Player profile

The tireless runner was elevated to the status of national hero when he scored the winning goal in the World Cup play-off second leg against Russia. However, he was promptly diagnosed with swine flu and subsequently hospitalised.

It was typical of an eventful season which started badly when he needed the tip of his middle finger sewn back on following a go-karting accident. He did not score his first goal in the Bundesliga until January, and was booked for celebrating by pulling off his jersey to display a T-shirt bearing the image of his daughter Sara. His club, Bochum, were relegated.

Dedic spent eight seasons in Italy until last summer, having joined Parma’s youth team in 2001. He was restricted to 16 top-flight appearances in six years at Parma, who loaned him to Serie B clubs Empoli (2004-05) and Cremonese (2005-06). In January 2007 he joined Second Division Frosinone on a Bosman transfer but found the best form of his career a year later on loan at Piacenza, scoring 10 goals in 22 Serie B games.

Born to Slovenian parents in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he moved to Slovenia as a child, where he grew up in a house at the village railway station where his father worked. He was recalled to the Slovenia squad after a two-year absence for Matjaz Kek’s first game in charge but was then overlooked for another year before being reinstated for the World Cup qualification campaign. He is now an important player, who sees his role as chief creator for strike partner Milivoje Novakovic.