Xavier - tangling with France's Zidane (Allsport)

Position: Defender
Born: 30.11.72
Club: Liverpool

Enjoyed a new lease of life for his performances for Portugal in Euro 2000 which ultimately earned him a surprise move recently to Premiership giants Liverpool.

Born in Mozambique and known through the footballing world for his distinctive bleached hairstyle, Xavier first came to prominence when he joined European giants Benfica.

He failed to make an immediate impact in the Portuguese capital and after two years, started his travels around Europe.

This encompassed spells at Bari in Italy, Real Oviedo in Spain and PSV Eindhoven in Holland before Everton boss Walter Smith snapped him up for £1.5m in August 1999.

A stop-start career at Goodison Park saw him not an automatic choice but he had made the right-back slot his own for Portugal and helped knock out England in Euro 2000 en route to a semi-final showdown with eventual winners France.

Xavier had given a fine performance before handballing a goalbound shot from Zinedine Zidane and conceding ther crucial winning penalty in extra-time.

Xavier protested his innocence so loudly to referee Gunther Benko that he was given a nine-month international ban by UEFA.

He returned to a struggling Everton side last summer but was more than happy to secure a move across the city in January to neighbours Liverpool who paid a small fee rather than wait till his contract ran out in June.

His steady form at Anfield should ensure he is a key member of the Portuguese squad in the Far East.