Teams using experience at World Cup 2006

The 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany will see 19 of the national teams who took part at Korea/Japan 2002 back for another shot at the prestigious trophy.

As a general rule, coaches have favoured the traditional approach of blending players with experience on world football’s biggest stage with younger stars hungry to prove themselves at the highest level.

But fans can expect to see a host of familiar faces at Germany 2006, with the majority of these 19 teams taking a sizeable contingent of players who travelled to Korea/Japan 2002.

Other sides, however, have been almost totally revamped and are barely recognisable from the squads sent to do battle over in the Far East.

Take reigning champions Brazil. Of the 11 Brazilian players who started their recent friendly with New Zealand, the probable starting line-up for the June 13 opening game against Croatia in Berlin, eight were part of the squad that won Brazil’s fifth world crown at Korea/Japan 2002.

Moreover, five started that year’s Final against Germany (Cafu, Lucio, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo).

Carlos Alberto Parreira’s original 23-man party contained 11 players who played in Asia four years ago, but Edmilson fell victim to a knee injury and had to be replaced. With a different coach and a new style of play, Brazil have also benefited from a new generation of talented stars like Adriano and Robinho, making what was already a very strong side potentially even stronger.

The 1966 champions England are in a similar situation, with coach Sven-Goran Eriksson keeping faith with the same playing style and nine players from his Korea/Japan 2002 squad.

The emergence of world-class talents like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and possibly Wayne Rooney has enabled the Swedish coach to assemble what many consider to be the strongest England squad since 1970.

Sweden and the USA have both brought more than half of their 2002 squads to Germany.

Sweden coach, Lars Lagerback, has put his faith in experience, including 13 players from the squad he took to Asia, including the attacking trio of Freddie Ljungberg, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson.

Having reached the quarter-final stage four years ago, the USA have stuck with coach Bruce Arena and 12 veterans of the 2002 campaign.

Despite the talent and experience of Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Claudio Reyna, John O’Brien, and Eddie Pope, the USA are sure to have their work cut out in one of the toughest groups at this summer’s showpiece tournament.

Korea Republic and Japan, co-hosts four years ago, have chosen ten and 11 players respectively from their successful campaigns on home soil. However, behind the scenes things are quite different with new Korea coach Dick Advocaat favouring a 4-3-3 formation over the 3-4-3 used by predecessor Guus Hiddink. The spine of the team has a familiar look to it, with captain Lee Woon-Jae keeping his place in goal and Ahn Jung-Hwan leading the line.

Despite their disappointing showing at Korea/Japan 2002, France have kept faith in 11 of the side that crashed out in the first round, several of them members of the 1998 FIFA World Cup-winning squad. With many of their stars nearing the end of their careers, talented youngsters Florent Malouda, Eric Abidal and Frank Ribery have given Les Bleus a valuable injection of fresh blood.

Italy have named nine players from their 2002 squad, with legendary AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini the most notable absentee, having announced his retirement from international duty. Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero continue to lend their immense experience to the Azzurri cause, while new boys Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni will be looking to make their mark in attack.

But not every nation was willing to rely heavily on seasoned players.

Runners-up last time around, hosts Germany have named an interesting blend of young and experienced players. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has blooded a host of youngsters since taking charge of the side, although his 23 for this summer’s tournament contains ten veterans of the Mannschaft’s squad of 2002. Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose remain key figures, although the man who won the adidas Golden Ball in 2002, Oliver Kahn, has seen Arsenal shot-stopper Jens Lehmann win the race for the No.1 jersey.

Argentina’s shock first-round exit at Korea/Japan 2002 prompted a radical overhaul of the Albiceleste squad, with coach Jose Pekerman promoting many of the U-23 side that stormed to victory at the Olympic Football Tournament at Athens 2004. Of the class of 2002, only defenders Roberto Ayala, Juan Pablo Sorin, midfielder Pablo Aimar and striker Hernan Crespo remain.

Both Spain and Mexico have kept only six players from their 2002 parties.

Teams - 2002 FIFA World Cup veterans

Sweden - 13; USA - 12; Croatia - 11; France - 11; Japan - 11; Germany - 10

Saudi Arabia - 10; Brazil - 10; Korea Republic - 10; Costa Rica - 9; England - 9; Italy - 9; Paraguay - 9; Ecuador - 8; Portugal - 7; Spain - 6; Mexico - 6

Poland - 5; Argentina - 4. (FIFAWorldcup.com)