Day 25
Heroes. Which men have been the superstars of South Africa? To save you the bother of trying to decide for yourself I'm going to the trouble of picking out the most worthy contenders who spring easily to mind. I'm discounting everybody whose team has already been eliminated on the grounds that they didn't do enough. This may seem harsh but I'm comfortable with the decision. Commiserations to potentially worthy cases like The Mighty New Zealand's Ricky Herbert and Ryan Nelson (they didn't actually win a game after all), Argentina's Higuain (but he really only turned it on in one game) and even Slovakia's Vittek (again one win in four does not a resounding success make). I have six men chosen.
Wesley Sneijder (Holland): Sneijder has been top class throughout. From Day 1 he has driven this Dutch side on providing a outlet in unpredictable creativity that has kept Holland on the road. He's scored and created chances for others (even if Robin Van Persie has wasted all of his). A true visionary playmaker in the truest sense of the word his workrate and endeavour are also praiseworthy.
Diego Forlan (Uruguay): Remains every inch the player that Manchester United thought they were signing and developed into a true leader also. Has been calm and polished throughout. Could provide a real test for a shaky looking Dutch defence. My mild criticism of him as Uruguay's be all and end all was always partly in jest but he has stepped up to the plate when needed and proven his quality.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay): A controversial choice perhaps following the handball on the line incident against Ghana but while I wouldn't vote for him as player of the tournament I think he's earned a place on this list regardless for his tireless efforts up front throughout the competition. Has shown an eye for the goal and good decision making abilities (I'm not even talking about the handball there but I suppose it doesn't hurt the argument either). Still not convinced that he's worth the kinda fees being mooted now and that he won't become the next Karol Poborsky (who was never a bad player but never a great one either). Of course in Uruguay the stuff with Ghana will only add to his legend. He will be missed against Holland. Nigel De Jong will not.
David Villa (Spain): For single-handedly dragging a misfiring Spain to the last four for the first time since 1950. On a related aside (and there's not much more to said about Villa that hasn't been said a million times before anyway) a truly staggering amount of journos (Cathal Dervan included) are holding this up as the Spaniard's first time reaching the semi-finals. It may technically be true as the World Cup of 60 years ago placed the last four teams (Brazil, Sweden and Uruguay were the other three and, no, I didn't have to look that up) in a final pool where they all played each other but it's either ignorance or deliberately misleading to suggest that Spain have never gotten this far before.
And so to the Germans *swoon*. There's no shortage of contenders here but I've limited myself to two. Khedira and Ozil are two others who could easily, with a couple of good games, be remembered as the World Cup's best. But I focus now on two players who are coming of the back of less heralded seasons, despite their club's comparative successes.
Miroslav Klose (Germany): Now 32 and coming off the back of a desperately disappointing season you would have been forgiven for thinking that Klose was winding down here in South Africa. Instead he has provided no shortage of experience and grit to the young cubs around him. Has scored throughout and overcome the disappointment of a harsh (but needless) red card against Serbia to propel Germany towards the title. Still sharp, still clever, still strong, still dangerous on the ground or in the air Miroslav Klose has taken his total World Cup goals tally to 14, equalling Gerd Muller's haul (with a likable modesty he has been downplaying his achievements) and coming to within one of Ronaldo's record 15. In an ideal world his 16th would be the goal that wins the final.
Thomas Muller (Germany): You can't argue with two things. Firstly that the Tantrum curse is the best thing a player can be bestowed with (for blog latecomers allow me to explain briefly. Our sometime contributor Tantrum has developed a habit of singling out players for derision who then proceed to shine. Muller was his sacraficial lamb before the turnament started this time). Secondly that Thomas Muller, criticised for his efforts for Bayern all season, has had a stellar World Cup. Goals and assists aplenty: check. Revenge against Ego Maradona for pathetic snub earlier in year: Check. All of this achieved in my first full season as a pro before I turn 21: Check. Heroic.
Stay happy,
Dar