Position: Goalkeeper
Born: 02.01.75
Club: Dynamo Kiev

While Andriy Shevchenko may be Ukraine's most famous footballer, Alexandr Shovkovskiy is arguably their most important.

He didn't miss a game as Ukraine reached the World Cup for the first time, and kept six straight clean sheets in the qualifying games from October 2004 until September 2005 when a last-minute goal from Georgia midfielder Georgi Gakhokidze brought his impressive run to an end.

However, the point gained against Georgia that night was enough to confirm Ukraine as the first European team to qualify for Germany 2006.

Shovkovskiy has been a mainstay of the successful Dynamo Kiev teams of recent years, having made his debut for the club back in 1993.

He may not be the best-known player in the Ukraine squad, but the World Cup offers this reliable keeper the opportunity to make a name for himself on the biggest stage of all.