Wome - strong man in defence (Allsport).
PIERRE WOME
Position: Defender
Born: 26.03.79
Club: Bologna
Scored the winning spot-kick in the penalty shootout with Spain to give Cameroon Olympic gold in Sydney 2000.
A young defender who has been a household name since he was a teenager.
Proof of his ability is the fact he was playing for Italian giants Roma at the tender age of 19.
Mind you, the strong man won't have particularly fond memories of playing in England for the Serie A team.
For he was sent off in their visit to Elland Road to face Leeds in a UEFA Cup tie.
Wome's international pedigree is already extensive, starting in the 1995 World Under-20 Championships.
Following that he graduated to the full national team, and played in all of Cameroon's games at the 1998 World Cup finals in France.
Initial move to Italy saw him join Vicenza, but after spells at Lucchese and Roma he's now showing off his talents with Bologna.
And that gives him a far better chance of regular first-team action.
Has also played in a string of African Nations Cups, including this year's success in Mali.
Indeed Wome grabbed the headlines - for 10 minutes at least - when he missed the first penalty of the shoot-out in the final against Senegal, which Cameroon went on to win.
A very old head on very young shoulders, and will be a cornerstone of the Cameroon defence this summer.
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