Luis Garcia (Spain)

Busy attacking midfielder Luis Garcia could be the man Spain look to should the goals dry up for their regular forwards in Germany. Garcia has adapted to various different roles during his career — from playing on either wing to acting as a deep-lying striker — and that versatility might pay dividends at the World Cup. His slight frame enables him to dart quickly through the smallest of openings and he is blessed with exquisite technical skills although he has come under fire for sometimes trying to overcomplicate his game with intricate moves when a simpler solution is called for. His on-field extravagance however, underlies his greatest weapon — his sheer unpredictability.

Iker Casillas (Spain)

It is often said that being a goalkeeper is a thankless task, but prodigious displays between the sticks by Iker Casillas have seen him rise to the top of world football in record time. Focused, cool under pressure, agile, and blessed with lightning reflexes, Casillas is solidity personified. Fearless and quick off his line, Casillas specialises in one-on-one situations and is not afraid to give his senior defensive colleagues a good ear-bashing. Casillas has already acquired a medal collection the envy of many an older man.