Croatia's goalkeeper at each of the last two FIFA World Cups, Stipe Pletikosa missed out on UEFA EURO 2004™ after rupturing a thigh muscle on the eve of the tournament. The giant 29-year-old kept seven clean sheets in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008 and has been in fine form this year for his Russian club FC Spartak Moskva.

A product of local club HNK Hajduk Split, he replaced Tonči Gabrić as the club's No1 in 1999 and went on to win the Croatian title in 2000/01 plus the Croatian Cup twice.

Star of the 2000 cup win against arch-rivals NK Dinamo Zagreb (2-1 over two legs).

Ever present at the 2002 World Cup; left for FC Shakhtar Donetsk (in tandem with fellow Croatian international Darijo Srna) a year later.

Replaced by Tomislav Butina at UEFA EURO 2004 but regained his place and made three more World Cup finals appearances in 2006.

After three UEFA Champions League qualifying failures – two with Hajduk, one with Shakhtar – he finally made his debut in the competition’s group stage in 2006/07 for Shakhtar away to Valencia CF.

Joined Spartak in 2007; played 29 (of 30) Russian Premier-Liga games.

Nicknamed 'Octopus' for his remarkable arm span.

Did you know?
Pletikosa can take penalties as well as save them. He scored four in the Croatian league for Hajduk plus two in the UEFA Cup and one in the 2003 Croatian Cup final.