Manniche (Portugal):

Named in homage to Benfica’s 1980s Danish star Michael Manniche, Portugal midfielder Maniche is now a mainstay of the international team and played in all 12 qualification matches for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League, as well as two Portuguese league titles with Porto. Has now rejoined ex-Porto coach Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in the Premiership. A key member of the Portugal side which reached the UEFA Euro 2004 final, Maniche played in all six matches, scoring in the semi-final against the Netherlands, along with the winner against Russia in the group phase.

Frank Ribery (France):

The Olympique Marseille midfielder recently came into national team calculations and is now on the shopping list of several clubs across Europe. Extremely fast and tricky, leading the charge on the left flank. Tottenham, Arsenal and Turkey’s Galatasaray — where he played in 2005 — are among the clubs to have been linked with him. Marseille is his sixth career club and he is only 23.