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There have been a whole load of things to celebrate in this World Cup: England v Argentina, the brilliant Japanese and Korean fans, the progress of Korea, Senegal USA and others, the amusing hopelessness of France, the drinking at unearthly hours of the morning. However, the tournament has lacked an icon, a player who has made the World Cup his own.
One of the joys of the World Cup has always been the emergence of new heroes – even if their later careers have failed to measure up. There have been some fine team efforts so far, but sadly the football world is not yet toasting the emergence of a Hagi, a Stoichkov, a Baggio or a Gascoigne.
The glittering stars of European football have pretty much to a man been a big disappointment. We hoped for much from several delightfully gifted number tens, but the pickings have been slim indeed.
Zinedine Zidane missed two matches and limped through the other, albeit nearly scoring with a sublime chip.
Luis Figo was as lacklustre as his colleagues, who only really came alive when they had a chance to slap the referee around a bit.
Francisco Totti was unlucky to be sent off and also unfortunate to hit the post with a wicked free-kick against Mexico, although moments of his performance in that game were nothing short of garbage. Injury took its toll on all three of those, as it did on England's few genuine class acts.
Of the top-drawer players from the European giant clubs, only Barcelona's Rivaldo has really impressed himself on games, but everyone now thinks he's a diving, cheating, play-acting git, so that's not much help in our quest for a hero.
The bony-faced one's countryman Ronaldo could well end up with both the Golden Boot and the player of the tournament gong.
While it's lovely to see such a huge talent and such a nice guy back at the top of the tree, he's not quite the player he was and his performances have been powerful and effective rather than inspirational or joyous to watch (and he's had the bonus of games against China and Costa Rica). Of course, there's still one game to go and he might yet sparkle, but if he does scoop the best player accolade, you can't help feel that it would be a fittingly ho-hum award.
With the real big-hitters injured and/or out of sorts, the stage was set for lesser-known players to really make a name for themselves.
Arsenal reject (d'oh!) Junichi Inamoto had a good tournament, Turkey's Hassan Sas has caught the eye, Senegal duo Papa Bouba Diop and El-Hadji Diouf have increased their status a great deal and Korea's Ahn Jung-Hwan probably won't have to buy his own drinks for a while. Germany's Miroslav Klose could be an unlikely top scorer in the Toto Schillachi mould but, let's face it, he's not going to be on any bedroom walls.
All of these have been impressive cogs in teams who have over-achieved due to organisation, determination and mastery of the conditions rather than moments of individual brilliance. That's no criticism of any of the players or coaches, just a slight letdown from an otherwise richly enjoyable World Cup.
Let's hope Brazil or others make me eat my words!
One of the joys of the World Cup has always been the emergence of new heroes – even if their later careers have failed to measure up. There have been some fine team efforts so far, but sadly the football world is not yet toasting the emergence of a Hagi, a Stoichkov, a Baggio or a Gascoigne.
The glittering stars of European football have pretty much to a man been a big disappointment. We hoped for much from several delightfully gifted number tens, but the pickings have been slim indeed.
Zinedine Zidane missed two matches and limped through the other, albeit nearly scoring with a sublime chip.
Luis Figo was as lacklustre as his colleagues, who only really came alive when they had a chance to slap the referee around a bit.
Francisco Totti was unlucky to be sent off and also unfortunate to hit the post with a wicked free-kick against Mexico, although moments of his performance in that game were nothing short of garbage. Injury took its toll on all three of those, as it did on England's few genuine class acts.
Of the top-drawer players from the European giant clubs, only Barcelona's Rivaldo has really impressed himself on games, but everyone now thinks he's a diving, cheating, play-acting git, so that's not much help in our quest for a hero.
The bony-faced one's countryman Ronaldo could well end up with both the Golden Boot and the player of the tournament gong.
While it's lovely to see such a huge talent and such a nice guy back at the top of the tree, he's not quite the player he was and his performances have been powerful and effective rather than inspirational or joyous to watch (and he's had the bonus of games against China and Costa Rica). Of course, there's still one game to go and he might yet sparkle, but if he does scoop the best player accolade, you can't help feel that it would be a fittingly ho-hum award.
With the real big-hitters injured and/or out of sorts, the stage was set for lesser-known players to really make a name for themselves.
Arsenal reject (d'oh!) Junichi Inamoto had a good tournament, Turkey's Hassan Sas has caught the eye, Senegal duo Papa Bouba Diop and El-Hadji Diouf have increased their status a great deal and Korea's Ahn Jung-Hwan probably won't have to buy his own drinks for a while. Germany's Miroslav Klose could be an unlikely top scorer in the Toto Schillachi mould but, let's face it, he's not going to be on any bedroom walls.
All of these have been impressive cogs in teams who have over-achieved due to organisation, determination and mastery of the conditions rather than moments of individual brilliance. That's no criticism of any of the players or coaches, just a slight letdown from an otherwise richly enjoyable World Cup.
Let's hope Brazil or others make me eat my words!
Football's a funny old game, but it's never really been this odd before!
It is strange that we won't be seeing the likes of Batistuta, Henry, Zidane, Raul and co. in the final - and we haven't even seen players of their calibur and reputation in the tournament for a good few rounds now!
I think it all started with the big teams taking the little sides for granted. They thought it would be a simple stroll, but sat back and were soon on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline!
But the little teams have also been working a hell of a lot harder, and have really been making those big-names sweat!
Ireland and South Korea fall straight under that category.
It is strange that we won't be seeing the likes of Batistuta, Henry, Zidane, Raul and co. in the final - and we haven't even seen players of their calibur and reputation in the tournament for a good few rounds now!
I think it all started with the big teams taking the little sides for granted. They thought it would be a simple stroll, but sat back and were soon on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline!
But the little teams have also been working a hell of a lot harder, and have really been making those big-names sweat!
Ireland and South Korea fall straight under that category.
There have been a whole load of things to celebrate in this World Cup: England v Argentina, the brilliant Japanese and Korean fans, the progress of Korea, Senegal USA and others, the amusing hopelessness of France, the drinking at unearthly hours of the morning. However, the tournament has lacked an icon, a player who has made the World Cup his own.
One of the joys of the World Cup has always been the emergence of new heroes – even if their later careers have failed to measure up. There have been some fine team efforts so far, but sadly the football world is not yet toasting the emergence of a Hagi, a Stoichkov, a Baggio or a Gascoigne.
The glittering stars of European football have pretty much to a man been a big disappointment. We hoped for much from several delightfully gifted number tens, but the pickings have been slim indeed.
Zinedine Zidane missed two matches and limped through the other, albeit nearly scoring with a sublime chip.
Luis Figo was as lacklustre as his colleagues, who only really came alive when they had a chance to slap the referee around a bit.
Francisco Totti was unlucky to be sent off and also unfortunate to hit the post with a wicked free-kick against Mexico, although moments of his performance in that game were nothing short of garbage. Injury took its toll on all three of those, as it did on England's few genuine class acts.
Of the top-drawer players from the European giant clubs, only Barcelona's Rivaldo has really impressed himself on games, but everyone now thinks he's a diving, cheating, play-acting git, so that's not much help in our quest for a hero.
The bony-faced one's countryman Ronaldo could well end up with both the Golden Boot and the player of the tournament gong.
While it's lovely to see such a huge talent and such a nice guy back at the top of the tree, he's not quite the player he was and his performances have been powerful and effective rather than inspirational or joyous to watch (and he's had the bonus of games against China and Costa Rica). Of course, there's still one game to go and he might yet sparkle, but if he does scoop the best player accolade, you can't help feel that it would be a fittingly ho-hum award.
With the real big-hitters injured and/or out of sorts, the stage was set for lesser-known players to really make a name for themselves.
Arsenal reject (d'oh!) Junichi Inamoto had a good tournament, Turkey's Hassan Sas has caught the eye, Senegal duo Papa Bouba Diop and El-Hadji Diouf have increased their status a great deal and Korea's Ahn Jung-Hwan probably won't have to buy his own drinks for a while. Germany's Miroslav Klose could be an unlikely top scorer in the Toto Schillachi mould but, let's face it, he's not going to be on any bedroom walls.
All of these have been impressive cogs in teams who have over-achieved due to organisation, determination and mastery of the conditions rather than moments of individual brilliance. That's no criticism of any of the players or coaches, just a slight letdown from an otherwise richly enjoyable World Cup.
Let's hope Brazil or others make me eat my words!
One of the joys of the World Cup has always been the emergence of new heroes – even if their later careers have failed to measure up. There have been some fine team efforts so far, but sadly the football world is not yet toasting the emergence of a Hagi, a Stoichkov, a Baggio or a Gascoigne.
The glittering stars of European football have pretty much to a man been a big disappointment. We hoped for much from several delightfully gifted number tens, but the pickings have been slim indeed.
Zinedine Zidane missed two matches and limped through the other, albeit nearly scoring with a sublime chip.
Luis Figo was as lacklustre as his colleagues, who only really came alive when they had a chance to slap the referee around a bit.
Francisco Totti was unlucky to be sent off and also unfortunate to hit the post with a wicked free-kick against Mexico, although moments of his performance in that game were nothing short of garbage. Injury took its toll on all three of those, as it did on England's few genuine class acts.
Of the top-drawer players from the European giant clubs, only Barcelona's Rivaldo has really impressed himself on games, but everyone now thinks he's a diving, cheating, play-acting git, so that's not much help in our quest for a hero.
The bony-faced one's countryman Ronaldo could well end up with both the Golden Boot and the player of the tournament gong.
While it's lovely to see such a huge talent and such a nice guy back at the top of the tree, he's not quite the player he was and his performances have been powerful and effective rather than inspirational or joyous to watch (and he's had the bonus of games against China and Costa Rica). Of course, there's still one game to go and he might yet sparkle, but if he does scoop the best player accolade, you can't help feel that it would be a fittingly ho-hum award.
With the real big-hitters injured and/or out of sorts, the stage was set for lesser-known players to really make a name for themselves.
Arsenal reject (d'oh!) Junichi Inamoto had a good tournament, Turkey's Hassan Sas has caught the eye, Senegal duo Papa Bouba Diop and El-Hadji Diouf have increased their status a great deal and Korea's Ahn Jung-Hwan probably won't have to buy his own drinks for a while. Germany's Miroslav Klose could be an unlikely top scorer in the Toto Schillachi mould but, let's face it, he's not going to be on any bedroom walls.
All of these have been impressive cogs in teams who have over-achieved due to organisation, determination and mastery of the conditions rather than moments of individual brilliance. That's no criticism of any of the players or coaches, just a slight letdown from an otherwise richly enjoyable World Cup.
Let's hope Brazil or others make me eat my words!