For the first time in 19 days there is no World Cup football today. This gives us the perfect chance to catch our breath and reflect on the tournament gone by.
Some will find their stock has fallen – Rooney, Ribery and Ronaldo to name a few. Others, such as Messi, Villa and Robinho, have affirmed their positions at the game’s highest table. But what about the players who entered this tournament as relative unknowns and have shone on the world stage?
In celebration of these players, I announce my World Cup ‘Unsung XI’ - in a Maradona-inspired 3-4-3 formation:
Mark Paston, New Zealand: The Kiwis have been the World Cup’s surprise package – never having won a point at the finals before, they emerged unbeaten in this tournament. Paston form was massive in this achievement, making a series of world-class saves against Italy.
Diego Lugano, Uruguay: The Sky Blues’ skipper was a mainstay in a defence which did not concede a goal in the group stages. What price Lugano lifting the trophy on 11 June?
John Mensah, Ghana: With the jittery Richard Kingson in goal behind you, you have to excel, and he has done. Remarkably, his defensive partner is named Jonathan Mensah, leading me to believe that ‘Mensah’ must be the Ghanaian equivalent of ‘Smith’.
Antolin Alcaraz, Paraguay: The headline-writer’s dream. “Italy Escape From Alcaraz” declared The Times after Paraguay’s opening game. He’s pretty good too – Paraguay are into the quarter-finals and they’ve only conceded one goal. It’s largely due to The Rock at the back.
Michael Bradley, USA: Son of the national coach, but you’ll hear no claims of nepotism. No one has put in more effort at this tournament than Bradley – a genuine box-to-box midfielder who can score goals too, as Slovenia found to their cost.
Landon Donovan, USA: America’s biggest talent, ‘Landycakes’ scored three times during the World Cup. His strike against Slovenia was, for me, the tournament’s finest. Landon, you the man.
Vladimir Weiss, Slovakia: Direct, quick and tricky, Weiss has terrorised defenders at this tournament and outshone Slovakia’s biggest name, Marek Hamsik. Now he just needs to find a way to oust Adam Johnson from Man City’s side.
Anthony Annan, Ghana: In size and technique he reminds you of Lassana Diarra; in his reluctance to leave the centre circle, there’s something of Jon Obi Mikel. Regardless of this, you can’t question the quality of his displays for Ghana.
Keisuke Honda, Japan: In Arsene Wenger’s words, Honda is “the player of the tournament so far”. Honda, ahem, ‘kick started’ Japan’s campaign with a goal against Cameroon and looks a born entertainer. And he can't half hit a free kick.
Asamoah Gyan, Ghana: Gyan has turned it on when it really matters with late winners against Serbia and the US. One more goal and his World Cup tally will be higher than his shirt number – the first time this has happened since 1954.
Siphiwe Tshabalala, South Africa: He scored the opening goal of the World Cup, and it’s odds-on to win the goal of the tournament. He followed this with all-action displays against Uruguay and France, outshining Steven Pienaar and giving Bafana Bafana fans cause to blow their vuvuzelas proudly.
Coach: Bob Bradley, USA. During the entire tournament America only lead a team for two minutes, yet came close to earning a quarter-final spot. Bradley instilled a never-say-die attitude into his players, created a unified camp and also had a good eye for tactical changes.
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