Position: Goalkeeper
Born: 20.05.82
Club: Chelsea

With the giant frame of Petr Cech between the posts, even the world's top strikers are sure to get mental blocks this summer if they come up against the Czech Republic.

At well over 6ft tall, Cech is a huge presence at the back on both domestic and international fronts but also has sharp reflexes and is a seemingly impenetrable barrier in one-on-ones.

The towering stopper joined Chelsea for £7million following a spiralling bidding war with some of Europe's biggest clubs and quickly adapted to the English game to become the most dominant of his kind in the Premiership, conceding just 13 goals in 35 appearances.

With Cech's imposing figure in goal, the Blues set a new Premiership record for clean sheets last season, keeping nine successive shut-outs. Cech did not concede a goal for 871 minutes, eclipsing Peter Schmeichel's record.

Cech's formidable reputation started to grow at Sparta Prague where, at the age of just 19, he broke a goalkeeping record in his homeland having gone an incredible 1,120 minutes without conceding during the 2001-02 season.

Two successful years for Rennes followed in a period where he became the undisputed number one for his country and played a pivotal role in the Czechs' inspiring run to the semi-finals of Euro 2004.

But Cech will hope to go at least one better on the biggest stage of all.