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Focus
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| Patrick Vieira (France): Paddy power needed |
| After his lacklustre season in Serie A, Patrick Vieira also made a disappointing start to his World Cup with France. Will we see the Vieira of old again? More |
| Gyan Asamoah (Udinese): Gyan's bright Friuli future |
| Gyan Asamoah has stood out for Ghana and next season could be his time to shine in Serie A with Udinese. More |
| Ronaldo (Brazil): End of the road for Ronnie? |
| Brazil’s World Cup campaign got off to an uninspiring start against Croatia, with much of the blame falling at the feet of Ronaldo. More |
| Tim Cahill (Argentina): Tim’s time |
| Tim Cahill’s stunning double against Japan handed Australia their first ever World Cup win. But scoring vital goals is nothing new for the Everton ace. More |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina): The new Messi-ah |
| Every Argentine superstar over the past decade has been tagged as the next Diego Maradona, but Lionel Messi just might be the real deal. More |
| Franck Ribery (France): Scarface to succeed Zizou |
| After Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane, Franck Ribery is being talked about as the next big thing in French football. Steve Wilson reports. More |
| Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina): The Roman Empire |
| As Juan Veron says goodbye to Serie A, Richard Godden takes a look at the Argentine ace who could replace him – just as he did at international level. More |
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Kaka (Brazil): The White Pele
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| There are few players in Serie A who can excite a crowd like Kaka and he's set to thrill at Germany 2006. More |
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Sulley Ali Muntari (Ghana): The new Davids
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| It has been a spectacular couple of months in the career of Sulley Ali Muntari. More |
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Mirko Vucinic (Serbia): Mirk or break
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| Seen as sleeping giants that woke up last year, Lecce seem to have returned to their slumber once more this term. More |
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Valon Behrami (Switzerland): Blonde ambition
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| There aren’t too many players who have made their Serie A debut and broken through at international level while still only 20, let alone as a straniero. More |
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Marek Jankulovski (Czech Republic): Making his Marek
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| Marek Jankulovski was a big fish in a small pond at Udinese, but after fulfilling his dream to play for a big club, he now finds himself a minnow in Milan’s massive lake. More |
| Gilberto Martinez (Costa Rica): It’s Tico Time |
| Costa Rica is hardly a traditional birthplace for a Serie A or B player, but that hasn’t stopped Gilberto Martinez making a name for himself in the peninsula. More |
| Vincenzo Grella (Australia): Wizard of Oz |
| Parma midfielder Vincenzo Grella has certainly had his ups and downs during his seven seasons in Italy. More |
| Robert Kovac (Croatia): Home sweet home |
| When Croatia take to the field in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on June 13 for their World Cup opener against Brazil it will be an emotional day for Robert Kovac. More |
| Tomas Ujfalusi (Czech Rep): Czech mate |
| Fiorentina's Tomas Ujfalusi was the only ever-present for Karel Bruckner’s side in the qualifiers More |
| Rahman Rezaei (Iran): Iran’s Iron Man |
| In November 2001, Rahman Rezaei had the distinguished honour of being the first Iranian to play in Serie A. More |
| Massamesso Tchangai (Togo): Tchangai Surprise |
| Massamesso Tchangai will be one of the most unlikely competitors in Germany this summer. More |
| Atsushi Yanagisawa (Japan): Rising son |
| Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Nanami all failed to pull up any trees while playing in Serie A. More |
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