The hard player: Nabil Bentaleb
Born in Lille, Nabil Bentaleb is a central midfielder who chose to represent Algeria at international level. His career took off at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 66 appearances for 1 goal: a notable stint in the Premier League that gave him an international platform before crossing to Germany.
It was at Schalke 04 that he put up his best numbers: 107 matches and 19 goals, with a loan spell at Newcastle United (15 matches) along the way. He also featured for LOSC Lille (80 matches, 3 goals) and Angers SCO (51 matches, 5 goals), completing a career that spanned France, England and Germany. Before committing to Algeria, he had worn the France under-19 shirt on one occasion.
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PlayThe medium player: Branislav Ivanović
Born on 22 February 1984 in Sremska Mitrovica, Branislav Ivanović started his career at OFK Belgrade, making 65 appearances and scoring 6 goals. Whether deployed as a right-back or centre-back, he also had a nose for goal: a versatility that would soon open the doors of the top clubs.
It was at Chelsea that he spent the best years of his career: 377 matches, 34 goals for a defender – a remarkable consistency. He then continued his adventure in Russia, first at Zenit Saint Petersburg (125 matches, 12 goals) and then at Lokomotiv Moscow (71 matches, 7 goals). Internationally, he earned one cap under the colours of Serbia and Montenegro: a symbol of a pivotal era for the Balkans.
The easy player: Andriy Shevchenko
Born on 29 September 1976 in Dvirkivchtchyna, Andriy Shevchenko made his mark as a striker at Dynamo Kyiv, where he scored 99 goals in 166 matches. A goal-scoring hunger that was just getting started: he then headed to Italy, and that’s where everything took off.
It was at AC Milan that he reached his peak: 173 goals in 296 matches with the Rossoneri, numbers that speak for themselves. A spell at Chelsea (77 matches, 22 goals) proved less spectacular, before a loan return to Milan (26 matches, 2 goals) and a final chapter at Dynamo Kyiv (83 matches, 30 goals). With Ukraine’s under-19 side, he had already shown his teeth: 5 goals in 8 matches.