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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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18-Joerg Boehme
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(Schalke 04) Born: 22.1.74 Caps: 6 Goals: 1
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Renowned for set-piece deliveries, particularly his devastating free kicks. Like Rehmer, however, he is injury prone. Has been at Schalke since 2000 after spells at Arminia Bielefeld, TSV 1860 Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Carl Zeiss Jena and Chemie Zeitz.
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13-Michael Ballack
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(Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 26.9.76 Caps: 22 Goals: 6
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Nicknamed The Little Kaiser by the fans, he stood out during qualifying with scintillating displays in two playoffs against Ukraine last November. The performances did much to help him shake off his tag as gifted but somewhat erratic, and lacking in work-rate. A top-scorer in the Bundesliga, helping his team finish runners-up in the league and cup plus Champions League.
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22-Torsten Frings
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(Werder Bremen) Born: 22.11.76 Caps: 8 Goals: 2
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Made his debut in Germany's 1-0 defeat by France in Paris in February last year. Joined Werder Bremen from Alemannia Aachen in 1996. Has had a great season and been linked with Borussia Dortmund for next season, having caught the eye of coach Matthias Sammer, although Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin and Arsenal have also reportedly expressed an interest.
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8-Dietmar Hamann
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(Liverpool) Born: 27.8.73 Caps: 40 Goals: 4
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Combative midfielder and former Bayern Munich player who left the Bavarians for English premier league club Newcastle United. Has since become the backbone of a Liverpool side that finished league runners-up last season. Scored winner against England at Wembley in qualifying. Known for his free kicks.
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16-Jens Jeremies
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(Bayern Munich) Born: 5.3.74 Caps: 33 Goals: 1
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A tough tackler, quick going forward and with amazing stamina, Jeremies has often been compared to Manchester United's Ireland midfielder Roy Keane. But he shares Keane's susceptibility to injury and has missed much of this season after two operations on a troublesome knee. While he has struggled to make his mark since returning from injury, a fit Jeremies would be a major boost.
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5-Carsten Ramelow
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(Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 20.03.74 Caps: 25 Goals: 0
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Utility midfielder whose hard work and great vision helped Leverkusen finish runners-up in domestic league and cup and the Champions League. Can also marshal the defense though he struggled in the 4-1 drubbing by Arsenal in the Champions League.
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10-Lars Ricken
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(Borussia Dortmund) Born: 10.7.76 Caps: 16 Goals: 1
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Despite his relative youth, Ricken was a member of the Dortmund side that won the Champions League in 1997. An assured attacking midfielder, he has not quite lived up to the promise of his youth but remains a threat going forward.
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19-Bernd Schneider
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(Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 17.11.73. Caps: 9 Goals: 0
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Schneider joined Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt and his solid midfield work and accurate passing were a big factor in their pursuit of three major trophies last season, even though the campaign ended in disappointment as they came second in the domestic league and cup and Champions League. His ability to spread passes effectively and skillfully from the center of midfield to waiting strikers has given Germany a big lift.
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6-Christian Ziege
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(Tottenham Hotspur) Born: 1.2.72 Caps: 66 Goals: 9
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Had a good season at English Premier League club Spurs -- scoring in the League Cup final defeat by Blackburn Rovers -- even though their fortunes were mixed. Has recovered much of his confidence and the touch that was missing when at AC Milan and Liverpool. A speedy left-sided wing-back with an eye for goal.
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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14-Gerald Asamoah
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(Schalke 04) Born: 3.10.78 Caps: 11 Goals: 2
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Debuted in May 2001 friendly against Slovakia, when he scored. Germany's first black player, last got on the scoresheet in 7-1 friendly win against Israel last February. Joined Schalke 04 in 1999 from first division Hanover 96 and was instrumental in winning the German Cup and securing runners-up spot in the Bundesliga in 2001. A flair player who may not start many matches but Voeller is likely to call on him in when he needs more width.
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20-Oliver Bierhoff
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(Monaco) Born: 1.5.68 Caps: 65 Goals: 36
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The next great German striker following Juergen Klinsmann, Bierhoff won star status by scoring both goals in the 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in the Euro '96 final. Known for his heading skills, has recently completed an economics degree.
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17-Marco Bode
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(Werder Bremen) Born: 23.7.69 Caps: 34 Goals: 8
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Has enjoyed a good season, scoring his 100th Bundesliga goal for the club in February. Now in his 13th campaign with Werder, his major honors include the 1992 European Cup Winners Cup and 1999 German Cup. A bit of a dark horse, he can appear on the scoresheet just when you least expect it.
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9-Carsten Jancker
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(Bayern Munich) Born: 28.08.74 Caps: 26 Goals: 7
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Last season the tall, shaven-headed Jancker failed to match the international status earned in the previous two terms at Bayern, who he joined from Rapid Vienna in 1996. Low profile since scoring Germany's only goal against England in the Munich qualifier. Jancker has found it difficult to force his way into the Bayern side this season and has been linked with a move to Hertha Berlin.
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11-Miroslav Klose
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(Kaiserslautern) Born: 9.6.78 Caps: 12 Goals: 8
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Something of a revelation, scoring a hat trick in February's 7-1 victory over Israel in a friendly. While the 23-year-old has taken a little time to develop, his rise in the last two years has been impressive since his international call-up in March 2001. Joined Kaiserslautern from FC Hamburg in 1999, graduating from the amateurs to the first team in 2000.
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7-Oliver Neuville
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(Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 1.5.73 Caps: 30 Goals: 3
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Quick and strong, the Swiss-born player was one of the top strikers in the Bundesliga last season. His career has really taken off since moving to Leverkusen from Hansa Rostock in 1999. Zippy little winger, happy to swing in the crosses but quick to run into the box himself. One of his best performances was in the World Cup playoff second leg against Ukraine, when he scored in the 4-0 win. Has played for Servette in Switzerland and Tenerife in Spain.
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