Played a significant role in the Anfield side's fourth-place finish and has finally established himself as a regular German international.

Sits happily in the centre of midfield, but enjoys the occasional forward foray and weighs in with a fair quota of often spectacular goals.

Has a tremendous eye for a pass, and should have a long career ahead of him in the German engine room. Ribbeck briefly tried him as a playmaker but has since decided he was more useful as a defensive midfielder.

However, that defensive role meant he was an unpopular replacement for the more attack-minded Haessler in the draw against Romania.

Hard-working but ineffective against England.