Name: Per Mertesacker
National team: Germany (Group D)
Squad number: 17
Club side 09/10: Werder Bremen (GER)
Position: Central Defender
Age: 25
Caps: 62
Goals: 1
World Cup prospects:
Likelihood of starting the tournament: Nailed on. Mertesacker, or Merilrecker as many people will know him, has been Germany's first choice centre-back since the age of 21. At 6 ft 6 in, he towers over most strikers and is therefore dangerous from attacking set-plays. Don't bet against him bagging a goal in South Africa.
Commitment to shirt number: Pales into insignificance when compared to pureblood 17s Hamsik and Ahn Young-Hak. At club level, Merilrecker has always worn 29, although he usually seems to pick 17 for Germany, so good luck to him.
How to follow him throughout the tournament: He has his own website but sadly its icon is a 29. However, there is a big picture of him wearing 17 for Germany. Apparently his defining characteristics are "talent, fairness, bescheidenheit" (humility).
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