Position: Midfielder
Born: 12.01.78
Club: St Etienne

Didier Zokora is another product of the ASEC Abidjan academy that has produced so many of the Ivory Coast's impressive new generation of players.

He joined Belgium's RC Genk in 2000 and easily came to terms with the demands of the European game, winning the league in 2002.

St Etienne took him to France in 2004 and he has gone on to carve out a reputation for himself as the best defensive midfielder in League 1.

He reportedly has a £10million release clause in his contract and with no shortage of potential buyers this summer Zokora will surely move on to a bigger club, with Arsenal and Manchester United among his suitors.

A screen for the defence who rarely joins the attack, Zokora's instinctive positional sense breaks up moves and his strength means he is a difficult obstacle for any opposition.

With Zokora and Yaya Toure in midfield, and Kolo Toure in defence, the Ivory Coast will be a difficult side to break down in Germany.