Position: Midfield
Born: 10.04.1977
Club: Inter Milan
Another of the generation that won the Under-21 European Championship in 2000, Zanetti was quicker to progress than either Andrea Pirlo or Simone Perrotta and was included in Italy's squad for the 2002 World Cup.
Despite his inexperience the industrious midfielder appeared in three of Italy's matches before the second round defeat to South Korea.
Zanetti began his career in Serie B playing for Fiorentina, Reggiana and Venezia before securing a move to Inter Milan in 1998.
Having played just once the 27-year-old was shipped out on loan to first Cagliari and then Roma.
In the 2000/2001 season at the Stadio Olimpico the gifted midfielder helped the capital club lift the Scudetto but as soon as the celebrations had died down he was on his way back to the San Siro.
Since then Zanetti has established himself with Inter and has become an integeral part of Alberto Zaccheroni's team.
Despite experience in the Champions League Zanetti has a fight on his hands to start in Portugal.
Facing stiff competition from Perrotta and Gennaro Gattuso, Zanetti started just four qualifiers though tellingly they won each of those matches.
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