Oliver Kahn

The two years following the 2002 World Cup have been tough for Oliver Kahn, as the bar he set so high in Japan and Korea became a rod for the giant keeper's back, gleefully wielded by an intrusive media and exacting a heavy toll both professionally and privately. After an average season at Bayern and Germany's early exit from Euro 2004 in Portugal, Kahn's current priority is to manage expectations down to a more healthy level. The Bayern keeper has asked the media to judge him on his performance as a footballer and help him focus 100 percent on sport. "I'm desperate to win trophies again," he said in the summer.