Vedran Corluka

Hailed by national team manager Slaven Bilic as "the best right-back in the world" at the age of just 22, Vedran Corluka can rest assured he will be among the first names on the Croatian teamsheet at Euro 2008. On first impressions, the Bosnian-born defender looks a certainty for centre-back - a position in which he is more than competent - but his 6ft 4in frame belies his other strengths. A silky touch, an acute footballing brain and a speedy dribble have not only impressed Bilic but also persuaded Sven-Goran Eriksson to make Corluka one of his major summer 2007 signings at Manchester City for around £8million from Dinamo Zagreb. Eriksson's year out after World Cup 2006 had clearly been well spent. Corluka came onto the Croatia scene in August of that year, impressing hugely on his debut in a 2-0 win over world champions Italy in Livorno. In the same month he was playing for Dinamo against Arsenal in Champions League qualifying, and went on to play the full 90 minutes in all 12 Euro 2008 qualifiers as Croatia dominated Group E. Eliminating the "arrogant" English at Wembley was an experience Corluka described as "a special pleasure" and if Bilic's assessment is anything to go by, the man nicknamed Charly could have plenty more to celebrate this summer.