Garcia has adapted to various different roles during his career – from playing on either wing to acting as a deep-lying striker - and that versatility might pay dividends for Spain at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. His slight frame enables him to dart quickly through the smallest of openings and he is blessed with exquisite technical skills although he has come under fire for sometimes trying to overcomplicate his game with intricate moves when a simpler solution is called for. His on-field extravagance however, underlies his greatest weapon – his sheer unpredictability.
Garcia was born in Badalona on the outskirts of Barcelona in June 1978 and entered the Barcelona youth academy, La Masia, as a teenager. He rose through every youth category up to the reserves but was unable to muscle his way into a first team brimming with stars. In 1999, he was sold to Real Valladolid under the premise that Barca could buy him back at any point should they see fit.
From Valladolid, he was packed off to Toledo and then to Tenerife where, under Rafael Benitez, he netted 16 goals in 40 games as the islanders won promotion back to the top flight in 2000\/01. He returned to Valladolid briefly but Barca exercised their right to recall Garcia in the summer of 2002 and immediately loaned him out to Atletico Madrid. He impressed at the Vicente Calderon, scoring nine goals in the 2002\/03 season, and on his return to Barcelona switched over to the right wing and helped the Catalans secured runners-up slot in the league.
Benitez, who had coincided with Garcia at Tenerife, then brought him to Liverpool on a five-year contract in August 2004. He has yet to hold down a regular place at Anfield but he has gained a reputation for scoring crucial goals. He prodded home the winner against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semi-final and, after tasting European glory in Istanbul, added the UEFA Super Cup to his list of honours after scoring against CSKA Moscow in Monaco.
Bad fortune delayed his international debut with Spain. He twice withdrew from the squad because of injuries before finally stepping out for the first time in the 3-0 friendly win against China on 26 March 2005. Fate certainly smiled down on him, though, when he was included as a late addition for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in 12 November 2005 – and, on only his sixth appearance, scored a hat trick in the 5-1 win.
It is clear that the Liverpool player, who turns 28 on the eve of Spain’s match against Saudi Arabia, offers a scoring threat that could serve Spain well in Germany this summer.
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