Name: Mark Schwarzer
Team: Australia
Date of birth: 6 October 1972
Place of birth: Sydney
Club: Fulham
World Cups: 1
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
Mark Schwarzer is a player who has got better with age. A cracking shot stopper and consummate professional, the Aussie is the most experienced member of the national side, and has proved himself to be a consistent and reliable player between the sticks. Schwarzer played for more than a decade at Middlesborough, where he was first choice and boasted an impeccable record, keeping them in the top ten for many seasons. He has since taken that form to Fulham and played a principal role in helping them to claim some big name scalps. By comparison his World Cup career has been up and down. In 2006 then manager Gus Hiddink picked Schwarzer's rival Zeljko Kalac for the side's match against Croatia. However, Schwarzer was soon back between the posts and has been number one ever since thanks to his experience, cracking penalty saves and excellent handling skills.
Name: Julio Cesar Soares de Espindola
Team: Brazil
Date of birth: 3 September 1979
Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro
Club: Inter Milan
World Cups: 1
Appearances: 5
Goals: 0
Think of Brazil and you'll surely picture the outrageous tricks and fluid passing of an attacking side - and the flip side of that has always been that they've appeared considerably less accomplished in defence. These days however, with Inter keeper Julio Cesar marshalling the Brazilian defence, all that has changed. Cesar has had to be patient for his international chances. He was first named in the Brazil squad as a backup to Dida in 2003, and he managed to win only a handful of caps over the following years before finally getting the opportunity in 2007 to make the role his own. It's definitely an opportunity he's grasped firmly in those oversized 'keepers gloves. Now he's an ever-present in the Inter goal, it's surprising to recall that he had to be just as patient there too. He initially served as Francesco Toldo's understudy and took a while to dislodge him. However, he has flourished in Italy and become a mainstay of the Inter team. In 2009 he was named Best Player by ESPN Brasil, and awarded Goalkeeper of the Year in Serie A.
Name: Gianluigi Buffon
Team: Italy
Date of birth: January 28, 1978
Place of birth: Carrara
Club: Juventus
World Cups: 2
Appearances: 11
Goals: 0
In an Italian squad full of superstars, Gigi Buffon is still the first name on the team sheet - and he has been for over a decade. The Italian shot-stopper has a lot of younger rivals in Serie A all vying for his place, but the Juventus keeper remains among the best 'keepers in the world. Buffon made his name at Parma, where he impressed enough for Juventus to break the world record fee for a goalkeeper when they splashed out 32 million pounds on the then 23-year-old player. It proved to be a very shrewd investment as Buffon helped the club to lift every title in the Italian league.
Name: Iker Casillas Fernandez
Team: Spain
Date of birth: May 20, 1981
Place of birth: Mostoles
Club: Real Madrid
World Cups: 2
Appearances: 8
Goals: 0
In 2002, Spain's first-choice goalkeeper Santiago Canizares dropped a bottle of aftershave on his foot and had to withdraw from the World Cup due to the unlikely injury. Iker Casillas Fernandez took his place and he has kept it ever since. The scent of success is strong around Casillas. He is the captain of his country, and he's the first choice for Real Madrid. Indeed, he is a true legend at the club. He is a product of the youth team system and in his time at Madrid, he has won the Champions League twice, the league title four times and the Intercontinental Cup.
Name: Carvalho dos Reis Eduardo
Team: Portugal
Date of birth: September 19, 1982
Place of birth: Mirandela
Club: Sporting Clube de Braga
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Portugal's first-choice shot-stopper was a surprising choice for coach Carlos Queiroz as his rival, Quim, had kept four clean sheets before being dropped. However, Eduardo has shown himself worthy of the confidence his coach displayed, proving very difficult to beat. Despite their miserly defence, the Portuguese have been surprisingly goal shy, and so they only just scraped their way into the finals in South Africa. For a team boasting the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Deco and others, it's a worrying trend, and it means keeping clean sheets is g
Name: Justo Wilmar Villar Viveros
Team: Paraguay
Date of birth: 30 June 1977
Place of birth: Cerrito
Club: Valladolid
World Cups: 2
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Justo Villar inherited the Paraguayan gloves from the eccentric and Chilavert, the former South American Footballer of the Year, and three-time winner of the International Federation of Football History & Statistics' World Best Goalkeeper award. It was a hard act to follow - especially as Chilavert also plied his trade as a handy free kick taker - but with Villar between the sticks during their World Cup qualifying campaign, Paraguay have conceded just 16 goals in 18 games - only Brazil boast a better defensive record. Villar has been excellent in goal for Paraguay - as he has been for Spanish club Valladolid - and he will surely be their most hungry player. South Africa will be Villar's third World Cup and he will be hoping that he enjoys a better run than he did in his previous two. Paraguay made it this World Cup with two qualifying games remaining, beating Diego Maradona's Argentina to send their fans into rapture, and Villar will be integral in their chances of making it past the group stages.
Name: Hugo Lloris
Team: France
Date of birth: 26 December 1986
Place of birth: Nice
Club: Lyon
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Though still only 23, Hugo Lloris has been regularly compared to Spain and Real Madrid's brilliant goalkeeper Iker Casillas. And little wonder. France only qualified for South Africa because of his heroics in goal. Thierry Henry's infamous handball in France's World Cup play-off against Ireland may have been the main talking point of that extraordinary night, but without a brilliant performance between the posts from Lloris to keep France in the match, the striker's late intervention would have been academic. After excelling in his first full season for Nice - keeping 13 clean sheets - Lloris joined Lyon in 2008. Despite his lack of experience on what will be Lloris' biggest stage, his fast reflexes, brilliant one-on-one skills and commanding presence make Lloris one of the best goalkeepers in the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Name: Claudio Andres Bravo Munoz
Team: Chile
Date of birth: April 13, 1983
Place of birth: Viluco, Chile
Club: Real Sociedad
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Linked with moves to both Barcelona and Real Madrid in the summer, Chile's first choice keeper is touted as one of the best in the business. Capped 41 times for Chile, the top-drawer shot-stopper has represented his country at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels, before making his debut with the senior team in July 2004 at the Copa America. It was his father who first spotted Claudio's prowess with the gloves, and enrolled him at Colo-Colo's youth academy. Despite being just 26 years old, Bravo has been appointed captain of the national team and was named Chilean player of the year in 2009. One to watch, he's a world class keeper in the making.
Name: Samir Handanovic
Team: Slovenia
Date of birth: 14 July 1984
Place of birth: Ljubljana
Club: Udinese
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
With a talent for some seriously acrobatic shot-stopping, this 6'5" goalkeeper is one worth looking out for - especially as a tribute video on the internet describes him, he's "young, talented and handsome". And although he may play his club football in Serie A, this young Slovenian is not playing far away from home. Just 75 miles or so separates Udine, the home of Samir's club Udinese, from Ljubljana, where Samir Was born. Spotted as a young talent by Udinese, Samir has been nurtured by the Italian side since 2004, and has been a fixture of the Slovenian side ever since. But don't let his comparative youth fool you - Handanovic has been part of a key spine for the Slovenian national team, that also includes West Bromwich Albion's Robert Koren and Cologne striker Milivoje Novakovic, for some time. This fearsome and talented young goalkeeper could really make a name for himself in South Africa, and is defnitely one to watch out for.
Name: Vincent Enyeama
Team: Nigeria
Date of birth: 29 August 1982
Place of birth: Kabunia
Club: Hapoel Tel Aviv
World Cups: 1
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
The Super Eagles have had a few giants of the modern game playing for them, and on a night in the African Nations Cup earlier this year Vincent Enyeama joined those mighty ranks. In a pulsating match ten-man Nigeria managed to hold on for a draw against opponents Zambia in the quarterfinals. And with penalties needed to decide the tie Enyeama first saved one - and then scored one - to put Nigeria through to the semi-finals. At a touch under six feet tall, "The Cat" has a great sense of position, and shows little fear when rushing out to smother a ball. He is also a great athlete, and capable of making the sort of stunning single-handed diving saves that will be endlessly replayed on your screens. The 2009 Israel player of the year has been a fixture in the Nigerian first team for most of the last decade, during which time they've twice finished third in the African Cup of Nations.
Name: Maicon Douglas Sisenando
Team: Brazil
Date of birth: July 26, 1981
Place of birth: Criciuma
Club: Internazionale
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Keep an eye on this boy. The complete full back, he is one of the best attacking defenders in the world and earmarked as one of Brazil's stars of the future. Six feet of pure strength and skill, Maicon knows how to defend and he surges forward at will. Good in the air and a great reader of situations, his play as an out-and-out defender is excellent. Going forward on his great long legs, he is a constant threat who can strike terror into the hearts of opposition defenders. After winning the Championships with Cruzeiro and then Monaco, in 2008 he joined Internazionale. A most potent weapon for them, and a first choice for Jose Mourinho, at the San Siro, he has scored goals and created chances galore, helping Inter win a fourth consecutive title in 2009. He just missed out on the 2006 World Cup, but is now the first-choice right-back for Brazil ahead of Barca's prodigiously talented Alves. Prepare to be electrified. If Brazil play to their game plan and give Maicon the freedom to run at defenders, you could just see some magical football from this Brazilian.
Name: Rafael Marquez Alvarez
Team: Mexico
Date of birth: February 13, 1979
Place of birth: Zamora
Club: Barcelona
World Cups: 2
Appearances: 8
Goals: 1
Mexico's captain and veteran defender Rafael Marquez has been part of two Mexican World Cup adventures and his appetite remains undiminished. For the last four World Cups, his country has safely negotiated the group stages only to go out after the first knockout game. "Now it is our turn to get by," he has vowed. If Mexico are to entertain such thoughts, they will need all the leadership and skills Marquez has to offer. Only the second Mexican to play for Barca, he has won three La Liga and two Champions League titles since 2003. He began his club career in 1999 with Mexican top-flight club CF Atlas. In 1999, he signed for Monaco, where he won Ligue 1 in his first season. A great organiser who is also able to play at right back, he will line up in central defence for Mexico. There he reads the game well, snuffing out attacks in their infancy and turning defence into attack quickly with his great long passing, though he can be prone to the odd rash challenge. He can hit a shot like the best, finding the back of the net 10 times in 88 games for his country - a great strike rate for a defender. He won the Confederations Cup with Mexico back in 1999 and now has set his sights on World Cup glory.
Name: Joris Mathijsen
Team: The Netherlands
Date of birth: April 5, 1980
Place of birth: Goirle
Club: Hamburg
World Cups: 1
Appearances: 3
Goals: 0
He is not one of the Dutch side's most celebrated players, but the left-sided central defender Joris Mathijsen will be a certain starter for the Oranje in South Africa. The Netherlands are known for being expansive, going forward rather than for being miserly at the back. Yet, Mathijsen's no-frills approach, strong heading and firm tackling make him a key member of the team - the rock on which they can build. Mathijsen started his career in the youth academy of Dutch side Wilhelm II, making 152 appearances before Alkmaar spotted his talents and snapped him up in 2004. He helped Alkmaar to third and second places in the league and then he was on his way to Hamburg in the Bundesliga, where his form won himself a regular place in the Dutch international defence. Mathijsen represented his nation three times during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, another three in Euro 2008 and has been ever-present during The Netherlands' qualifying campaign for South Africa, playing more minutes than any other player in the squad. If a ball starts rolling loose round the Orange defence during this World Cup, you can rely on the no-nonsense Mathijsen to be there to put his left boot to it.
Name: Ryan William Nelsen
Team: New Zealand
Date of birth: October 18, 1977
Place of birth: Christchurch
Club: Blackburn
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Though he is one of the greatest ever players to pull on the white of New Zealand, recurring injuries have ensured that New Zealand and Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen did not even play for his country between 2004 and 2008. And as recently as this February, the 32-year-old feared a knee-injury might mean he would miss the South Africa showpiece. Luckily for him, it wasn't as bad as he had feared - and lucky for New Zealand. They will need all the defensive resilience he can give them if they are to return home without humiliation. The centre-back cut his teeth in Major League Soccer before he secured a move to Blackburn Rovers in 2005. There, troublesome hamstrings blighted his career, but that didn't stop him from showing some superb form that helped him win the hearts of Rovers fans, the club captaincy, Uefa Cup qualification and two FA Cup semi-finals. New Zealand, as expected, topped their Pacific qualification group with ease, but it took a quality defensive display from Nelson over two legs in their play-off against Bahrain to see them through to the finals 1-0. They will need plenty more of that from him during this tournament.
Name: Rio Gavin Ferdinand
Team: England
Date of birth: 7 November 1978
Place of birth: Peckham, London
Club: Manchester United
World Cups: 2
Appearances: 10
Goals: 1
He may have started his senior career with West Ham, and we'll never forget those two years with Leeds United, but since joining Sir Alex Ferguson and his Red Devils in Manchester, Rio Ferdinand has developed from wonderkid into full-grown man. And at Old Trafford he's won a stack of silverware: four Premier League Championships, two League Cups, a Fifa Club World Cup and, of course, a Champions League winner's medal in 2008. It'll be alongside John Terry that Rio will likely line up in South Africa, in what threatens to be the most solid central pairing in the competition. And maybe he'll get the chance to add another goal to his meagre goal-scoring return at international level. His only World Cup goal so far came in 2002, as England brushed Denmark aside 0-3. Throughout his career Ferdinand has been compared to another West Ham idol, the great Bobby Moore, and now he has the chance to follow him into immortality. Tall, cultured and a natural ball-player, Rio Ferdinand has always stood head and shoulders above the competition as the most complete centre half in English football, and now as captain he has the skills required to take England to their elusive second World Cup.
Name: Philipp Lahm
Team: Germany
Date of birth: 11 November 1983
Place of birth: Munich
Club: Bayern Munich
World Cups: 1
Appearances: 7
Goals: 1
He's only 5'7", but Philipp Lahm is quite simply one of the best attacking fullbacks in the world. A guaranteed first-choice for the German team sheet, he's lightening quick, good on the ball and nips past defenders in a flash to deliver some great crosses for his strikers. He's also extremely versatile. A right-footed player, right-back is his preferred position, but because he's brilliant at cutting in from the left before delivering with his right, he's often played at left-back. Lahm made his reputation as the best leftback in Germany while on loan to Stuttgart for the 2003/04 and 2004-05 seasons, but is also capable of finding the back of the net when his team needs him to. With the scores locked at 2-2 and with extra time looming, he scored the winning goal in Germany's Euro 2008 semi-final against Turkey. He scored a scorching goal against Costa Rica in the opening game of the 2006 World Cup - a rocket into the top-right corner, and went on to play every minute of Germany's journey to the semis. An integral part of Germany's side this summer and a joy to watch.
Name: Fabio Cannavaro
Team: Italy
Date of birth: 13 September 1973
Place of birth: Naples
Club: Juventus
World Cups: 3
Appearances: 15
Goals: 0
Few players have such a distinguished international career as Fabio Cannavaro. A veteran of three World Cups, he's only the second ever defender to win the Fifa World Player of the Year award, and his tenacious defending helped Italy to the 2006 World Cup. As a youth, Cannavaro was a ball boy for his home-town club of Naples, making his footballing debut in 1993. A move to Parma followed, where he won the Uefa Cup and the Coppa Italia. After a brief spell at Inter Milan, he moved to Juventus, where he won the title in two consecutive seasons, and Cannavaro became club captain. Both those titles were revoked following a match-fixing scandal, and when Juve were demoted, he opted to join Real Madrid. In his three seasons in Spain, he won the league twice and was named Fifa World Player of the Year, the oldest player to win it. With his contract up, he returned to Juventus. Cannavaro was captain of Italy in the 2006 World Cup, and he lifted the trophy on the same night he won his 100th cap. Italy only conceded two goals in the whole tournament, an incredible performance. Now aged 36, Cannavaro isn't the player he once was, but his ability to read the game and his vast experience mean he's the ideal man to lead his country in another campaign.
Name: Simon Kjaer
Team: Denmark
Date of birth: March 26, 1989
Place of birth: Horsens
Club: Palermo
World Cups: 0
Appearances: 0
Goals: 0
Simon Kjaer may just be the best European player you've never heard of, but that's all about to change in South Africa. Since moving from Danish minnows FC Midtylland to Palermo in 2008 for four million euros (Dh18.5 million), the youngster has shone against the best of Serie A, and his rock solid performances for the Sicilian side earned him a call-up to the Danish national side this year. An excellent all-round defender, Kjaer is strong in the tackle and good in the air both in his own area and when sent forward for set pieces. He also reads the game extremely well for one so young, and shows excellent positional awareness despite the odd lapse in concentration. For Denmark, Kjaer lines up alongside the man he describes as his "idol", Liverpool's Daniel Agger - and Kjaer's efficiency and Agger's more cultured style have combined well.
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