By Paul Kennedy, Managing Editor
Soccer America Magazine
More than half the teams participating in the 2006 World Cup could have players based in Germany. The USA is represented with Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach) and Steve Cherundolo (Hannover). Other Bundesliga 1 standouts could be key figures at the 2006 World Cup.
LUCIO (Brazil). Lucio has always loved to run and tackle – which made him a perfect fit for the high-intensity Bundesliga. Lucio had just turned 20 when he debuted at Bayer Leverkusen in 2000 and helped it reach the final of the 2001 Champions League, where he scored against Real Madrid. Lucio moved to Bayern Munich in 2004 and after some early difficulties with Coach Felix Magath emerged as a stabilizing force on BayernÆs league championship team. At 23, he was a mainstay on defense for BrazilÆs 2002 World Cup championship team. His skill and vision makes him one of the most proficient defenders in the world.
IVAN KLASNIC (Croatia). Klasnic is under contract with Werder Bremen through next season, but he is one of the most sought-after strikers in Germany with 31 league goals the last two-plus seasons. The 25-year-old Klasnic was born in Hamburg to Croatian parents and debuted for Croatia against Germany in February 2004 after turning down an offer to play for Germany. Klasnic is one of five Bundesliga players who play for the Croatian squad.
WILLY SAGNOL (France). Frenchmen hold down the outside back positions at Bayern Munich: Bixente Lizarazu, now retired from the national team, on left and the lesser known Sagnol on the right. SagnolÆs ability to get down the sidelines – he set up the winning goal in FranceÆs 4-0 win over Cyprus that clinched a World Cup berth – has made him the BleusÆ first choice at right back. After six years at Bayern, Sagnol says itÆs time for a change. AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing the 28-year-old for next season.
MEHDI MAHDAVIKIA(Iran). Mahdavakia secured his place in Iranian history when he scored the second goal in IranÆs 2-1 victory over the USA at the 1998 World Cup in France. Two years later, Kia moved to Hamburg, where he has spent six seasons. Still only 27, Kia is IranÆs primary attacking threat out of midfield. The 2003 Asian Player of the Year is just one of several Team Melli stars who play in Germany, home to a large community of Iranian immigrants.
NAOHIRO TAKAHARA (Japan). The signing of Takahara, dubbed the ''Sushi Bomber,'' from Jubilo Iwata after the 2002 World Cup was at first considered a marketing ploy to give HSV entry into the Japanese market. His signing drew 30 Japanese reporters to follow him around in Hamburg, and HSV received 10,000 pre-orders for Takahara jerseys in Japan. The 25-year-old striker played well enough last season to earn a contract extension through the 2005-06 season, but he has languished on the HSV bench this fall.
RAFAEL VAN DER VAART (Netherlands). Raised in a trailer park, Van der Vaart was spotted early by Ajax, which signed him at age 10 and drafted him into the first team at age 17. But everything moved a little too quickly for Van der Vaart, who was a constant target of the Dutch media because of his relationship with Dutch actress Sylvie Meis. He was dropped the Dutch team after the opening game of Euro 2004 and only recently regained a spot in Coach Marco Van BastenÆs lineup as a left-sided midfielder. Still only 22, he moved Hamburg over the summer and excelled in the Bundesliga until being suspended for three games for shoving Wolfsburg coach Hans Fach.
JACEK KRZYNOWEK (Poland). American fans will remember Krzynowek as one of the instigators of the Daejeon blitz, PolandÆs stunning 3-1 victory over the USA that almost eliminated it from the 2002 World Cup. The Daejeon man of the match is one of only two Polish players from that game who started against England in PolandÆs final 2006 World Cup qualifier. Krzynowek, 29, has been in Germany six years, four at Nuremberg and the last two at Leverkusen, where he has developed into one of the BundesligaÆs most dangerous left-sided midfielders.
MLADEN KRSTAJIC (Serbia & Montenegro). Krstajic has been one of the BundesligaÆs best central defenders since his arrival in 2000. His first job was to replace Brazilian star Julio Cesar in the middle of the Werder Bremen defense. Three years later, he helped Bremen win the league and cup couple. Last year, he joined Schalke 04, where he teamed with Brazilian Marcelo Bordon to form one of the BundesligaÆs top center-back combinations.
ANDREJ VORONIN (Ukraine). Voronin benefited from a move to Leverkusen from another German club, FC Cologne. Voronin arrived on loan last season and stayed at Bayer even after Cologne was promoted from the Second Division. His 15 goals for Bayer last season were more than he scored in three seasons at Cologne. Voronin, 31, won the starting job next to European Player of the Year Andriy Shevchenko on the Ukrainian frontline during qualifying. He scored only one goal, but it was a big one. It gave Ukraine a 1-0 win over Denmark in Kiev last June. n
(This article originally appeared in the November 21 & 28, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine.)