单项选择题

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.com an ideal last chance to assess the form of some of the summer’’s likely headline-makers. Jens Lehmann (GER, Arsenal) It is not 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 from behind that caught the same player on the ankle. Like Puyol, he was guilty of allowing opposing players to get in behind 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) Cete 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 Ro-naldinho-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 performance 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 opponents. Often beaten for speed or poorly positioned, Campbell endured a very difficult evening at the Stade de France. He now has a few weeks to pull himself together if he is to even threaten John Terry and Rio Ferdinand’’s status as England’’s first-choice centre-backs. Ashley Cole (ENG, Arsenal) Unquestionably the pick of the Gunners on the night. Although more often out injured than on the pitch this season, he somehow managed to find his best form in one match. Always well positioned, he patrolled his flank with great gusto, more often than not thwarting the advances of Giuly. And on the few occasions when he did lose out in individual duels, his appetite for the fight only increased. His sole aberration was letting Belletti in to score Barcelona’’s winner, and his display augurs well for an England side who will be grateful for his freshness. Edmilson (BRA, Barcelona) He may have only played half a game, but it was 45 minutes of pure quality, as his natural technical ability allowed him to direct the play with impressive ease. After enduring a terrible 2004 due to a serious knee injury, the Brazilian is back to his combative best, and while he may not be a midfielder who really catches the eye, he is an invaluable asset in his midfield spoiler role. It is hard to judge his current fitness as he gave way at the break to Andres Iniesta. Mark van Bommel (NED, Barcelona) It may be mere coincidence, but the Dutch midfielder was involved in most of Barcelona’’s worst moments during this final. Withdrawn in the 61st minute, he had to watch from the bench as his team-mates first equalised, then took the lead. Before that, he had never really been influential in his team’’s play. While the former PSV Eindhoven man has undeniable technical ability, he does have trouble with his positional play. Nevertheless, he is likely to be used in an appropriate role within Marco van Basten’’s favoured 4-3-3 formation at the FIFA World Cup. Deco (POR, Barcelona) Having tested Lehmann early on with a fine shot, Deco went on to play an important role for the Blaugrana, equally involved in both winning the ball and inspiring his team’’s attacks. The Portuguese playmaker now has a second Champions League winner’’s medal to add to the one he won with Porto, and if he can maintain this standard in the summer, he could be one of the star turns at Germany 2006. Andres Iniesta (ESP, Barcelona) Brought on at the break in place of Edmilson, the diminutive Spanish international was charged with adding a touch more flair to the midfield. The young No. 10 fulfilled his remit with real verve. With Deco to his left, he formed a string-pulling duo which was central to Barcelona’’s second-half ascendancy. Spain coach Luis Aragones will be safe in the knowledge that he can count on young Iniesta. Gilberto Silva (BRA, Arsenal) Like his opposite number and compatriot Edmilson, the Brazilian shone in his defensive midfield role. Stationed in the centre just in front of his defence, he raked up an incalculable number of loose balls, before offering them to his team-mates on a plate. On the downside, he looked exhausted by the end and will need to recharge his batteries if he is going to help Brazil lift a sixth FIFA World Cup trophy. Fredrik Ljungberg (SWE, Arsenal) It is difficult to evaluate his current form, as the dismissal of keeper Jens Lehmann-and the subsequent withdrawal of Robert Pires-saw him assigned a radically different role. After the enforced reorganisation , the twinkle-toed winger spent the majority of his time helping out his defence by trying to block Barcelona’’s advances down the right. Nonetheless, in the second period when Arsenal were able to mount a number of counterattacks, the Swede reminded everyone that he possesses pace in abundance. In the 67th minute, he might have even put the game beyond Barca, but his shot was expertly saved by Victor Valdes. Cesc Fabregas (ESP, Arsenal) Another player who had a frustrating evening. Up until the 19th minute, the young prodigy set about showing that he was well and truly the boss of the Gunners’’ midfield. Solid in individual tussles and blessed with extraordinary vision, Fabregas was at the heart of all their good moves until the fateful sending-off. Compelled to defend after that, he experienced a lot more difficulty trying to keep the Barcelona midfield at bay. The enormous effort he expended in this unaccustomed role led to him wasting several good chances to launch counterattacks. Ronaldinho (BRA, Barcelona) Much had been expected of his attacking duel with Henry, so the Brazilian must surely feel a little disappointed with his personal performance. Expertly policed by Kolo Toure and Gilberto Silva, ’’Ronnie’’ never found the space to delight the Stade de France crowd with his trademark strokes of genius. Worse still, he even ended up looking a bit clumsy when one second-half shot almost went out for a throw-in. He never stopped prodding and probing, though, and after his side’’s equaliser, he finally found some freedom to express himself. In his defence, he played the majority of the game in a centre -forward role to which he is far from ideally suited. Henrik Larsson (SWE, Barcelona) He may have only spent half an hour on the pitch, but it was the Swede who was the catalyst for Barcelona’’s explosive recovery. Introduced as a second striker playing slightly on the right, the former Celtic hero provided the two decisive passes for Eto’’o and Belletti. Now 34, he may no longer always last 90 minutes, but the super-sub role suits him down to the ground. No doubt Lars Lagerback will have taken note. Thierry Henry (FRA, Arsenal) It is not easy to play as sole striker when your side is reduced to ten men early on. After five sensational minutes during which he had two splendid efforts blocked by Valdes, Henry struggled to impose himself. Blocked-often to the limit of legality-by the Barcelona defence, he was allowed very few occasions to shine, although he still delivered the free-kick from which Campbell opened the scoring. Unsurprisingly, he tired visibly in the second half and consequently spurned a chance to make it 2-0. " I tried to hit it hard but I was shattered," he admitted after the match. The chief offensive weapon in France’’s armoury, Henry now has three weeks to recover his strength. As he was on the field for the last five minutes only, there was insufficient time to assess the form of Jose Antonio Reyes (ESP, Arsenal). The writer considers that comparing the two players coming from Cote d’Tvoire, Toure played better.