WORLD CUP 2006 - PLAYERS TO WATCH



MICHAEL BALLACK, Germany:



The Bayern Munich midfielder led the Germans to the 2002 final, where they lost 2-0 to Brazil without him. He was disqualified from playing due to yellow cards in previous games. His domineering presence is a lasting memory from the Americans' quarterfinal loss to Germany, in which he scored the lone goal. Now Ballack, 29, playing in his home country, will try to complete the task he fell short of four years ago with a German team not quite as vaunted as in South Korea/Japan.

RONALDO, Brazil:



Like Ballack, Ronaldo, 29, is a returning hero. He scored both goals in the 2002 final, pouncing on a rebound and then later taking a pass near the top of the penalty area and wasting not a moment in scooting the ball just inside the post. That sort of opportunism combined with his strength and skill made Ronaldo the world's most celebrated player until Ronaldinho took over the title. In the pro leagues, he has been part of Real Madrid's all-star team, playing with David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, among others.

RONALDINHO, Brazil:



The 26-year-old star of Spanish League power Barcelona is the odds-on favorite to own Germany 2006. The midfielder is as impressive evading defenders as he is maintaining possession when they finally catch up with him, and as impressive passing as he is shooting. England fans will never forgive nor forget his 30-yard looping free kick in the 2002 Cup that somehow got over the head of goalie David Seamans. And a simple Internet search turns up a few dozen video clips of his spectacular feats.

CARLOS TEVEZ, Argentina:



Tevez also has a chance to be this Cup's top showstopper, as one of the biggest talents on one of the best teams. But he works in relative obscurity for Corinthians of Brazil's pro league. Just 22, he's the three-time defending South American Player of the Year and was the top scorer in the Athens Olympics. He'll have plenty of competition for attention on Argentina's front line, alongside the likes of established start Hernan Crespo and another potential breakout star, Lionel Messi.

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO, Ukraine:



Among players who could singlehandedly take an second-tier team deep into the tournament, Shevchenko is the most feared. After earning international acclaim for Dynamo Kiev, he went big-time to AC Milan for the tidy fee of $25 million and became the Italian league's top scorer. Just this past week, Chelsea of the English league paid in the area of $50 million to get him on its side. This is Ukraine's first Cup, and there's no guarantee the 29-year-old striker will be on the biggest stage again.

DIDIER DROGBA, Ivory Coast:



The physical Chelsea striker is another player being counted on to add extra spice to the Cup by leading a challenge of the traditional powers. Though he is of course a celebrity in his native country, the 28-year-old is also a product of France, where he moved at the age of 5. Ivory Coast is considered the best of the African teams, but the Elephants are in probably the toughest group, needing to face Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia-Montenegro in the first round. So catch Drogba while you can.

DAVID BECKHAM, England:



The final spots on our list of players are for would-be greats who need a good Cup showing to cement their acclaim. Beckham, the tabloid cover boy who moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2003, remains among the world's best at placing passes to the front of the net from outside the penalty area. But with England in a bit of disarray due to injuries, will his targets convert? If Beckham at 31 represents England's European and international failures, he doesn't have much time to change his legacy.

FRANCESCO TOTTI, Italy:



The dangerous offensive midfielder and longtime Roma star also has some work to do on how he'll be remembered. And the circumstances in Germany couldn't be much more difficult. Off the field, Italian soccer is embroiled in match-fixing controversy and on the field Totti, 29, is coming back from a broken ankle. All pronouncements, though, are that Totti is near top form, and provided the U.S. doesn't repeat its 2002 surprises, Italy should survive Group E.






Since February 4, 2006