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Fadiga's talking left foot

When Senegal are looking for a moment of fantasy, that final decisive, killer ball, more often than not it will come from the left foot of Khalilou Fadiga.

Fadiga is one of the more dangerous, creative weapons in Frenchman Bruno Metsu's Senegal side.

In the second group game against Denmark he was the Budweiser man of the match. All his playmaking skills on full display as he set up the equaliser in the 52nd minute with a perfect pass into the penalty area through to Salif Diao at the end of the tournament's most breathtaking team move.

He almost didn't make the Finals. Fadiga had been charged with stealing a necklace worth £170 from a jewellers in Daegu. The Auxerre striker admitted taking the necklace, but insisted it had been part of a prank which he instantly regretted.

The joke would have robbed him of that special moment of being part of the team against France in the opening game. That fixture had special significance for Fadiga who left Senegal when only six years old for France.

It wasn't just France whom he could have played for instead of Senegal. Fadiga's wife is Belgian and he played six seasons in Belgium for Liege and Bruges.

Fadiga intended to earn a spot in Belgium's UEFA European Championship 2000 squad as a naturalised citizen. However, influences from the Senegalese federation intervened in a timely fashion, and come 2000, Fadiga was headed for the African Cup of Nations in Nigeria and Ghana, not its European counterpart in Holland and Belgium.

"I feel Senegalese, when I was home, everybody would speak our language, we listened to Senegalese radio and music, we ate Senegalese food. I share both cultures but I have a lot of family over in Senegal and my colour is Senegalese."

He wasn't what you would call an instant success as a player, despite his promise and potential. Fadiga signed as a teenager with Paris St. Germain, moved onto Red Star Paris before trying his luck in Belgium.

Fadiga finally returned to his France in 2000, signing on with AJ Auxerre.

At Auxerre he has formed a formidable partnership on the field, and a firm friendship off it, with emerging French striker Djibril Cisse..

Although his left foot is a magic wand, Fadiga is not afraid to have a go with his right even though it is nowhwere near as potent.

He is a free-kick specialist, and is particularly dangerous on the right flank as nigeria found out in the Nations Cup semi-final in Mali where his set-pices induced panic in their ranks.

Although the likes of Inter and Arsenal are reputed to be hot on his trail, he may well stay and delight Auxerre fans for another year.

He's delighted World Cup fans so far.