Final stars under microscopeAt the kick-off of Wednesday evening's UEFA Champions League f

Final stars under microscope

At the kick-off of Wednesday evening's UEFA Champions League final, there were 16 players on the Stade de France turf whose next assignment will be in Germany in June.

With little over three weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup, the match duly offered FIFA-worldcup, cons an ideal last chance to assess the form. of some of the summer's likely headline-makers.

Jens Lehmann(GER, Arsenal)

It is net easy to evaluate a player who spent only 18 minutes on the pitch. In this highly limited time span, the Mannschaft's first-choice keeper was only called upon to repel a couple of straightforward shots, one from Ludovic Giuly and the other from Deco. That said, his first goal-kick was wayward and with his confidence affected, he then restricted himself to short passes to his defenders. Caught out in a one-on-one with Samuel Eto'o, Lehmann was rightly dismissed for felling his opponent and watched the majority of the match from the stands.

Carlos Puyol(ESP, Barcelona)

For a long time, it looked as though Thierry Henry would never succeed in shaking off his shaggy-haired marker. Solid and tigerish, the Spanish central defender allowed the Arsenal striker very little space for the first hour of the game. But as time went on, he seemed to increasingly struggle to keep up with the Gunners' attacks. No doubt his long and punishing season has caught up with him, but a few weeks' rest should see him restored to his best in time for Germany.

Rafael Marquez(MEX, Barcelona)

While always precise and effective with the ball at his feet, the Mexican defender was regularly troubled by the pace of Henry. Rescued by his goalkeeper in the third minute after being caught flat-footed by the French striker, he could have been sent off a few moments later for a tackle front behind that caught the same player on the ankle. Like Puyol, he was guilty of allowing opposing players to get in be- hind him too often during the second half.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst(NED, Barcelona)

Although excellent on the counter, the Dutchman is not really a natural defender. Always looking to get forward, he has a tendency to drift from his left-back position into a more advanced role. You would not want to change him too much, though, for just like Marco van Basten's Orange side, Barcelona got considerable rewards from his forward forays. Moreover, he never stopped running until the final whistle.

Emmanuel Eboue(CIV, Arsenal)

Cote d'Ivoire has one of the best right-backs in the world. Active, willing and technically adept, Eboue left a really positive impression on the Stade de France crowd. Hurt in a first-half clash with Giovanni van Bronckhorst, he seemed to struggle somewhat after that, but the fact that Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho-whom he found himself up against most often-shone only fleetingly was to a large extent down to him. The only feature of his game that might work against him in Germany is an unwelcome tendency to complain.

Kolo Toure(CIV, Arsenal)

The linchpin of Arsenal's defence, Kolo Toure is one player who can justifiably feel hard done by at having lost this final. So sparkling was his individual perfromance that, whether faced by Ronaldinho, Eto'o or Henrik Larsson, the Ivorian always looked comfortable. Invariably positioned in the ideal spot, Toure seemed to be omnipresent(无所不在的) on the pitch. His understanding with countryman Eboue is a big plus for club and country and he is sure to be a vital cog in Henri Michel's machine this summer. Sol Campbell(ENG, Arsenal)

If his club had lifted the trophy with the big ears, then Sol Campbell would surely have been elevated to the rank of hero. His imperious header may have given the English team the advantage, but in the end, he was repeatedly found wanting as Barcelona proceeded to wrest control of the encounter from their oppo

A．Y

B．N

C．NG