ARJEN ROBBEN- NETHERLANDS

Date of birth: Jan. 23, 1984
Birthplace: Bedum, Netherlands
Club: Chelsea (England)
Position: Midfielder
International debut: September 2003 vs. Austria

Praise from Dutch legends Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten should tell you all you need to know about Arjen Robben.

One of the most dangerous wingers in soccer today, Robben is a precocious talent who combines brilliant technique, blinding pace and precise dribbling skills. Robben, a regular starter for English Premiership champions Chelsea, creates chances for teammates with his direct and probing runs down the right side of the field.

But if you think he's just a creator, think again: Robben can also score goals and is able to unlock even the tightest of defences with his dangerous mix of speed and guile. And he's just 22,

Robben signed with local club FC Groningen in the Netherlands, and after scoring 50 goals for the team's youth club, made his senior team debut during the 2000-01 season. He appeared primarily as a substitute at first, but eventually earned a regular starting role with the modest Dutch club and was named the team's player of the year.

Another solid season at Groningen followed when he scored six goals in 2001-02. His considerable talents were no longer a secret and Dutch league giants PSV Eindhoven came calling and paid Groningen 4.2 million euros to secure his services.

It was with Eindhoven that Robben's reputation grew even more as he established himself as one of the best wingers in world soccer. In his first season with the club, the 18-year-old more than justified his high price tag by scoring 12 goals in 33 games as he helped Eindhoven win the Dutch league title.

A mediocre 2003-04 campaign did little to dissuade growing interest in Robben — Real Madrid and Manchester United were tracking the young star — but Robben turned them both down and joined Chelsea in 2004 on a 12-million-pound transfer. Before moving to England, Robben played for the Netherlands at Euro 2004 and helped the Dutch reach the semifinals.

His English sojourn did not have the best of starts — he broke a bone in his right foot during a pre-season exhibition game in the summer — and did not make his Chelsea debut until October 2004.

Though the London super club was packed with world-class midfielders, Robben wasted precious little time in showing he belonged when he was named the Premiership player of the month in November.

He was dogged by injuries throughout the rest of the season, but Robben still ended the campaign with seven goals as Chelsea won its first league title in 50 years. This past year, Robben firmly established himself as a starter for Chelsea, scoring six goals as the London club repeated as league champions.

His sparkling reputation is not without a few blemishes — he's been tagged as a "diver" by opponents who have accused of him making theatrical and exaggerated gestures when he's challenged for the ball in hopes of winning a penalty.

Nevertheless, there's no denying the kid has talent and having tasted club success, Robben is now hungry for international recognition and will be at the very heart of a young but dangerous Dutch side at the 2006 World Cup.