Goalkeepers
Gianluigi Buffon
Made his debut for Italy in October 1997 aged 19. Currently playing for Juventus, Buffon has 75 Italy caps (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 28, 1978
Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in)
Fact: Buffon signed for a world-record fee of £33 million to Juventus in 2001.

Angelo Peruzzi
Made his debut for Italy in March 1995, against Estonia, aged 25. Currently playing for Lazio, Peruzzi has 42 Italy caps (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 16, 1970
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Peruzzi quit the national team after his many injuries but four years later returned to back up Gianluigi Buffon.

Marco Amelia
Made his debut for Italy in November 2005, against Holland, aged 23. Currently playing for Livorno, Amelia has 3 Italy caps (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 2, 1982
Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in)
Fact: Italy's third-choice 'keeper this summer, Amelia is yet to keep a clean sheet for his country.

Defenders
Fabio Cannavaro
Made his debut in January 1996, against Wales, aged 22. Currently playing for Juventus, Cannavaro has 97 caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 13, 1973
Height: 1.75m (5ft 8in)
Fact: Cannavaro played alongside his younger brother Paolo at Parma for two years before joining Inter Milan in 2002.

Alessandro Nesta
Made his debut for Italy in October 1996, against Moldova, aged 20. Currently playing for AC Milan, Nesta has 89 caps and 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: March 19, 1976
Height: 1.87m (6ft 1in)
Fact: At the beginning of his career Nesta played as a forward and in midfield before finding his true talent in defence.

Gianluca Zambrotta
Made his debut for Italy in February 1999, against Norway, aged 21. Currently playing for Juventus, Zambrotta has 55 caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 19, 1977
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Although Zambrotta is a left-back, he played right midfield for Juventus in the 2002-2003 season, when he won his second championship medal with the side.

Marco Materazzi
Made his debut for Italy in April 2001, against South Africa, aged 27. Currently playing for Inter Milan, Materazzi has 39 caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth:August 19, 1973
Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Materazzi's father is Giuseppe Materazzi, former coach of Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Cristian Zaccardo
Made his debut for Italy in October 2004, against Slovenia, aged 22. Currently playing for Palermo, Zaccardo has 17 caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 21, 1981
Height:1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Zaccardo scored one goal in the 2001 season, and one in the 2002 season for Bologna. Both goals were scored on the same day (December 22) against the same team (Lazio), in the same stadium (Stadio Olimpico).

Massimo Oddo
Made his debut for Italy in August 2002 aged 26. Currently playing for Lazio, Oddo has 30 caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 14, 1976
Height:1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Oddo's father Francesco was a former player and manager.

Andrea Barzagli
Made his debut for Italy in November 2004, against Finland, aged 23. Currently playing for Palermo, Barzagli has 7 caps and scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 8, 1981
Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Barzagli was a member of the Italian team that won bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Fabio Grosso
Made his debut for Italy in April 2003, against SwItzerland, aged 25. Currently playing for Palermo, Grosso has 14 caps and scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 28, 1977
Height: 1.90m (6ft 2in)
Fact: Grosso scored his only international goal to date in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland in September 2005.

Midfielders
Mauro Camoranesi
Made his debut for Italy in February 2003, against Portugal, aged 26. Currently playing for Juventus, Camoranesi has 21 caps and scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: October 4, 1976
Height: 1.82m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Although born in Argentina, Camoranesi has Italian ancestors and decided to play for Italy.

Daniele De Rossi
Made his debut for Italy in September 2004, against Norway, aged 21. Currently playing for AS Roma, De Rossi has 15 caps and has scored 3 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 24, 1983
Height: 1.84m (6ft)
Fact: De Rossi was praised for his fair play by referee Mauro Bergonzi when, having scored a goal with his hand against Messina, he admitted this to the referee who reversed his decision and disallowed the goal.

Andrea Pirlo
Made his debut for Italy in September 2002, against Azerbaijan, aged 23. Currently playing for AC Milan, Pirlo has 28 caps and has scored 4 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 19, 1979
Height: 1.77m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Pirlo chooses to play as number 21 since this is the date of his wedding anniversary.

Simone Perrotta
Made his debut for Italy in November 2002, against Turkey, aged 25. Currently playing for AS Roma, Perrotta has 22 caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 19, 1977
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Perrota was born in England.

Gennnaro Ivan Gattuso
Made his debut for Italy in February 2000, against Sweden, aged 22. Currently playing for AC Milan, Gattuso has 45 caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 9, 1978
Height: 1.77m (5ft 9in)
Fact: after just ten appearances for AC Perugia, Gattuso moved to Rangers FC on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling in 1997.

Simone Barone
Made his debut for Italy in February 2004, against Czech Republic, aged 25. Currently playing for Palermo, Barone has 12 caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 30, 1978
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: A regular member of the Italian squad throughout the qualifying stages, Barone scored his only international goal to date after coming on as a half-time substitute in a friendly match against Russia in February 2005; the game finished 2-0 to Italy.

Francesco Totti
Made his debut for Italy in October 1998, against Switzerland, aged 22. Currently playing for AS Roma, Totti has 54 caps and has scored 8 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 27, 1976
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Totti was Italy's Player of the Year in 2000 and 2003.

Strikers
Alessando Del Piero
Made his debut for Italy in March 1995, against Estonia, aged 20. Currently playing for Juventus, Del Piero has 86 caps and has scored 26 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 9, 1974
Height:1.73m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Del Piero is the all-time top goal scorer for Juventus, since surpassing previous record-holder Giampiero Boniperti's 182 goals for the club in January 2006.

Alberto Gilardino
Made his debut for Italy in September 2004, against Norway, aged 22. Currently playing for AC Milan, Gilardino has 16 caps and 6 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 5, 1982
Height: 1.84m (6ft)
Fact: Gilardino was voted best Italian player and best overall player in the 2004-2005 season.

Luca Toni
Made his debut for Italy in August 2004, against Iceland, aged 27. Currently playing for Fiorintina, Toni has 19 caps and has scored 7 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 26, 1977
Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Toni scored a hat-trick for Italy in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Belarus.

Filippo Inzaghi
Made his debut for Italy in June 1997, against Brazil, aged 23. Currently playing for AC Milan, Inzaghi has 48 caps and has scored 21 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: August 9, 1973
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Inzaghi was recalled to the squad in early 2006 following a three-year absence from the national side; Inzaghi, whose brother Simone has also represented Italy at senior international level, is a veteran of the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Vincenzo Iaquinta
Made his debut for Italy in March 2005, against Iceland, aged 25. Currently playing for Udinese, Iaquinta has 5 caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 21, 1979
Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Iaquinta's 13 goals in 31 games for Udinese in 2004-2005 helped his club finish in fourth place in the league and earn a spot in the Champions League for the first time ever.

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The heaven's sound is composed inside your heart, listen to its beat to syncronize your life onto the angel's steps.

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

Tactics: Unadventurous but solid.

Star Player: Michael Ballack - goalscoring midfielder who captains the side.
Verdict: Host nations always seem to present a real threat and Germany, backed by a passionate home support, will be no different. Klinsmann's men do not have the quality of German sides of yesteryear but neither did the 2002 team which reached the final. Youth is slowly replacing experience with the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski getting their chance. Should be buoyed by an easy draw.

Ten things you didn’t know about Germany
1. Legend has it that when the Germans constructed a false airfield during WWII the RAF called their bluff by dropping a wooden bomb on it.
2. In an amazing feat of engineering the Germans built a kilometre long water bridge over the river Elbe to link two canals.
3. Heidelberg is home to the world’s largest wine cask, the Heidelberg Tun which was built in 1751 from 130 oak trees. It is 28 feet deep by 23 feet high and holds 220,017 litres or 293,356 bottles worth!
4. Desperate zoo officials in Bremerhaven have flown in female penguins from Sweden in an attempt to entice six gay penguins away from their male partners.
5. The Berlin Museum at Check-Point Charlie received a complaint from actor David Hasselhoff who felt they had overlooked his part in reuniting East and West Germany by singing his song ‘Looking for Freedom’ from atop the Berlin Wall.
6. During World War II, W.C. Fields kept US $50,000 in Germany 'in case the little bastard wins'
7. A hotel in Norden, North Germany charges its guests by the kilo in an attempt to encourage overweight guests to consider slimming down.
8. The oldest living rose in the world climbs the walls of the Hildesham Cathedral in Germany and is thought to be over 1,000 years old.
9. The Germans obviously have a thing about practical footwear; the inventors of the Doc Marten boot, the Birkenstock sandal and the running spike were all German.
10. ZAM, the Centre for Unusual Museums in Munich contains a Chamberpot Museum, Corkscrew Museum, Ethnic Doll Museum, Easter Bunny Museum and the Guardian Angel Museum.

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__________________
The heaven's sound is composed inside your heart, listen to its beat to syncronize your life onto the angel's steps.

Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Tactics: Strong in midfield but the left flank remains a problem area.

Star Player: Wayne Rooney - supremely talented and seems to be curbing his temper.
Verdict: Have the players to go all the way but consistency remains a problem. Defeat to Northern Ireland in qualifying was followed by a thrilling win over Argentina in a friendly in Geneva. Question marks exist about the defence at the highest level. John Terry is a rock but Rio Ferdinand needs to get back to his best, and fast.

Ten things you didn’t know about England
1. England is in fact, England – NOT Britain, Great Britain, United Kingdom, and certainly not Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. It is the most populous part of Great Britain, representing 84% of Britain’s population.
2. England derives its name from the Angles, a Germanic tribe which settled in ‘England’ in the 5th and 6th centuries.
3. It is one of the most densely populated countries in the EU, second only to the Netherlands.
4. England’s longest river is the Severn, which rises in central Wales and flows through Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester in England to the Bristol Channel. It is 200 miles long.
5. No point in England is ever more than 75 miles from the sea.
6. English people drink more tea than any other nationality in the world.
7. The English village of Hay-on-Wye, while only having a population of only 1,300, has 40 bookshops.
8. England has not been a distinct entity since 1707, when the Act of Union formally united England with Scotland and Wales. The current “United Kingdom” came into being with the addition of Northern Ireland in 1927.
9. Since 2000, England has been the only part of the UK without its own ‘devolved’ parliament. This has led to an apparently anomalous situation whereby Scottish MPs sometimes vote for certain matters that apply to England only, while English MPs have no say over equivalent matters in Scotland. This is known as the West Lothian question.
10. While not a legal entity as such, the concept of England is very much with us. Apart from the fact that most foreigners muddle ‘English’ up with ‘British’ all the time, ‘England’ remains an important entity in some respects: For example, the Queen is technically the Queen of Great Britain, but this form is rarely used and she is more often known as the Queen of England. Similarly, the United Kingdom’s major financial dealings (e.g. setting of interest rates, commercial bank regulation, management of national gold supply, etc.) are handled by the Bank of England.


Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson
Made his debut for England on February 12, 2003, against Australia, aged 23. Currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur, Robinson has 19 England caps (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of Birth: October 15, 1979
Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Paul Robinson, to date, has a 100 per cent record for saving penalties for England. Up until the start of the 2006 World Cup, in his England career, he has faced one penalty kick, which he saved—against Spain, in November 2004.

David James
Made his debut for England on March 29, 1997, against Mexico, aged 26. Currently playing for Manchester City, James has 33 England caps (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: August 1, 1970
Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Although he made his senior England debut in 1997, it was not until after the 2002 World Cup (and the retirement of David Seaman) that James enjoyed a spell as England's first choice keeper. Aged 35, James is the oldest member of Eriksson's squad.

Scott Carson
Currently playing for Liverpool. At the start of this summer's World Cup, Carson was yet to make his full international debut; he has won 19 caps for the England U21 side.
Date of birth: September 3, 1985
Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in)
Fact: Carson trained alongside fellow England goalkeeper Paul Robinson when the two players were in the Leeds United squad; Carson made his senior league debut for Leeds in January 2004 when he came on as a substitute to replace Robinson, who had been shown a red card.

Defenders
John Terry
Made his debut for England on June 03, 2003, against Serbia and Montenegro, aged 22. Currently playing for Chelsea, Terry has 22 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 7, 1980
Height:1.88m (6ft 2in)
Fact: John Terry was voted PFA Player of the Year in 2004-2005.

Rio Ferdinand
Made his debut for England on November 15, 1997, against Cameroon, aged 19. Currently playing for Manchester United, Ferdinand has 45 England caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 7, 1978
Height: 1.89m (6ft 2in)
Fact: On joining Manchester United in July 2002 for a fee of £29.1 million, Ferdinand became the country's most expensive player and the world's most expensive defender.

Gary Neville
Made his debut for England on June 3, 1995, against Japan, aged 20. Currently playing for Manchester United, Neville has 78 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 18, 1975
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Making his international debut in 1995, Gary Neville is the longest-serving player in the current England squad, and has played under five different managers (Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan, Peter Taylor, and Sven-Göran Eriksson).

Sol Campbell
Made his debut for England on May 18, 1996, against Hungary, aged 21. Currently playing for Arsenal, Campbell has 66 England caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 18, 1974
Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
Fact: During his international career, Campbell had two vital goals controversially disallowed—one against Argentina during the World Cup in 2002, and the other against Portugal in the quarter final of the European Championships in 2004.

Wayne Bridge
Made his debut for England on February 13, 2002, against Holland, aged 21. Currently playing for Fulham (on loan from Chelsea), Bridge has 22 England caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: August 5, 1980
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Bridge was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award in 2002, and the same year was one of only two English players to be included in the PFA's Premiership Team of the Year.

Jamie Carragher
Made his debut for England on April 28, 1999, against Hungary, aged 21. Currently playing for Liverpool, Carragher has 23 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 28, 1978
Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Together with Gareth Barry, Jamie Carragher holds the record for the highest number of caps for the England U21 side, with 27 appearances at this level.

Ashley Cole
Made his debut for England on March 28, 2001, against Albania, aged 20. Currently playing for Arsenal, Cole has 44 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 20, 1980
Height: 1.72m (5ft 7in)
Fact: Cole played in every match for England in the World Cup in 2002 and the European Championships in 2004, and following his impressive performances in Portugal, he was named in the Euro 2004 All-Star squad chosen by UEFA representatives.

Midfielders
David Beckham
Made his debut for England on September 1, 1996, against Moldova, aged 21. Currently playing for Real Madrid, Beckham has 87 England caps and has scored 16 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 2, 1975
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Shown the red card in matches against Argentina (June 1998) and Austria (October 2005), David Beckham is the first player to have been sent off twice for his country, and the first England captain to have been dismissed by the referee.

Frank Lampard
Made his debut for England on October 10, 1999, against Belgium, aged 21. Currently playing for Chelsea, Lampard has 38 England caps and has scored 10 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 20, 1978
Height: 1.83m (6ft)
Fact: One of England's longest-serving players, Frank Lampard comes from a famous footballing family—his father, Frank Lampard, Senior, played twice for England in the 1970s, cousin Jamie Redknapp made 17 appearances for the national team, and uncle Harry Redknapp is a Premiership manager.

Steven Gerrard
Made his debut for England on May 31, 2000, against Ukraine, aged 20. Currently playing for Liverpool, Gerrard has 40 England caps and has scored 6 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 30, 1980
Height: 1.85m (6ft)
Fact: Steven Gerrard's vast list of footballing achievements and accomplishments in his eight seasons at Liverpool FC includes winning the League Cup (2001, 2003), FA Cup (2001), UEFA Cup (2001), and UEFA Champions' League (2005), and being named the PFA Young Player of the Year (2001) and UEFA Champion's League Most Valuable Player (2004-2005).

Owen Hargreaves
Made his debut for England on August 15, 2001, against Holland, aged 20. Currently playing for Bayern Munich, Hargreaves has 29 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 20, 1981
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Despite playing regularly for the national side, Owen Hargreaves has never actually lived in England—he was born in Calgary, Canada, and has spent his entire professional career to date playing for Bayern Munich, in the German Bundesliga.

Jermaine Jenas
Made his debut for England on February 12, 2003, against Australia, aged 19. Currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur, Jenas has 15 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 18, 1983
Height: 1.79m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Jermaine Jenas was voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 2003.

Joe Cole
Made his debut for England on May 25, 2001, against Mexico, aged 19. Currently playing for Chelsea, Cole has 30 England caps and has scored 5 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 8, 1981
Height: 1.75m (5ft 8in)
Fact: Although he was part of the England squad for two major tournaments (the World Cup in Japan and Korea in 2002 and the European Championships in Portugal in 2004), Cole did not play in either competition.

Michael Carrick
Made his debut for England on May 25, 2001, against Mexico, aged 19. Currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur, Carrick has 5 England caps and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 28, 1981
Height: 1.83m (6ft)
Fact: Michael Carrick joined West Ham United's youth team when he was 16 years old and played alongside current England counterparts Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, and Glen Johnson.

Aaron Lennon
Currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur. Lennon is yet to make his full England debut, but is a regular for the England U21 side.
Date of birth: April 16, 1987
Fact: When Lennon made his debut for former club Leeds United in August 2003, aged 16 years and 129 days, he became the youngest ever player in the history of the Premiership.

Stewart Downing
Made his debut for England on February 2, 2005, against Holland, aged 20. Currently playing for Middlesbrough, Downing has 1 England cap and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 22, 1984
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Downing was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award in 2004-2005 and the same season was voted Middlesbrough FC's Player of the Year by his team-mates.

Strikers
Michael Owen
Made his debut for England on February 11, 1998, against Chile, aged 18. Currently playing for Newcastle United, Owen has 75 England caps and has scored 35 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 14, 1979
Height: 1.73m (5ft 8in)
Fact: Currently England's leading goalscorer, Owen was the youngest player to represent England in the 20th century and was voted European Footballer of the Year in 2001.

Wayne Rooney
Made his debut for England on February 12, 2003, against Australia, aged 17. Currently playing for Manchester United, Rooney has 29 England caps and has scored 11 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: October 24, 1985
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: On making his debut for his country, Rooney became the youngest ever England player aged 17 years 111 days; his first international goal—against Macedonia in September 2003—made him England's youngest ever goalscorer, aged 17 years 317 days.

Peter Crouch
Made his debut for England on May 31, 2005, against Colombia, aged 25. Currently playing for Liverpool, Crouch has 5 England caps and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 30, 1981
Height: 1.98m (6ft 7in)
Fact: Although, at 1.98m Crouch is easily the tallest player in the England squad, he is not the tallest footballer likely to be making an appearance in Germany—this honour goes to Czech international striker Jan Koller, who is a towering 2.02m (6ft 8in).

Theo Walcott
Currently playing for Arsenal. Walcott is yet to make his full England debut, but has played for the England U17 and U19 sides.
Date of birth: March 16, 1989
Height: 1.72m (5ft 7in)
Fact: Shock inclusion in the England squad, Walcott has yet to make a senior appearance for Arsenal in the Premiership; his highest level of international experience to date is one game for the U19 side, but his debut, against Slovakia in February 2006, was a memorable one. He missed a penalty but was allowed to retake it, and then successfully converted his second attempt; the game finished 3-0 to England.

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__________________
The heaven's sound is composed inside your heart, listen to its beat to syncronize your life onto the angel's steps.

Coach: Jose Pekerman

Tactics: Well organised with plenty of flair going forward.

Star Player: Juan Roman Riquelme - Villarreal playmaker who possesses the skill to carve open the tightest of defences.

Verdict: Rightly regarded as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Strong at the back with the likes of Roberto Ayala and Fabricio Coloccini, clever in midfield with Riquelme operating alongside the more defensive-minded Esteban Cambiasso and potent up front with Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola. Add the brilliance of teenager Lionel Messi and it makes for an intoxicating mix.

Ten things you didn’t know about Argentina
1. The name Argentina comes from the Latin word argentum, which means silver. The origin of the name goes back to the voyages made by the first Spanish conquistadores (conquerors) to the Río de la Plata. The shipwrecked survivors of the expedition mounted by Juan Díaz de Solís discovered Indians in the region who presented them with silver objects.
2. Argentina has an area of 2.77 million sq. km, which gives it a great variety of climates and landscapes. Known as the ‘land of ice and fire’ it can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another.
3. Laszlo Biro, the inventor of the modern ballpoint pen moved to Argentina in 1943 after fleeing anti-Jewish laws in home country of Hungary. He formed Biro Pens of Argentina and licensed his design to the British, to produce ballpoint pens for Royal Air Force aircrew, who found they worked much better than fountain pens at high altitude.
4. Many fans of Argentina's most popular soccer team, Boca Juniors, pledge eternal devotion to the club. Die-hard fans can even buy their own coffins decorated in Boca colours and symbols for between 2,000 pesos and 2,500 pesos ($650 to $800).
5. Argentina is the only country in the world where you can find both monkeys (in the North East jungles) and penguins (in Patagonia.)
6. In the 19th century a Welsh settlement began in Argentina. There is now an important Welsh-speaking colony in the province of Chubut, in Argentine Patagonia (Y Wladfa in Welsh).
7. The Falkland Islands are a self-governing and English speaking Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. In 1982 Argentina invaded the islands, resulting in the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Although the UK and Argentina since resumed diplomatic relations in 1989, no further negotiations have taken place and Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands.
8. In 1995, a skeleton of the largest carnivorous dinosaur was discovered in Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina. The Giganotosaurus Carolinii was 12.5 m (40 ft) long, and weighed 8 tonnes. Although it resembled the Tyrannosaurus Rex it was in fact taller and more heavily built than T-Rex.
9. A local law states that horses are required to wear hats in hot weather in Rasario, Argentina.
10. Juan Perón, three times President of Argentina was also married three times. His second wife, Eva Perón, was hugely popular with the people of Argentina and was immortalised in several books, films and stage plays. Juan Perón died in 1974 and was buried in Buenos Aires. In 1987 his tomb was broken into and the hands of his corpse were stolen. To this date, who did it and why still remains a mystery.


Goalkeepers
Roberto Carlos Abbondanzieri
Made his debut for Argentina in June 2004, against Paraguay, aged 21. He currently plays for Boca Juniors.
Date of birth: August 19, 1972
Height: 1.86m (6ft)
Fact: Abbondanzieri was named South American Goalkeeper of the Year in 2003.

Oscar Ustari
Currently playing for Argentine side Independiente. As at March 2006, Ustari is yet to make his senior debut for Argentina.
Date of birth: July 3, 1986
Height: 1.84m (6ft)
Fact: Ustari was a member of the Argentina U20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championships in 2005.
Leonardo Franco
Currently playing for Atletico Madrid.
Date of birth: May 29, 1977
Height: 1.88m (6ft 1in)

Defenders
Gabriel Heinze
Made his debut for Argentina in April 2003, against Libya, aged 25. Currently playing for Manchester United, Heinze has won 28 caps for Argentina and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 9, 1978
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Although he holds an Italian passport, when given the opportunity to play international football at a senior level, Heinze chose to play for Argentina (his country of birth), rather than Italy (his father's home country) or Germany (his mother's home country).

Juan Pablo Sorín
Made his debut for Argentina in February 1995, against Bulgaria, aged 18. Currently playing for Spanish side Villarreal, Sorín has 70 caps for Argentina and has scored 10 goals for his county (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 5, 1976
Height: 1.73m (5ft 8in)
Fact: Sorín was a member of the Argentina U20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championships in 2005; at club level, his honours include cups and titles in four different countries—the Italian Serie A title with Juventus in 1996, the Argentina League with River Plate in 1996 and 1997, the Brazilian Cup with Cruzeiro in 2000, and the French Cup with Paris St-Germain in 2004.

Roberto Ayala
Made his debut for Argentina in November 1994, against Chile, aged 21. Currently playing for Valencia, Ayala has won 99 caps for Argentina and has scored 6 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 13, 1973
Height: 1.77m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Ayala is the second most-capped member of the current Argentina squad, and the third most capped Argentinian player of all time; in 2005, he was included on the shortlist of the world's 55 leading players selected by contemporary professional footballers as part of the World XI Player Awards.

Nicolás Andrés Burdisso
Made his debut for Argentina in January 2003, against Honduras, aged 21. He currently plays for Inter Milan.
Date of birth: April 12, 1981
Height: 1.83m (6ft)
Fact: Burdisso transferred to Inter Milan from Argentinian side Boca Juniors in the summer of 2004; at the end of his first season in Italy, his club won the Italian Cup.

Gabriel Milito
Made his debut for Argentina in December 2002, against Mexico, aged 22. He currently plays for Spanish side Real Zaragoza.
Date of birth: September 7, 1980
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Milito was named Argentinian Player of the Year in 2002.

Leandro Cufre
Made his debut for Argentina in December 2000, against Mexico, aged 21. He currently plays for Italian side AS Roma.
Date of birth: May 9, 1978
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Cufre was a member of the Argentinian U20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia in 1997.

Fabricio Coloccini
Made his debut for Argentina in April 2003, against Libya, aged 21. He currently plays for Deportivo La Coruña.
Date of birth: January 22, 1982
Height: 1.m (ft)
Fact: Deportivo La Coruña is the fourth Spanish club that Coloccini has played for; prior to his move to Riazor, he also spent time at Alaves, Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal but failed to win any silverware.

Midfielders
Maximiliano Rodríguez
Made his debut for Argentina in June 2003, against Japan, aged 22. Currently playing for Atletico Madrid, Rodríguez has won 10 caps for Argentina and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 2, 1981
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Rodríguez, who has dual Italian nationality, was a member of the Argentina U20 side that won the World Youth Championship in 2001.

Pablo Aimar
Made his debut for Argentina in June 1999, against Mexico, aged 19. Currently playing for Valencia, Aimar has won 39 caps for Argentina and has scored 7 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 3, 1979
Height: 1.70m (5ft 6in)
Fact: A member of Argentina's U20 FIFA World Cup-winning side in 1997, the highlights of Aimar's later career include being named Argentine Footballer of the Year in 2000.

Juan Riquelme
Made his debut for Argentina in November 1997, against Colombia, aged 19. Currently playing for Villarreal, Riquelme has won 30 caps for Argentina and has scored 8 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 24, 1978
Height: 1.82m (6ft)
Fact: Savalo was named South American Footballer of the Year in 2001, and was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 after an impressive season for Villarreal, with 15 goals and 11 assists.

Esteban Matías Cambiasso
Made his debut for Argentina in December 2000, against Mexico, aged 19. He currently plays for Inter Milan.
Date of birth: August 18, 1980
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: As a 16-year old, Cambiasso was a member of the Argentinian U20 team that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia; his later honours and silverware include the Argentinian League in 2002 with River Plate, the Spanish League in 2003 with Real Madrid, and the Italian Cup in 2005 with Inter Milan.

Javier Alejandro Mascherano
Made his debut for Argentina in July 2003, against Uruguay, aged 19. He currently plays for Brazilian side Corinthians.
Date of birth: June 8, 1984
Height: 1.70m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Rumoured to be a potential transfer target for a number of high profile European clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, Mascherano joined Corinthians from Argentinian side River Plate in July 2005; the club won the league title at the end of his first season in Brazil.

Luis Oscar González
Made his debut for Argentina in January 2003, against Honduras, aged 22. He currently plays for FC Porto.
Date of birth: January 19, 1981
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: González was a member of Argentina's gold medal-winning squad at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Lionel Scaloni
Made his debut for Argentina in February 2005, against Germany, aged 26. He currently plays for West Ham United.
Date of birth: May 16, 1978
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Scaloni joined West Ham on loan in January 2006 from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.

Strikers
Hernán Crespo
Made his debut for Argentina in February 1995, against Bulgaria, aged 19. Currently playing for Chelsea, Crespo has won 54 caps for Argentina and has scored 29 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 5, 1975
Height: 1.84m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Despite being well-known for his goal-scoring prowess for both club and country, Crespo did not score his first goal for the senior Argentina side until more than two years after making his international debut.

Javier Saviola
Made his debut for Argentina in August 2000, against Paraguay, aged 19. Currently playing for Sevilla, Saviola has won 30 caps for Argentina and has scored 9 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 11, 1981
Height: 1.68m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Savalo was named South American Footballer of the Year in 1999.

Lionel Messi
Made his debut for Argentina in August 2005, against Hungary, aged 18. Currently playing for Barcelona, Messi has won 3 caps for Argentina and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 24, 1987
Height: 1.69m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Messi was part of Argentina's U20 side that won the 2005 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands; his impressive performances gained him two high profile awards: he was voted the best player of the tournament and was also awarded the Golden Boot, as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals.

Carlos Tévez
Made his debut for Argentina in March 2004, against Ecuador, aged 20. Currently playing for Brazilian side Corinthians, Tévez has won 19 caps for Argentina and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 5, 1984
Height: 1.69m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Named South American Player of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2005, Tévez was part of Argentina's gold medal winning squad at the 2004 Olympic Games, and was awarded the tournament's Golden Boot, after scoring 8 goals in 6 games.

Rodrigo Palacio
Made his debut for Argentina in March 2005, against Mexico, aged 23. He currently plays for Boca Juniors.
Date of birth: February 5, 1982
Height: 1.75m (5ft 8in)
Fact: In 2006, Palacio helped his side to win the Argentine league title for the second season in a row.

Julio Ricardo Cruz
Currently playing for Inter Milan. Cruz has 13 caps for Argentina and has scored 2 goals for his county (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: October 10, 1974
Height: 1.90m (6ft 2in)
Fact: Cruz spent three seasons at Dutch side Feyenoord between 1997 and 2000, scoring 44 times in 86 appearances, and helping the club win the League title in 1999.

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__________________
The heaven's sound is composed inside your heart, listen to its beat to syncronize your life onto the angel's steps.

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

Tactics: Expansive passing game with some wonderful individuals.

Star Player: Figo - veteran winger who is still one of the best in the world.

Verdict: Could go all the way. In Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco they can field one of the best midfields in the tournament. Wonderful going forward, they may struggle to stop shipping goals at the other end. Defensive organisation could be key and in Scolari, who won the 2002 event with his native Brazil, they have the perfect coach.

Ten things you didn’t know about Portugal
1. Portugal is the largest cork producing and exporting country in the world.
2. In Portugal the maternal surname is often placed before the paternal surname. The result is that some people may have up to four different surnames. Adding the usual two forenames, you can end up with, for example: Jose Ricardo Ferreira de Sousa Silva Carvalho.
3. Portugal is the oldest ally of the United Kingdom.
4. The four o’clock tea was first introduced in Britain by Portuguese Catherine De Braganza, queen consort to King Charles II of England, in the 17th century.
5. Portugal discovered the sea route to India and Brazil in the 15th century. The sea discoveries made Portugal the biggest world empire in the 16th century.
6. Portuguese is the seventh most spoken language in the world, being the native language of over 170 million people. It is, among other countries, the official language in Portugal, Brazil and some Southern African nations.
7. Portugal has a very long history of winemaking, being the Douro the oldest demarked and controlled wine region in the World. Portugal is immensely rich in terms of grape varieties with now more than 200 different ones, some with very odd names like ‘Dog Strangler’ and ‘Fly Droppings’.
8. The Portuguese have 365 ways to cook dry cod.
9. In Portugal, there is usually a television in the coffee shops.
10. The unique Festival of the Trays, held in Tomar every four years, traces its roots to a pagan fertility rite, though officially it’s related to the saintly practices of Dona Isabel (Dom Dinis’ queen) and has been held in its present form since the 17th century. The high-light of the festival is a procession of about 400 young white-clad women (traditionally they should be virgins!) bearing enormously tall tray headdresses stacked with loaves, decorated with colourful paper flowers and topped with a white paper dove. The next one will be in 2007.


Goalkeepers
Bruno Vale
Made his debut for Portugal in August 2003, against Kazakhstan, aged 20. Currently playing for CF Estrela da Amadora, Vale has won 1 cap for Portugal (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 8, 1983
Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
Fact: Vale won the European Championships with Portugal's U16 side in 2000.

Quim
Made his debut for Portugal on August 18, 1999, against Andorra, aged 24. Currently playing for Benfica, Quim has won 24 caps for Portugal (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 13, 1975
Height: 1.84m (6ft)
Fact: Quim was suspended from the 2002 World Cup for testing positive for banned steroid nandrolone, but he travelled to the 2000 European Championships as Portugal's third-choice keeper and was second choice for the 2004 European Championship. However, he did not play a single match in either competition and looks likely to remain as Portugal's number two keeper this summer.

Ricardo
Made his debut for Portugal on June 2, 2001, against Republic of Ireland, aged 25. Currently playing for Sporting Lisbon, Ricardo has won 47 caps for Portugal (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 11, 1976
Height: 1.88m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Portugal's second round match against England in the European Championships in 2004 ended with a penalty shoot-out after the game finished 2-2 after extra time; remarkably, Ricardo saved Vassell's penalty attempt without his gloves, and then converted his own penalty kick to win the game for Portugal and eliminate England from the tournament.

Defenders
Ricardo Carvahlo
Made his debut for Portugal on October 11, 2003, against Albania, aged 25. Currently playing for Chelsea, Carvahlo has won 22 caps for Portugal and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 18, 1978
Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in)
Fact: In 2004 Carvalho was named Best Defender in the Champions' League in the UEFA European Football Awards.

Marco Caneira
Made his debut for Portugal on March 27, 2002, against Finland, aged 23. Currently playing for Valencia, Caneira has won 12 caps for Portugal and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 9, 1979
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: A former captain of Portugal's U21 side, Caneira travelled as part of the senior squad to South Korea and Japan for the 2002 World Cup but did not feature in any of Portugal's games.

Miguel
Made his debut for Portugal on February 12, 2003, against Italy, aged 23. Currently playing for Valencia, Miguel has won 26 caps for Portugal and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 4, 1980
Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Miguel began his footballing career playing as a winger for Portuguese side Estrela da Amadora; after transferring to Benfica in 2000, he continued to play in this position for two seasons before being moved by his coach to his more familiar role as a right-back.

Paulo Ferreira
Made his debut for Portugal on September 7, 2002, against England, aged 23. Currently playing for Chelsea, Ferreira has won 29 caps for Portugal and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 18, 1979
Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in)
Fact: Ferreira played for the full 90 minutes in every single one of FC Porto's 13 games in the club's successful Champions' League campaign in 2002.

Nuno Valente
Made his debut for Portugal on September 7, 2002, against England, aged 28. Currently playing for Everton, Valente has won 21 caps for Portugal and has scored 3 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 12, 1974
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Valente joined Everton from FC Porto ahead of the 2005-2006 season, after reportedly falling out with the Porto coaches over his decision not to retire from international football. Valente missed 5 months of the previous domestic season for Porto with a knee injury he sustained while playing for his country.

Fernando Meira
Made his debut for Portugal on October 11, 2000, against Holland, aged 22. Currently playing for VfB Stuttgart, Meira has won 28 caps for Portugal and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 5, 1978
Height: 1.88m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Dismissed by the referee for violent conduct in a Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt in March 2003, Meira was VfB Stuttgart's only player to be shown the red card in the whole of the 2002-2003 season.

Ricardo Costa
Made his debut for Portugal in February 2005, against Republic of Ireland, aged 23. Currently playing for FC Porto, Costa has won 2 caps for Portugal and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 16, 1981
Height: 1.88m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Costa played twice in Porto's victorious Champion's League campaign in 2003-2004.

Midfielders
Deco
Made his debut for Portugal on March 29, 2003, against Brazil, aged 25. Currently playing for Barcelona, Deco has won 32 caps for Portugal and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: August 27, 1977
Height: 1.74m (5ft 7in)
Fact: Deco was one of six Barcelona stars to be included on the shortlist of the world's 55 top players selected by contemporary professional footballers as part of the World XI Player Awards in 2005.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Made his debut for Portugal on August 20, 2003, against, aged 17. Currently playing for Manchester United, Ronaldo has won 30 caps for Portugal and has scored 11 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 5, 1985
Height: 1.84m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Ronaldo's €17.5 million transfer to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2003 was a world-record fee for a teenager.

Tiago
Made his debut for Portugal on November 20, 2002, against Scotland, aged 23. Currently playing for Lyon, Tiago has won 20 caps for Portugal and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 3, 1981
Height: 1.83m (6ft)
Fact: Tiago spent the 2004-2005 season at Chelsea, scoring 4 goals in 34 league games; his move to French club Lyon saw Ghana striker Michael Essien move in the opposite direction.

Luis Figo
Made his debut for Portugal on November 20, 2002, against Luxembourg, aged 20. Currently playing for Inter Milan, Figo has won 117 caps for Portugal and has scored 31 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 4, 1972
Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
Fact: One of modern-day football's outstanding players, Figo's long list of awards and accolades include being named European Footballer of the Year in 2000 and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001; Figo recently announced he would retire after this summer's World Cup.

Armando Petit
Made his debut for Portugal on June 2, 2001, against Republic of Ireland, aged 24. Currently playing for Benfica, Petit has won 34 caps for Portugal and has scored 3 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: September 25, 1976
Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Petit came on as a substitute and scored twice in the closing minutes of Portugal's World Cup qualifier against Russia in October 2004; the game finished 7-1 to Portugal.

Costinha
Made his debut for Portugal on October 14, 1998, against Slovakia, aged 23. Currently playing for Dinamo Moscow, Costinha has won 42 caps for Portugal and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 1, 1974
Height: 1.83m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Costinha was part of the FC Porto UEFA Champions League-winning side in 2003-2004; during the knockout stage of the competition, he scored a memorable last-minute equalizer against Manchester United, to defeat the British side 3-2 on aggregate.

Maniche
Made his debut for Portugal in March 2003, against Brazil, aged 25. Currently playing for Chelsea on loan from Dynamo Moscow, Maniche has won 28 caps for Portugal and has scored 4 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 11, 1977
Height: 1.73m (5ft 7in)
Fact: Maniche spent a successful three years at Porto from 2002 to 2005, where he played under current club manager Jose Mourinho, winning the Portuguese league title twice, the Portuguese Cup, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Champions' League, the Intercontinental Cup, and the Portuguese Super Cup.

Simão Sabrosa
Made his debut for Portugal on November 11, 1998, against Israel, aged 19. Currently playing for Benfica, Sabrosa has won 41 caps for Portugal and has scored 7 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: October 31, 1979
Height: 1.70m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Potential Liverpool transfer target Sabrosa was joint top scorer in the Portuguese league in 2002-2003, with 18 goals in 33 games.

Hugo Viana
Made his debut for Portugal on November 14, 2001, against Angola, aged 18. Currently playing for Valencia, Viana has won 18 caps for Portugal and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 15, 1983
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Former Newcastle player Viana scored his only international goal to date in Portugal's final World Cup qualifying match, in Ocotber 2005; the game, a home tie against Latvia, finished 3-0 to Portugal.

Strikers
Luis Boa Morte
Made his debut for Portugal on April 25, 2001, against France, aged 23. Currently playing for Fulham, Boa Morte has won 24 caps for Portugal and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: August 4, 1977
Height: 1.77m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Infamous for his less than exemplary disciplinary record, one game that Boa Morte would probably like to forget is a Premiership game for Fulham against Ipswich in 2001, when he missed a penalty and shortly afterwards received a red card.

Helder Postiga
Made his debut for Portugal on February 12, 2003, against France, aged 21. Currently playing for St-Etienne, Postiga has won 21 caps for Portugal and has scored 9 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: August 2, 1982
Height: 1.79m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Postiga spent the 2003-2004 season at Tottenham Hotspur, but failed to impress, scoring just once in 19 games.

Nuno Gomes
Made his debut for Portugal on March 24, 1996, against France, aged 19. Currently playing for Benfica, Nuno Gomes has won 53 caps for Portugal and has scored 23 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 5, 1976
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Gomes scored an incredible hat-trick in just eight minutes after coming on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in September 2001; the match finished 7-1 to Portugal, with Gomes adding a fourth goal in the final minute.

Pauleta
Made his debut for Portugal on August 20, 1997, against Armenia, aged 24. Currently playing for Paris St-Germain, Pauleta has won 80 caps for Portugal and has scored 43 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 28, 1973
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Pauleta was the top scorer in the French league in 2002-2003 with 23 goals in 37 games for Bordeaux.

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