Star watch

INDIA

Rajpal Singh: Form of this talented right-winger will be crucial to India’s chances. Owner of electrifying stick work, speed and dribbling skills, Rajpal bounced into the scene with a ‘Player of the Tournament’ performance on his international debut at the 2001 Youth Asia Cup. After graduating into the national team in 2005, the IOC player has grown in stature and has been entrusted with captaincy job for the World Cup, despite some objections.

Sandeep Singh: From nearly missing the bus owing to a back injury, the gifted drag-flicker’s return has not only expanded goal-scoring options for India but added insurance to the defence. Dubbed ‘the best player in the team’ by coach Jose Brasa, Sandeep is one of the best in business at penalty corners.

Prabhjot Singh: Currently, one of the best strikers in India, the 29-year-old successfully led a protest over payment issues that forced his team-mates and coach Jose Brasa to openly acknowledge him as the captain. Having grown in confidence, the experienced winger can surprise opponents with his pace and his performance against the well-organised defence of Europeans and Australians will be pivotal to India’s chances. His exploits on the turf in 2009 earned him a spot in the World All Stars team.

PAKISTAN

SOHAIL ABBAS: Undoubtedly one of the best drag-flickers the world has ever seen. His consistency of 65 per cent has made made him the highest goal scorer. The 32-year-old, who quit in 2004 before returning two years later, holds the record for most of number of goals in a calendar year (60) and continues to be the biggest nightmare for goalkeepers with his vicious drag-flicks

AUSTRALIA

JAMIE DWYER: The ‘Player of the tournament’ in World Cup 2006, Dwyer struck the 2004 Olympic gold medal-winning goal for Australia in extra-time. Despite suffering a career-threatening knee injury during the 2003 Champions Trophy, the striker emulated Teun de Nooijer after being adjudged ‘World Player of the Year’ in 2009 for the third time. A CWG gold and two Champions Trophy titles are other feathers in his cap.

NETHERLANDS

TEUN DE NOOIJER: Perhaps, one of the greatest players of the modern generation, Nooijer’s is known for his incredibly quick, skillful and opportunistic finish. The first-ever and three-time ‘Player of the Year’ winner, Nooijer’s illustrious career comprises one World Cup victory, two Olympic gold and six Champions Trophy titles.
 
GERMANY

M WITTHAUS: At 16 years, Witthaus became the youngest player to represent Germany when he took the field against Belgium in 1999. Since then the sharp and clever striker with a real eye for goal, has been one of the key figures in Germany’s back-to-back World Cup triumphs (2002, 2006) and the Beijing Olympics gold.

SPAIN

PABLO AMAT: A two-time Olympic silver medalist, Amat is a tall, speedy forward -- terror of defenders. Amat has made a name for himself scoring late goals, most notably to win the 2005 European Nations Cup. Amat also made it into the 2006 World All Star team.