Age: 30. CAPS: 34. GOALS: 17. Club: Independiente Medellin.

Strengths: With Faustino Asprilla gone, Hernan Dario Gomez desperately needs one of his reserve strikers to come in and produce something spectacular. Valencia looks to be his best bet.

While not especially tall, the former Bayern Munich star is a powerful player who gives even the best of defenders a difficult time around the box. Got two on target after coming on for the second half of the game against Romania and may well add to the two goals he scored at USA 94, this afternoon. WEAKNESSES: Lacks the finesse or unpredictability of Asprilla who could turn a match with moments of brilliance, although, he does not tend to drift out of games for such long periods as Asprilla.

His close control doesn't stand up to comparison either and he will not be able to bring midfield players into the attack. That should not be such a great problem as Gomez will switch to 4-4-2 for this game and Valencia will be allowed to concentrate on what he does best: banging the ball past the opposition's keeper.