PODOLSKI VOTED BEST OF YOUTH.Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer Polish-born striker Lukas Podolski Lukas Podolski (IPA–German: ['lukas po'dolski]) (born as Łukasz Podolski on June 4, 1985 in Gliwice, Poland) nicknamed (Prinz) Poldi , who formed a strong partnership with Miroslav Klose Miroslav Klose (born Mirosław Marian Kloze June 9, 1978 in Opole, Silesia, Poland) is a German footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga in Germany, and for the German National Football Team. at the top of Germany's attack, won the World Cup's inaugural Best Young Player Award in balloting by FIFA's Technical Study Group and fans. Podolski, 21, who has three goals heading into today's third-place match against Portugal in Stuttgart, was chosen over dynamic Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo <noinclude></noinclude>
Italians are top choice: World Cup finalist Italy dominated FIFA's 23- man All-Star team, with seven selections, including Golden Ball finalists Fabio Cannavaro Fabio Cannavaro, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI[1][2] (born September 13, 1973 in Naples, Italy) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer. Currently he is the captain of the Italian national football team and plays at club level for Real Madrid. , Gianluigi Buffon This article is about the Italian goalkeeper. For other uses, see Buffon (disambiguation). Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI[1][2] , Andrea Pirlo Andrea Pirlo, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI[1][2], (born May 19, 1979), is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer. He currently plays for A.C. Milan, as well as the Italy national team. and Gianluca Zambrotta Gianluca Zambrotta, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI[2][3], (born February 19, 1977 in Como) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer. He is extremely fast, and plays either as a full-back defender, or a side midfielder for both club and country. . Tough midfielder Gennaro Gattuso Gennaro Ivan "Rino" Gattuso, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI,[2][3] (born January 9 1978 in Corigliano Calabro) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer. His position is a defensive midfielder; however, he sometimes plays on the right side of midfield. and attackers Luca Toni and Alessandro Totti also were selected for the all-tournament team. France, which will face Italy on Sunday in Berlin, is represented by defender Lilian Thuram, midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira and forward Thierry Henry. The full list: Goalkeeper -- Buffon, Jens Lehmann (Germany), Ricardo (Portugal). Defenders -- Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Thuram, Roberto Ayala (Argentina), John Terry (England), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal). Midfielders -- Gattuso, Pirlo, Zidane, Vieira, Ze Roberto (Brazil), Michael Ballack (Germany), Luis Figo (Portugal), Maniche (Portugal). Forwards -- Henry, Toni, Totti, Hernan Crespo (Argentina), Miroslav Klose (Germany). Pessotto weakens: The condition of Gianluca Pessotto, the former Juventus defender who attempted suicide last week in the wake of Italy's ``Calciopoli'' scandal, has worsened, doctors treating him at a Turin hospital said in a statement. Pessotto, 35, moved into the front office when his playing career ended two months ago. He was suffering from depression, his wife has said, unhappy in his job and helpless as the scandal surrounding his beloved club has grown increasingly intense. ``The patient's condition is worse now than in the last few days,'' the doctors said Friday. ``If before we were able to express cautious optimism, we are now withholding judgment.'' Several Italy players and an assistant coach rushed to Pessotto's bedside after he leapt from a window at Juventus' headquarters. Five Azzurri players were his teammates at the Turin club, and three players from fellow finalist France -- defender Lilian Thuram, midfielder Patrick Vieira and forward David Trezeguet -- also played last season with Pessotto at Juve. Blatter Blat´ter v. i. 1. To prate; to babble; to rail; to make a senseless noise; to patter. [ imp. & p. p. os> ( ) r>.] They procured . . . a cheat: FIFA FIFA International Association Football Federation [French Fédération Internationale de Football Association] FIFA n abbr (= Fédération Internationale de Football Association) → FIFA f President Sepp Blatter, critical of players who feign feign v. feigned, feign·ing, feigns v.tr. 1. a. To give a false appearance of: feign sleep. b. fouls and injuries to gain advantages over opponents, admits he used similar tactics when he played in his native Switzerland. In a profile televised by CNN CNN or Cable News Network Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world. , Blatter said: ``I was not a perfect player, I have to say, being a striker. I tried (for) some advantages by joking with a player and then falling down by saying, `But he touched me.' And in fact it was not that. I did it.'' Blatter, 70, who played in the top Swiss amateur league in the 1950s, '60s and early '70s, said he understood why players dive. ``I think it is a normal movement.'' he said. ``It's in the game.'' Also: A defense attorney argued Friday that former Juventus executives facing a Rome sporting tribunal in the ``Calciopoli'' match-fixing scandal should be thanked for their work in developing the Italian team that will meet France in Sunday's final rather than tried for alleged misdeeds. ... Five Juventus players are on the Italian roster, all playing significant roles. ... Juergen Klinsmann's popularity has skyrocketed in Germany. ... A survey published Thursday by Forsa polling institute found that 93 percent of Germans want him to remain the national team's coach. Only 3 percent are opposed. ... Brazilian striker Ronaldo says he does need a knee operation after all. Jose Luiz Runco, Brazil's team doctor, reported this week the forward needed surgery to clear calcium depostis, but the medical staff at Real Madrid, Ronaldo's club, said rest would be sufficient. ... Ronaldo on Friday said he would have the surgery late this month. CAPTION(S): box Box: GERMANY vs. PORTUGAL - Scott French |
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