Joe Cole profile
Cole was hailed as the next hero of English football, and the new Paul Gascoigne, as his amazing trickery and skill on the ball saw him explode onto the scene.
"He is the most improved England player of the last year. I believe in him and the ability he has. Even when he wanted to do too many tricks in the wrong places and at the wrong time, I've always persevered."
Sven Goran Eriksson
After coming through the unrelenting conveyor belt of talent at West Ham, Cole managed to break into the first team alongside the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.
A 17-year-old big in talent made his West Ham debut in an FA Cup tie against Swansea, and his sheer ability brought with it the huge burden of expectation.
A broken leg extinguished any hopes he had of sneaking in Kevin Keegan's Euro 2000 squad, but he did make his England debut the following May in a 4-0 thrashing of Mexico.
Cole's first start came in a World Cup 2002 warm-up against Cameroon but he made just one substitute appearance in the finals in Japan/Korea in the group game against Sweden.
His improving form saw Cole captain West Ham during the 2002/03 season, but even his never-ending array of tricks could not keep The Hammers in The Premiership.
Cole's first England goal in June 2003 against Serbia & Montenegro softened the blow of relegation somewhat, and it was during that summer that he completed a £6.6 million move to Claudio Ranieri's Chelsea.
Despite the precocious talent at Cole's feet, he still struggled to convince that he could do the business at international level, with his tricks and flicks sometimes going astray making him look wasteful in possession.
Sven Goran Eriksson took Cole to Portugal but he only warmed the bench in Euro 2004, but he was to enjoy an upturn in fortunes with the arrival of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.
A more disciplined Cole established himself on England's problematic left side of midfield during the second half of World Cup qualifying for Germany with a more all-round game.
Cole has muscled his way into Mourinho's starting line-up more often than not despite the fierce competition in Roman Abramovich's star-studded squad, and that has only helped his international chances.
Mourinho did lose his cool with Cole in December when he felt he had fallen back into his old ways, but the proverbial kick up the backside soon got the mercurial playmaker back on track.
Now not afraid to track back, mark up and do the donkey work, Cole is more rounded as a player, while his crossing and delivery is more accurate and he rarely wastes the ball in possession.
Cole has been in fine form for his country of late with his superb display in a friendly win over Uruguay perhaps convincing Eriksson that he now has the discipline to hold down that left-sided spot for Germany.
His improved all-round game still has time for the skill and tricks of old, and he could well have a major impact on the tournament if the opposition do not pay him as much attention as the likes of Beckham, Rooney and Owen.
