Morgan Amalfitano Club: Marseille Nation: France A late developer among international class players, it was not until his move to Marseille that Amalfitano began to gain full recognition. Usually at home on the right side of midfield, he’s a strong crosser and able dribbler, but passes the ball well also, and is hard to knock off the ball. The combination he formed with Kevin Gameiro at Lorient was key in the elevation of both players to bigger and better things, with a free transfer to the Stade Velodrome the reward for Amalfitano. In his first season in Marseille the wideman was called up to face Germany and won his first cap in an impressive victory. Previously a more conservative and centrally deployed midfielder, under Didier Deschamps he dovetailed well with Cesar Azpilicueta down the right flank despite Marseille’s rather lacklustre form last season.
Massimo Ambrosini Club: AC Milan Nation: Italy A long-serving Milan stalwart Ambrosini has risen to the position of club captain more for his loyalty to the red and black than his individual excellence. A master of positioning he is a markedly different player to his Milan midfield contemporary Gennaro Gattuso. Instead of flying into tackles Ambrosini takes a more measured approach, judging when to harry opponents and when to screen. Competent in possession he generally looks to find more able teammates and his days of powering from box to box appear to be in the past. He does though show quality on the ball and is a more rounded player than he is often given credit for, particularly earlier in his career when greater mobility allowed him to influence play more directly. Having joined Milan in 1995 from Cesena he has now spent 17 years at the club, with only a loan spell at Vicenza seeing him leave in the San Siro.
Nicolas Anelka Club: Shanghai Shenhua Nation: France The nomadic striker has played for several top European clubs including Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea. His good technique, excellent movement, and imaginative play allied with height, power and pace made Anelka the quintessential modern forward. Attitude and motivational questions meant that he didn’t stay put during his rise, but his all around game meant that managers with vision repeatedly backed themselves to get the most out of him. While maturity dimmed some of his spark, he was still clever enough to play a role at Chelsea as the occasional foil for their other leading strikers and was often used as a substitute. Anelka has always played as moving target. Comfortable shooting, passing or dribbling with either foot, he takes up positions in both channels, or on the shoulder of the last man and at his best he looks to link up with runners from midfield, rather than go it alone.
Anthony Annan Club: Osasuna Nation: Ghana A tenacious defensive midfielder, Annan is quick, a strong tackler and an eager reader of the game. At just over 5’7’’ Annan is maybe not the modern big-breed defensive midfielder, but he is rarely bested physically. Brave and willing to throw himself into tackles when necessary, his quick mind and nimble feet usually get him into position before drastic measures need to be taken. Tidy in possession and accurate with his distribution, his pass completion rate is perhaps tied to a lack of ambition. Annan rarely attempts to switch play, nor does he often contribute significantly to attack, preferring to defer to more skilful players. While his defensive nous makes him a valuable contributor to Ghana on the international stage, he is unlikely to find a home with an elite European club because of a lack of quality on the ball.
Alexander Anyukov Club: Zenit St Petersburg Nation: Russia Club captain of Zenit St Petersburg and one of Europe’s most consistent full-backs. Physically powerful, Anyukov is primarily known for his driving runs forward though he has been required to temper some of his more attacking instincts. A capable defender and marker he can occasionally get in trouble for his aggressive approach to the game. He also possesses a fierce shot when he gets into the right positions. Began his career at Krylia Sovetov and rose to prominence in 2004 as the team finished third in the Russian league. That season also saw Anyukov elevated to the Russian national team, joining the squad for Euro 2004, and it was not long before Zenit came calling. In St Petersburg he has enjoyed huge success, with three Russian titles and a UEFA Cup victory in 2008.
Alberto AquilaniClub: FiorentinaNation: ItalyConsistently plagued with injuries, Alberto Aquilani has so far struggled to fulfil much of his early potential. While at Roma it appeared he had the world at his feet, but a move to Liverpool to replace Xabi Alonso proved to be an unmitigated disaster and after occasionally loan spells with Juventus and Milan, he will now look to rebuild at Fiorentina. If fit Aquilani would still have much to recommend him. Though physically slight he shows great poise on the ball, is a fantastic passer and generates unexpected power in his shots from distance. Where he excels is in making himself available to receive the ball and is clever in the positions he takes up. Capable of eluding and evading tackles in packed spaces, his grace is undeniable, now he needs to maintain his fitness in order to bring those skills to bear.
Juan Arango Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach Nation: Venezuela With all the technical young talent coming through in Germany at the moment, it is easy to overlook some of the other excellent players. Among them is Venezuelan international Juan Arango who has consistently been among the best players in the league. The well travelled playmaker arrived in Gladbach in 2009 after having an excellent five seasons with Mallorca and immediately made an impact. Since then he has contributed 41 assists, among the best in the league in that timeframe. Under Lucien Favre he has been played largely out wide but his instincts remain in the centre. His ability to switch off with others and overall understanding of the game have made him one of the league’s most enjoyable players to watch. In addition there are few players better than him on set pieces. At 32 years of age, he shows no signs of slowing down, and like fine wine seems to play better with age as he continues to be an integral part of Favre’s Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Alvaro Arbeloa Club: Real Madrid Nation: Spain Far from highly rated during his spell in the Premier League, the development of Arbeloa into a starting right-back for both Real Madrid and Spain has been a surprise to many. Defensively solid and generally well-balanced he doesn’t entirely fit with the image of either great side. While his elevation for La Roja was the result of an injury to Carles Puyol which saw Sergio Ramos move to the centre, Arbeloa grasped his chance with both hands and did not let himself down on international duty. One regular criticism is his inability to match the passing tempo of other Spanish stars, slowing attacking moves down the right-flank. Capable of playing on either side of defence, his versatility is a strength, though he surely needs to improve his attacking output if he is to remain a regular at the Bernabeu.
Arda Turan Club: Atletico Madrid Nation: Turkey Exceptional close control and superb dribbling are the two skills most commonly linked with Arda Turan. From the time he emerged with Galatasaray he showed huge promise and was always regarded as a player destined for great things. Handed the captaincy at the Istanbul giants at the age of 22 he relished the responsibility, though injuries limited his contribution during his final season at the club. A move to Madrid has proven a resounding success, with the young Turk providing plenty of ammunition for Radamel Falcao from his left-wing berth. In Spain the trickery which he showed in Turkey has again been to the fore and at times he appears almost impossible to dispossess, not least through the tenaciousness with which he fends off tackles. Very few Turkish players have succeeded abroad, Arda now seems an obvious exception to the rule.
Pablo Armero Club: Udinese Nation: Colombia Used predominantly as a wing-back for Udinese, Colombian international Armero has excelled since moving to Italy. His stocky build may not hint to a player of great athleticism but he is more than capable of covering the ground. Heavily left footed, he is a strong crosser and has been afforded plenty of license to get forward by Francesco Guidolin. Armero began his career with America Cali in his native Colombia, before beginning his foreign adventure in Brazil with Palmeiras. During his time in South America he was usually used as a left-back or central defender, but on arrival in Europe it was spotted that his pace might be more beneficial in more dangerous positions. An infrequent scorer, his work rate and unselfishness compensate for his limitations.
Andrey Arshavin Club: Arsenal Nation: Russia Mercurial Russian midfielder Arshavin is capable of wonders when on form but too frequently flatters to deceive. Outstanding for Zenit St Petersburg during their UEFA Cup victory, he followed that by starring at Euro 2008, despite being banned for the first two games of the tournament. At the time it looked likely he would move to Barcelona but in the end moved to England with Arsenal for a club record fee. That appeared to be a natural fit for Arshavin whose key strengths are his excellent passing and dribbling skills but he lacks the defensive drive to function effectively at the top level. He also failed to produce going forward and, a four goal haul against Liverpool aside, he rarely emulated his international form. He was allowed to return to Zenit on loan in January 2012 as Arsene Wenger continued to prefer other options, though he has now returned to the Emirates and will be looking to rediscover his best form. Impressive again in the early stages of Euro 2012 before Russia surprisingly crashed out.
Mikel Arteta Club: Arsenal Nation: Spain A product of the Barcelona youth system, Arteta typifies the classic Spanish style, maintaining possession with clever and incisive passing. His early career saw him travel in search of opportunities as he went on loan to Paris Saint-Germain, before joining Rangers and then Real Sociedad. It was on arrival at Everton though that he laid roots, establishing himself on Merseyside as arguably the best midfielder in the league outside the “big four” of the time. An excellent set-piece taker with superb distribution and a fine range of passing, he also chipped in with an impressive number of goals as Everton continually punched above their weight in the league. So highly regarded was Arteta that suggestions abounded of him representing England on the grounds of residency, though the opportunity never materialised. A move to Arsenal finally gave the Spaniard the chance to show his skills in the Champions League and his first season in North London was an unquestionable success, helping the Gunners to third place in the league.
Kwadwo Asamoah Club: Juventus Nation: Ghana Robust, left-footed Ghanaian midfielder who was a key figure in Udinese’s successive Champions League qualifying berths. Due to his physicality and position on the pitch, there have naturally been comparisons with compatriot Michael Essien. Like Essien at his zenith, Asamoah’s main strength is his dynamism – he can play anywhere through the centre of midfield but, unlike Essien, he adds a touch of flair combined with his brutish diligence. A summer move to Juventus has seen him heighten his dynamism as he has been deployed as a left wing-back in the Bianconeri’s 3-5-2 system and fitted in seamlessly, opening his account for the club with a spectacular volley in the Supercoppa Italiana. Although he is a consistent performer at club level, Asamoah has flattered to deceive at major tournaments for the Black Stars.
Andre Ayew Club: Marseille Nation: Ghana Intrepid Ghanaian winger who skippered Ghana to U-20 World Cup triumph in 2009. Son of the former Marseille and Ghana attacking midfielder Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew, his slim shoulders have coped with the overwhelming burden of being the son of a famous footballer - exacerbated by the pressure of playing for the club for which his father starred - with startling composure. Full of endeavour and direct running on whichever wing he is stationed, and blessed to have inherited his father’s penchant for darting runs at the core of defences, Ayew has made steady season-by-season progress at Marseille. An impressive loan spell at Arles-Avignon and a good World Cup 2010 prompted his elevation to the full team on his return in the summer of 2010. In 2011, despite being only 21 at the time, Ayew won the BBC African Footballer of the Year, Ghanaian Footballer of the Year and the Marseille Player of the Year awards in his first full season for the club.
Cesar Azpilicueta Club: Chelsea Nation: Spain Attacking right-back who loves to overlap his winger and provide balls into the box. Began his career at Osasuna, making his debut as a 17 year old against Real Madrid, before going on to make almost a century of league appearances. A move to Marseille in 2010 didn’t get off to an auspicious start as he ruptured his anterior ligaments, but on his return to fitness he demonstrated the sort of form which had previously seen him linked with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona. Unsurprisingly, given his willingness to attack, he began as a winger and modelled himself on Luis Figo, but as with so many converted full-backs the ability to surge from deep can work in his favour as he is often not tracked. If he can displace Branislav Ivanovic in the Chelsea side, he may well be a starter soon for the Spanish national team.
Demba Ba Club: Newcastle United Nation: Senegal Tall, fast and confident on the ball, Demba Ba is throwback with a twist. Obviously, he’s got the classic centre-forward’s build and his play is focused on leading the line, yet he makes opportunities for himself in myriad ways: on the turn, playing off the last defender’s shoulder and also by getting on the end of crosses. But Ba tempers his physical traits with good technique. He is a terrific striker of the ball, almost as good with his left as with his preferred right. Ba also seems to know when to turn on the style and when a more direct approach is needed. He has struck up a brilliant partnership with countryman Papiss Cisse at Newcastle and was an excellent foil, providing knock downs, dummy runs and even the occasional one-two to link up with his compatriot. Ba’s blend of talent and tenacity mean that on form, he is a handful for virtually every central defender he faces.
Holger Badstuber Club: Bayern Munich Nation: Germany Enormously improved in the last year, Badstuber previously had a reputation of being highly talented but inconsistent. Now though he’s shown an ability to concentrate throughout matches and perform on a regular basis. Primarily a central defender, but also capable of playing at left-back, he’s comfortable in possession and strong in the air where his height is put to maximum effect. Sometimes rather static as a centre-back he can be vulnerable to accurate balls over the top and forwards with clever movement. His long limbs have a habit of making him look less assured than he is. For Bayern he has now developed into a mainstay of the team alongside fellow youngsters Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller, while for the national side he is established in central defence, having looked out of his depth in the 2010 World Cup at left-back.
Leighton Baines Club: Everton Nation: England Leighton Baines is best known for the quality of service provided with his left foot. In fact he would be an asset for many teams simply for his set-piece delivery. A steady, but not brilliant defender, Baines would no doubt have had many more caps in an England shirt had he not been stuck behind one of England’s greats at the position, Ashley Cole. Baines’ strengths lie in his timing and his delivery. On both sides of the ball he has a knack for knowing when to act. In defense he is rarely caught in the opposition half and while he’s a fantastic crosser from deep, he does not use it as an excuse to pump aimless balls into the box. Had he been blessed with an extra turn of pace, he would surely be playing for a team that can compete regularly for trophies. That lack of pace can see him exposed when defending against particularly quick wingers.
Gareth Bale Club: Tottenham Hotspur Nation: Wales An exceptionally quick left-winger, Bale would appear to combine the crossing ability of David Beckham with the dribbling skills of Ryan Giggs. Originally a left-back at Southampton he struggled on joining Tottenham, failing to win in his first 24 appearances for the club, but since making the step up he hasn’t looked back. Always prepared to take on his marker he plays on the right side of midfielder for Wales in order to allow him to cut inside and use his dangerous left foot. His international reputation was forged with two exceptional performances against reigning European Champions, Inter Milan, scoring a hat-trick in the San Siro and then embarrassing Maicon as Spurs completed a famous home victory. Named as PFA Player of the Year for 2010-11, he improved again in 2011-12 as he helped Spurs to a fourth place finish. One area which has regressed since his move to Tottenham has been his free-kicks which were a speciality when at Southampton.
Mario Balotelli Club: Manchester City Nation: Italy Known as much for his antics off the pitch as his exploits on it, Mario Balotelli is one of the game’s most remarkable characters. Excelled as a teenager at Inter Milan, before his ill-discipline led the Nerazzurri to sell him to Manchester City. In England he has maintained that balance between genius and madness, frequently superb in his play but liable to be sent-off for some inexplicable indiscretion. His combination of pace, power and exceptional ability would seem to make him a certain star, but so far he has been unable to harness his full ability on a regular basis. Strong in the air, he’s a fine finisher, accomplished dribbler and is ice-cool when taking penalties. Hugely impressive in Italy’s Euro 2012 semi-final victory over Germany where he scored twice, he was largely anonymous in the final. Potentially the complete centre-forward.
Federico Balzaretti Club: Roma Nation: Italy Much travelled left-back now with Roma. Excellent going forward he has proven himself to be one of Serie A’s most consistent full-backs in recent seasons and has rightly forced his way into the international set-up. Made a controversial switch from Torino to Juventus early in his career and remained with the Old Lady in Serie B before joining Fiorentina. It was with Palermo though that he really rose to prominence shining in alongside the likes of Simon Kjaer in an excellent defence. For the national team he was deployed on occasion at right-back at Euro 2012 when injuries necessitated. An industrious performer and tireless in galloping down the left-flank, Balzaretti doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. With Zdenek Zeman now in place as Roma boss renowned for an attacking style which would seem tailor-made for Balzaretti, he could well be entering the most fruitful stage in his career.
Ever Banega Club: Valencia Nation: Argentina An energetic playmaker with only slightly more silk than steel to his game, Ever Banega has struggled to live up to the potential that saw him join Valencia from Boca Junriors as a teenager. He has fine technique, above average dribbling, an eye for the pass both long and short and a fantastic motor. Although not blessed with great pace, he uses deceptively sharp acceleration to make space for himself in congested areas. But for all the good work he does on and off the ball, mental mistakes plague his game. He is prone to rash tackles and he can drift in and out of matches. Injuries have hampered his career since moving to Spain. Although he is equally adept at playing either as a distributor or as a creator, Banega’s record is poor in front of goal, notching just seven goals in 149 La Liga appearances.
Julio Baptista Club: Malaga Nation: Brazil Few players are further removed from the classic stereotype of the Brazilian attacker than Baptista. Reliant primarily on his power and strength rather than his ball control it is no surprise that he earned the nickname “the Beast”. Far from a superstar at Sao Paulo he blossomed on arrival at Sevilla, surging forward from deep positions and converting chance after chance. His time at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan was an unbridled success, but on joining Real Madrid along with Sergio Ramos his form faltered. Part of that was due to the instability that beset the club, with compatriot Vanderlei Luxemburgo sacked months into his time there, but partly due to misuse of the player. His skillset of athleticism, ability in the air, pace and finishing would have seemed to make Baptista a natural striker. Instead moving forward negated his ability to arrive late and made him predictable. A disappointing loan spell at Arsenal and return to Real Madrid preceded a middling spell at Roma. Now at Malaga he showed a return to form before serious injury curtailed his contribution.
Hernan Barcos Club: Palmeiras Nation: Argentina This lanky, globe-trotting Argentine striker has found recognition only in the latter stages of his career. El Pirata was nurtured in the youth system at Racing Club, but only played there a handful of times, instead finding himself loaned out to Ecuador, Paraguay, Red Star Belgrade, two separate Chinese clubs and Huracán in Argentina before finally LDU Quito purchased him in 2010. He had scored goals everywhere, but his potency grew in Ecuador - 38 goals in 64 games - and he made a big impression in continental competitions too, persuading Palmeiras to sign him in 2012. At 6”2 he is tall enough to lead the line well; strong in the air and hard-working in his running and closing down, he looks a nightmare for a defender to compete with all game. But he is surprisingly skilful too. He holds up the ball with almost casual ease and brings others into play cleverly. He can also be devastating on the counter attack, a powerful dribbler with trickery in his feet, and precise and intelligent in his use of the ball. His early success in Brazil won him a first call-up to the Argentina squad in August 2012.
Tranquillo Barnetta Club: Schalke 04 Nation: Switzerland Versatile midfielder who is capable of playing out wide or in a more disciplined holding role. Began his career at hometown club St Gallen, before moving to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen. Initially sent on loan to Hannover, on his return he established himself as a certain starter and won recognition in the Swiss national side. One of the outstanding Swiss players at the 2006 World Cup, he showed his prowess in front of goal with a well taken finish against Togo. Owner of an excellent right foot, demonstrating power and precision, he is a fine creator and gets his fair share of goals as well. Tenacious in the tackle, but adept at passing and with an eye for a through ball he’s a notable addition for Schalke this summer.