
The subject of the 2005 season's most expensive and protracted transfer, Essien moved from French champions Lyon to Chelsea, the English champions, for 38 million euros last summer. A free-scoring midfielder, the 23-year old was the French league's player of the year in his final season at Lyon and arrived at Stamford Bridge with a burgeoning reputation and hefty price tag. Ghana will hope that their young star will continue to perform beyond his years when the country takes part in its first ever World Cup in 2006.
Angola: Fabrice Akwa
Angola may never have won an African Nations Cup match, but Fabrice Akwa, who at 33 is the oldest player on the team, wants to show the world "there is more to Angola than just war and oil." It's Angola's first finals appearance. They scored what was possibly the biggest upset by qualifying ahead of Nigeria and were the first African team to book their spot in Germany when Akwa secured a 1-0 victory over Rwanda.
Trinidad and Tobago: Stern John
Trinidad and Tobago reached their first World Cup in dramatic style in November's qualification play-offs in November by beating Bahrain over two legs. Stern John brought his Premiership experience, gained during his time at Birmingham City, to the side at the start of the campaign and his 10 goals in 17 games helped the tiny Caribbean nation qualify for its first finals. An imposing striker, John, currently with English second division Derby County, scored twice in the 2-1 victory over Mexico to reach the play-offs. While his country is not expected to progress at the World Cup, John will be looking to grab his chance on the world stage.
Argentina: Juan Román Riquelme
A winner of the World Youth Cup with Argentina in 1997, Juan Román Riquelme was South America's Player of the Year in 2001 and has earned best player in Argentina honors for the last two years. Though his club achievements haven't been paired tiwh national team success, "Romi," who will celebrate his 28th birthday during the tournament, will help Argentina storm through the finals.
Ecuador: Cristian Lara
El Nacional's Christian Lara is the rising star of an Ecuador side that finished behind Brazil and Argentina in the South American qualifying group, a massive achievement for the small nation. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder seized his opportunity when coach Luis Suarez picked him to fill the considerable boots of national icon Edison Mendez when the playmaker was injured. Lara was outstanding in a game against Argentina, scoring his first goal for his country when he came on in the second half, then setting up Ecuador's second of the 2-0 confrontation before being named man of the match. The youngster is expected to attract big name European suitors -- if he makes an impact at the World Cup.
Brazil: Ronaldinho
A key playmaker at Brazil and club team Barcelona, Ronaldinho was named 2005 European Player of the Year, the World Cup crown in 2002 and Confederations Cup title in 2005, leaving little new terrain for the 25-year-old to accomplish. His ability to change the course of a match with a brilliant solo effort has made him the reference point of the Barca attack where his mesmerizing turns, feints and outstanding goal-scoring skills have left accomplished defenders shaking their heads in wonder in the moves that have spawned their own names.
Australia: Mark Schwarzer
It was Mark Schwarzer's heroics in the Australian goal during a penalty shoot-out against Uruguay that booked the Socceroos' place in Germany. The lanky 33-year-old keeper will have added reason to enjoy the trip to Germany, having launched his European career with Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern before landing in the English Premier League at Middlesbrough. He's looking to make an impact at Germany 2006 by moving the Aussies into the second round.
Tunisia: Santos
Tunisia's rise to African champions has had the slightest of Samba style attached to it. This is mostly drawn from the exploits of a certain Francileudo dos Santos Silva, or simply "Santos" for short, the Brazilian-born star of the current national team. The nippy striker got his Tunisian passport a few days before the start of the Africa Cup in 2004, then promptly went on to inspire victory and net himself the Golden Boot with four goals, including the first in the 2-1 defeat over Morocco in the final. Silva’s career began with Belgian club Standard Liege in 1996, when still only 17, before eventually moving to France with FC Sochaux and then onto Toulouse. Silva had a taste of playing the likes of Germany and Brazil at the 2005 Confederations Cup and will look forward to gaining more experience at the World Cup.
Togo: Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor, who now plays his soccer for Arsenal in the English Premiership, began his professional career in France, playing first for Metz before moving to AS Monaco for whom he played for in the 2004 Champions League final. Of Nigerian descent, Adebayor now plays in the No. 25 Arsenal shirt made famous by his idol Nwankwo Kanu. He also plays in the No. 4 shirt for Togo, the same international number his idol played in for Nigeria. The similarities do not stop there. Adebayor and Kanu share a similar frame and playing style which has earned the Togoan the nickname "Baby Kanu." Adebayor struck 11 goals in the World Cup qualifiers to take his adopted country to the championships.
England: David Beckham
England's captain will wear the Three Lions for his third World Cup in Germany in 2006. His first appearance in France '98 ended in shame after a quarter-final red card put a stop to his, and England's, dreams. He exorcized that demon with a penalty that beat old foes Argentina in Japan in 2002, but Becks suffered defeat among the final eight again that year. In 2006, the Real Madrid midfielder will be looking to drive his team on and get his hands on the game's biggest prize. Often criticized for not reaching the heights expected of him in his country's jersey, Beckham will want to bring his recent good form to the world stage and silence to the doubters.
Portugal: Pauleta
As the spearhead of a Portugal team with a firm onus on attack, Pedro Miguel Pauleta has the task of converting the incisive passes and crosses from the likes of Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo into goals. Such a responsibility has often looked too heavy a burden for Pauleta -- a woeful Euro 2004 being a case in point -- but recent form for his country and club side Paris Saint Germain hark back to the stunning form he displayed at the 2002 World Cup. A predatory striker, Pauleta uses his pace to nip in at the last moment to score. A striker also at home as a playmaker, he can also operate as a link between the forwards and the creative midfield. Pauleta may have something to prove to those who wondered what all the fuss was about when he arrives in Germany in 2006.
Costa Rica: Paulo Wanchope
Paulo Wanchope, known for being unpredictable and veering wild, is equal parts brilliant and the inexplicable. Quick with as well as off the ball, Wanchope is known to win nearly any ball in the air and for scoring flurries of goals. Though sometimes unreliable in club and international play, Costa Rica's all-time goal scoring leader will be integral in his team's third ever finals appearance. Wanchope has said he will retire from international soccer after the Cup.
Spain: Sanz Luís Garcia
Not many people can credit leaving Barcelona as the launch pad for their career. Sanz Luíz Garcia, however, would be one of that rare breed. The lightweight winger was a fringe player at Camp Nou and was excess to requirements of Frank Rijkaard's revolution. Garcia found a new home courtesy of compatriot Rafael Benítez at Liverpool and by the end of his first season at Anfield he was a European champion. Despite sporadic league form, Garcia has excelled on the continental stage, earning himself a call-up for the Spain squad. A hat-trick against Slovakia in the qualification play-offs sent Spain through to Germany 2006 and endeared "La Mariposa" (The Butterfly") to a nation of fans.
Czech Republic: Pavel Nedved
Back from international retirement, Pavel Nedved is already a Czech soccer legend and national hero despite pressure from his parents to become an accountant. Even though the Nedved's team was the last to qualify for Germany 2006, they're coming into the tournament as potential favorites. Dangerous with both feet and a stinging long-distance shot the 34-year-old Nedved is still an important part of the Juventus midfield where his speed and agility often leave opposing defenders with no choice other than to pull him down by the back of the jersey. The combination of Nedved and Tomas Rosicky give the Czech Republic one of the most feared midfields in the world.
Croatia: Niko Kranjcar
Niko Kranjcar has fought to win supporters to his cause as one of Croatia's top playmakers after getting a spot on the U-21 team his father coached, but they've been won over since he made his international debut in Croatia's qualifying opener against Hungry. The team's success in qualifying as group winners suggests his father made the right decision. Though he'll no doubt look for success this summer, at only 21 years old the youngest player to ever captain Dinamo Zagreb still has a few more World Cups ahead of him.