Of the 736 players participating at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, 60 will celebrate their birthday during the competition, said FIFA Communications Division on Wednesday.

Furthermore, two coaches and two referees will also mark a birthday between 9 June and 9 July.

Of the 64 competition 'birthday boys', six, mostly Frenchmen, will be celebrating in style as their birthdays coincide with a match day of their home nation.

They are:

KLOSE Miroslav (09.06.1978), a German striker who will mark his 28th birthday by playing in the opening match against Costa Rica.

MALOUDA Florent (13.06.1980), who will turn 26 on the day of France's first match during the tournament against Switzerland.

LEMERRE Roger (18.06.1941). The Frenchman who coaches Tunisia is the only coach to celebrate a birthday at the group stage. His birthday coincides with France's match against South Korea.

LAMPARD Frank (20.06.1978). On the occasion of his 28th birthday, he will be partying on the pitch with his team mates against Sweden.

And two maestros on a same day: ZIDANE Zinedine (23.06.1972) and VIEIRA Patrick (23.06.1976). They will not only share a birthday, but also celebrate it by playing for their national team against newcomers Togo in their final group match.

(Agencies)
 本周三，国际足联媒体部透露，参加2006世界杯赛的736名球员中，有60名将在比赛期间过生日。

而且，还有两位教练和两位裁判也将在此期间（6月9日--7月9日）度过生日。

在这64位“世界杯寿星球员”中，有6位（大多数是法国人）将以一种与众不同的方式庆祝生日，因为他们的生日恰好和本队的某场比赛是同一天。

这六个寿星是：

克洛斯·米洛斯拉夫，生于1978年6月9日，德国队前锋，将在德国对阵哥斯达黎加的揭幕赛中度过28岁生日。

马卢达·弗洛伦特，生于1980年6月13日，将在法国队对阵瑞士队的首场比赛中度过他的26岁生日。

勒梅尔·罗杰，生于1941年6月18日，法国人，突尼斯队教练。是唯一一位将在小组赛阶段过生日的教练。他过生日那一天，恰逢法国队和韩国队交锋。

兰帕德·弗兰克，生于1978年6月20日，他将在英格兰对阵瑞典的绿茵场上度过自己的28岁生日。

其余两位重量级人物--齐达内·齐达丹（1972年6月23日）和维埃拉·帕特里克（1976年6月23日）将在同一天过生日。他们不仅要一起过生日，还要在这一天共同为法国队与新秀多哥队进行的最后一场小组赛效力。

 
   
 
Vocabulary:

in style  : 别具风格的，与众不同的

group stage: 小组赛阶段（group match 小组赛）

关键字:英语阅读