Bastian Schweinsteiger

German football clubs, shall we say politely, generally import their creative players into the otherwise dreary Bundesliga. Now the Germans have what the Dutch have in Arjen Robben, Italy has with Totti, the Nigeria in Okocha and the Portuguese in Christiano Ronaldo: players which alone can change a match.

With Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich and the German national side have a player in this playmaking role. Expect him to figure heavily in Germany 2006 for the World Cup.