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September 1st

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Raúl, Figo, Zidane and Roberto Carlos, stars in Japan?

09/01/2002

It is no news for anybody that Real Madrid is well known all around the world. It is no surprise either that its players are world stars. Yet, should somebody have doubts, he just have to take a look at Japan, on of the countries holding the World Cup. They are using pictures of the white stars to provide 2002 World Cup with more prestige. Raul, Zidane, Figo and Roberto Carlos appear even on the Japanese calendars.

World Soccer Digest magazine, one of the most prestigious sports periodical in Japan, has launched its 2002 calendar. Above each month there are fantastic pictures of 12 world top-class players wearing their national teams' shirts. Real Madrid, with four team members, is the squad with the most players appearing. The publishers of the magazine chose the title World Star Calendar and preferred Zidane to open it. The French player is on January and February (Enlarge picture).

In Japan they have not forgotten France is the team that have won the latest two top championships for nations (France 98 and Eurocup 2000) and Zizou is the brain of les bleus. He played a key role for the achievement of the World Cup with his two goals to Brazil in the final. He also led his team in Eurocup: he scored a determinant penalty to Portugal in the semifinals.

If we turn over the page (it is a shame to rip it off, as it is an issue worth of being collected) we can see Figo representing March and April. (Enlarge picture). The midfielder, just like Zidane, is the leader of his Portuguese national team. The best picture of him with his country was taken in the last Eurocup. His goal to England, for instance, is in everybody's mind: from 30 metres off, his shot got in at the corner of the net defended by Seaman. The results of Portugal in the World Cup are partly on his boots. He has been a key figure for the qualification round for Japan and Korea leaving out strong national teams such as Louis Van Gaal's Netherlands.

Madrid list of players finishes with Raul and Roberto Carlos. (Enlarge picture). These two players are in smaller pictures than his other two teammates and on the same page as Owen, Del Piero, Crespo, and Henry in a sort of summary of the year. Number 7 is the only representative of the Spanish national team, which gives him the office of leadership. The defender is the representative of Brazil alongside Rivaldo. As we said, Real Madrid is the best attraction to make the World Cup known.

THE 12 STARS ON THE CALENDAR
Spain: Raúl.
France: Zidane and Henry.
Portugal: Figo.
Brazil: Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo.
Argentina: Verón and Crespo.
England: Owen and Beckham.
Italy: Del Piero and Totti.

Source: RealMadrid.com