The 2010 World Cup has been a funny one for the stars of world football. Some of the biggest names have flopped on the big stage, while other players have had their reputations significantly enhanced. Not even big-name EPL players have been spared; they have suffered whilst some older, more experienced ‘has-beens’ have shone through.
We’ve seen that the World Cup has had a huge effect on players in the past. On one hand, they might recover from failures - on the other, they might retire from international football altogether. In rare cases, such as that of Columbian defender Andreas Escobar, there can be entirely more tragic consequences. For the winners though, there is a chance to not only write their names in the pages of World Cup history, but also to attract the attentions of a bigger, richer club.
First up, and let’s start with Manchester United poster boy Wayne Rooney. There’s not a lot to say here other than that he had an absolute shocker. He simply didn’t look fit - his touch was shocking, and the few shots that he did have on goal went nowhere near the back of the net. Rooney is used to leading the line for the Red Devils, and even though he had the help of other strikers in this tournament he still couldn’t close the deal. If this was one of his club sides, Fabio Capello would have dropped him after the Algeria game. But this is England - and England’s media, public, and ego must be appeased! So Rooney played on, and didn’t really contribute much at all. Shots - 8, On target - 4, Goals - 0. Pretty disappointing for someone who was being labelled the world’s form striker in the lead up to the tournament.
From a current Manchester United star to a former one; and there’s something about misfiring Reds at this cup - because Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t have a great time either. Ronaldo had a total of 18 shots, but only seven of them were on target. He did manage a goal, which statistically beats out the likes of Rooney, but it was a gifted chance from a poor North Korean defence - a defence which allowed in Portugal’s only goals of the tournament. If Ronaldo can only create chances and score against the team of a secretive communist regime, he hasn’t had a great world cup. The loss to Spain in the knockout stages summed it up - he had no support from his teammates, he didn’t drop back and make an impact on the game, and Spain’s possession play ensured that he didn’t see enough of the ball to exert an influence in the first place.
That’s not to say Spain haven’t had players who’ve under-performed. Striker Fernando Torres was a player of the tournament at Euro 2008, and was man of the match in the final against Germany. He bangs in goals for fun at Liverpool, and was even scoring hat-tricks for his country as recently as the Confederations Cup last year. But Torres has failed to shine at this year’s World Cup. Indeed, I’m not the only pundit who thinks Spain may as well have been playing with 10 men when he’s been on the field. Some commentators point to the knee surgery that forced the striker to miss the remainder of this year’s EPL competition; while others feel that it is more of an attitude problem. Whatever the cause, Torres needs to pick it up if he wants play a big part in Spain’s final - as good friend David Villa certainly hasn’t been afraid to hog the limelight in the meantime.
That Winning Feeling
Mr Villa isn’t the only player having a grand old time of it in South Africa. There are a number of names, both old and new, who will be on everyone’s lips long after the final whistle blows at Soccer City.
One of those names will no doubt be Diego Forlan. Mercilessly mocked whilst at Manchester United, where he scored 17 goals in 95 games, in the years since, Forlan has gone on to prove just what a quality striker he is. At club level, he scored a goal every second game for Villarreal CF, and has an even better conversion rate for his current club Atletico Madrid. At international level, he has 28 goals in 68 games - four of those coming at the current competition. A true talisman for his side, it was Forlan who gave Uruguay hope against Holland in their 3-2 loss, and again he who scored a vital equaliser against Ghana during the quarter final stage. The South Americans might be out of the Cup now, but they can thank the once-named ‘Diego Forlorn’ that they got as far as they did.
Another two men doing their reputations no harm are the German pairing of Thomas Mueller and Phillip Lahm. Lahm led his team ‘from the back’ as it were, and still presented an imposing threat when going forward - anyone who remembers the opening goal against Costa Rica last time around will be fully aware of that. For what it’s worth, he’s the top ranked player in this crazy ‘Castrol Index’ that FIFA have been promoting at this competition. I’m guessing it’s kind of like Champion Data, but with more occurrences of Cristiano Ronaldo saying stuff about petrol and his ego. Mueller meanwhile is coping with a famous name without too many problems at all - 10 shots, four on target, with four goals resulting sure isn’t a bad strike rate. Is Bayern going to be fielding a few calls for the 20-year old following this World Cup?
FInally, what kind of Australian would I be if I didn’t mention Brett Holman? Sure, this guy is in a whole other (read: lower) league than the aforementioned players, but how much has he improved his standing among the average Socceroos fan after this World Cup? Two goals - one of them perhaps the best ever scored by an Aussie on the biggest stage - and all of a sudden the spectre of ‘Holman Fail’ has all but disappeared. Instead, we now look forward to him being a core part of the Australian side leading up to the next World Cup. Considering he’s only 26, there might even be renewed interest from clubs for a player who has boundless energy and can step up and score when it matters.
At the end of the day, the World Cup isn’t the be all and end all of a footballer’s career. It doesn’t pay the bills week in, week out, and it generally isn’t what they’re remembered for during the rest of their life - with a few well-known exceptions. But it does present them with an opportunity to showcase their wares on the world’s biggest stage - or to make themselves public enemy number one on their return home.
Now, who are your winners and losers of South Africa 2010?
