World Sport XI 2000-2001

Oliver Kahn, Goalkeeper
Country: Germany   Club: Bayern Munich   Born: 6/15/1969
Kahn sealed his spot on the World Sport XI when Bayern won the European Cup on penalties as the 31-year-old Germany goalkeeper made three saves in tiebreaker. He conceded 10 goals in 16 Champions League matches and led his club to the Bundeliga title as well, conceding the second-lowest goal total in the league. He is undefeated in World Cup qualifying for 2002 as Germany's No. 1 choice since 1998. After making his professional debut for Karlsruher SC in 1987, he transferred to Bayern in 1994 for a record fee of 1.6 million pounds -- still a record for a Bundesliga goalkeeper. Kahn also earned Bundesliga titles with Bayern in 1997 and 1999. In 1996, the European Championship and the UEFA Cup capped a strong year for a goalkeeper whose strengths are his reaction speed and reliability.
Sami Hyypia, Defender
Country: Finland   Club: Liverpool   Born: 7/10/1973
Finnish international Hyypia is a solid last man in defense for English side Liverpool, winners of an unprecedented treble with the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Worthington Cup. Hyypia is the captain for Finland and for Liverpool, in the absence of Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler. He notched three goals in league play and one more in the UEFA Cup. He did not receive a single yellow or red card all season. He began his career with MyPa Anjalankoski, lifting the Finnish Cup in 1992 before moving to Dutch side Willem II in 1995. Hyypia gave up a chance to play in the Champions League with Willem II after a successful 1998-99 season, instead moving to Anfield. Strong in the air and cool under pressure, he impressed from the beginning.
Bixente Lizarazu, Defender
Country: France   Club: Bayern Munich   Born: 9/12/1969
The reigning world and European champion with France, Lizarazu was injured for part of the year but still was the only player to make every single expert's list. In addition to his triumphs with France, Lizarazu also captured the German and European club titles with Bayern Munich this season. Lizarazu joined Munich in 1997, winning a double in 1999 with the Bundesliga and German Cup titles. A feisty and smallish but strong left back, the Frenchman is also a force in the attack.
Alessandro Nesta, Defender
Country: Italy   Club: Lazio   Born: 3/19/1976
Nesta is the steady No. 6 in the center of defense for his country and for Lazio. He started every match of Italy's current undefeated European World Cup qualifying campaign, giving up three goals in six matches. He also played every match for Italy at Euro 2000, where they lost in the final to France. Nesta has matured into one of his country's best players. A cool and stylish player for Lazio, he is well known for his strong tackling. He suffered a long spell out with injury after tearing his cruciate ligaments for Italy during the win over Austria in World Cup '98. He is also remembered for the tackle that broke Paul Gascoigne's leg during a Lazio training session. He starred in Cesare Maldini's European Under-21 Championship winning side in 1996 and won his first international call-up when Ciro Ferrara pulled out of Euro '96. The Lazio defender made his full debut against Moldova later that year.
Lilian Thuram, Defender
Country: France   Club: Juventus   Born: 1/1/1972
A reigning world and European champion with France, Thuram surely would feature on every manager's wish list for a strong defender. The Italian international signed with Juventus in June from Parma, where his side had the second-lowest goals-against total in Serie A last season. Now playing behind Zinedine Zidane, Thuram could be just what Juventus needs for another title. He is quite simply one of the best defenders in world football and a cult hero in France for his double-strike that saw off Croatia in the World Cup semifinal in 1998 in the Stade de France. A powerful, resolute defender, he moved to Serie A with Parma in 1996 after seven years with Monaco. For France he is a driving force from right back. Thuram also has good distribution and the ability to surge forward from the back after breaking up opposition attacks.
Luis Figo, Midfielder
Country: Portugal   Club: Real Madrid   Born: 11/4/1972
Figo finished second to Zidane in FIFA World Footballer of the Year voting, but beat out the Frenchman for the European honor. After transferring to Real Madrid from rival Barcelona for a world record US$56 million, he helped lead the club to the Spanish championship. Also a primary reason that Portugal has emerged as a world power in football -- leading the team into the semifinals at Euro 2000 -- Figo makes scoring and passing look easy. He hit nine goals in La Liga and five in Madrid's semifinal run in the Champions League, creating many more for his teammates. Figo has proved to be one of Europe's outstanding midfielders for a number of seasons. Still only 28 years old, he made his international debut in 1991 against Luxembourg. A strong, quick right-sided midfielder, his darting runs can cause problems for any defense and his finishing skills only add to his pedigree. A slight disappointment at Euro 96, he moved to Barca the previous summer after some outstanding displays for Sporting, and was an unqualified success at the Nou Camp.
Mehmet Scholl, Midfielder
Country: Germany   Club: Bayern Munich   Born: 10/16/1970
The 30-year-old is an offensive-minded midfielder who dramatically missed a penalty early in the Champions League final against Valencia. He scored five goals in Bayern's successful Champions League campaign and nine more in the Bundesliga. Scholl scored Germany's only goal in their woeful Euro 2000 campaign. Scholl has enjoyed nine years at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. A creative midfielder, he has not always been the flavor of the month with the national team. His inventive play is a rarity in the German set-up, where he made his debut against Wales in 1995. The longest-serving player in the Bayern squad, he has won four league championships, two German Cup titles and the 1996 UEFA Cup.
Patrick Vieira, Midfielder
Country: France   Club: Arsenal   Born: 6/23/1976
A defensive midfielder whose sublime skill was at times overshadowed by his red cards, Vieira is currently embroiled in controversy in his efforts to win a transfer. He is key man for both Arsenal and France. He tallied seven seven goals for Arsenal this season, also totaling nine yellow cards and two red. He played two Serie A games for AC Milan before Arsenal signed him in 1996. The combative midfielder played a starring role at Euro 2000 and helped France become the first team to win the World Cup followed by the European Championship. The French World Cup winner was born in Dakar, Senegal, but moved to his adopted country at a very young age. He signed for French side Cannes in 1993 before a dream move to AC Milan in 1995. Still only a teenager he failed to make an impact in Serie A before Arsene Wenger paid four million pounds for him in 1996. At Highbury he blossomed into a top-class midfielder with seemingly endless energy in both defense and attack. As well as being a fluent, creative ball player, the giant midfielder is one of the strongest tacklers in the game.
Zinedine Zidane, Midfielder
Country: France   Club: Juventus   Born: 6/23/1972
The superstar of French football, Zidane is the crucial figure in midfield for his country and for Juventus. He was named FIFA's World Footballer of the Year for 2000 after adding the European Championship for reigning World Cup winner France. He is one of best playmakers in the game, and will have been disappointed with Juve's poor showing in Europe and their second-place finish in Serie A. He tallied six goals in Serie A, while creating many more for his teammates. Zizou made his name with Cannes before moving to Bordeaux in 1992 and helping them reach the UEFA Cup final in 1996, bringing him to the attention of Europe's elite. A summer move to Juventus was sealed, allowing Zidane to perform well in Euro 96 and help France reach the semifinals. Juve won the Scudetto in both 1997 and '98, with Zidane the key figure. His crowning glory came at the 1998 World Cup, as he netted two headers in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the final.
Romario, Forward
Country: Brazil   Club: Vasco da Gama   Born: 1/29/1966
He may be 35 years old, but the diminutive striker still managed to hit a club record 65 goals last season in winning the Brazilian national championship with Vasco da Gama. He then resurrected Brazil's fortunes in World Cup qualifying, scoring eight goals in four matches. Brazil's hero at the 1994 World Cup with five goals, Romario was a late scratch due to injury at France '98. A player who appears to be able to turn on the style and score goals when it suits him, he has endured long periods out of the national team because of his attitude. He was recently recalled yet again by new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Andriy Shevchenko, Forward
Country: Ukraine   Club: AC Milan   Born: 9/29/1976
Ukrainian international Shevchenko could seemingly find the net wearing a blindfold, combining good vision, pace and physical strength with a knack for putting the ball away. Despite losing his Serie A scoring title to Lazio's Hernan Crespo, he proved himself an exceptional scorer in his second season at AC Milan. This season, he scored 34 goals over 51 matches (0.6 per game), after tallying 24 times in 34 matches (0.7 per game) the season before. Shevchenko, who joined Milan from Dynamo Kiev for US$22 million, placed third in voting for the 2000 European Footballer of the Year.