Hernan Crespo (Argentina)

After spending most of the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups in the sizeable shadow of Gabriel Batistuta, Hernan Crespo will be hoping Germany 2006 proves third time lucky. Now 30, the player has been given a new lease of life under present coach Jose Pekerman and is currently his country’s undisputed first-choice striker. Crespo’s ruthless finishing, imperious reading of the game and superb mobility in the box have established him as Argentina’s third-highest scorer behind Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Maradona. He is dubbed as Valdanito because of his physical resemblance to former Argentina front man Jorge Valdano.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)

Ivory Coast’s footballing history can be divided into two distinct periods — before and after Didier Drogba. Granted, the country has known stars in the past such as Laurent Pokou, Youssouf Fofana, Joel Tiehi and Ibrahima Bakayoko, but none of them had such an influence on The Elephants’ and their footballing fortunes as their robust forward and current captain. Perhaps Drogba has sporting blood running through his veins. Three years on, and the Chelsea forward finds himself captaining the national side. His positional awareness is matched only by his precision in front of goal, while he is capable of using his size to wear down defenders before finishing them off, with either foot or a powerful header.