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The Italian star had missed the opening Group B match against Chile because of his uncertain form due to a right thigh strain which hampered his World Cup preparation. Some soccer analysts had suggested a difficult comeback of Del Piero into the team as Roberto Baggio was a key to Italy8217;s 2-2 draw against Chile.

Jens Jeremies,Germany

In Matthias Sammer8217;s absence, Germany, for whom experience usually of winning is everything, have brought a rough diamond to the World Cup in 24-year-old 1860 Munich midfielder Jens Jeremies. quot;Jerryquot; was a virtual unknown until last season, when sterling performances in 18608217;s engine room alerted German coach Berti Vogts, who gave him his debut on November 15 against South Africa.

Having given him two more caps in the run-up to France 98, Vogts then threw the emerging star in at the deep end against the United States in the Germans8217; opening match at the Parc des Princes and was impressed by what he saw. quot;

Jeremies was the key player throughout the game,quot; said Vogts, who knows a thing or two about World Cup pedigree having lifted the trophy with Franz Beckenbauer in 1974 and won 96 caps before coaching the side to the European Championship two years ago.

Equally significantly, Beckenbauer also said he had been hugely impressed. quot;You can8217;t go far at a World Cup unless you have the spiritthat Jens showed,quot; Beckenbauer wrote in an article for Bild daily.

Such has been Jeremies8217; rise to prominence it was evident, even before he made the breakthrough at international level, that modest 1860 would not be able to hold on to him for long.