At just 23, Bastian Schweinsteiger can already be considered a mainstay of both the German national team and his club Bayern Munich.

A left midfielder, who can also play on the right, he has a hard shot, great dribbling skills and is a specialist at set pieces. He can also play as a defensive midfielder or just behind the strikers.

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld gave Schweinsteiger his debut as a late substitute in a UEFA Champions League game against RC Lens in November 2002, and the youngster made an immediate impact, creating a goal for Markus Feulner within minutes. He signed a professional contract the following month and went on to appear in 14 Bundesliga games in 2002–03, helping Bayern to a league and cup double. The next season he played 26 Bundesliga games.

A regular in Bayern’s first team by the age of 19, a then-uncapped Schweinsteiger was one of the late additions to Germany’s Euro 2004 squad and went on to feature in all three games Rudi Voller’s men played there. He earned rave reviews for his performances, showing combative skills and even setting up the opening goal for teammate Michael Ballack in Germany’s 2-1 loss against the Czech …

Michael Ballack (born 26 September 1976 in Görlitz) is the captain of the German national football team. He is one of the best midfielders in Europe and currently plays in the English Premier League for Chelsea. His scoring prowess is well-known and he is among the top goal scorers in the history of the German national team.

Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except when he was at FC Kaiserslautern. His numerous accolades include being selected as one of FIFA’s 100 Greatest Living Players, the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002 and the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002, 2003 and 2005, behind only Franz Beckenbauer who has won 4.

Ballack began his career as a youth at Chemnitzer FC and made his professional debut in 1995. Although the team was relegated in his first season, his performances in the following season led to a transfer to Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the Bundesliga in his first season at the club, his first major honour. He became a first team regular in 1998–99 season and also earned his first national cap for Germany. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen …