By Paul Downey.
Where there are heroes there are always villains, so here’s a team of players who failed to live up to their reputations during the tournament in South Africa.
Robert Green (England) – First half clanger against USA cost England two points, and was subsequently dropped for the rest of the Three Lions campaign.
Martin Demichelis (Argentina) – Always looked a liability in the Argentinian backline after gifting South Korea in the group stages and was part of the team torn apart by Germany in the Quarter Finals.
Patrice Evra (France) – The Manchester United full-back was central to the player strike and rowed with his manager and coaching staff. Dropped for Frances last group game. Disastrous stint as captain.
Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) – The veteran Italian Captain was the player of the tournament in 2006, but looked anything but in the Azurri’s woeful campaign.
John Terry (England) – Looked very shaky giving the ball away with stray passes throughout England’s four games and was simply awful against Germany in the last 16.
Kaka (Brazil) – After an injury ravaged season with Real Madrid, Kaka looked a yard off the pace in South Africa as Brazil bowed out in the Quarter Finals for the second tournament in a row. Was also red carded against the Ivory Coast.
Yohan Gourcuff (France) – He was hailed as the ‘new Zidane’ by the French media before the tournament, and bowed out as Zizou did in 2006 with a red card.
Franck Ribery (France) – Another player who had a difficult domestic campaign who never showed nowhere near his true ability in the French’s disastrous campaign.
Fernando Torres (Spain) – Despite being part of the triumphant Spanish squad, Torres was hugely disappointing, failing to score a single goal and was dropped for the Semi-Final and Final.
Nicolas Anelka (France) – Did nothing when he played, had a blazing row with his manager and was subsequently sent home in disgrace.
Wayne Rooney (England) – Never looked fully fit and barely had a strike on goal in England’s four games. A tournament to forget for the Manchester United man.
Green (England)
Demichelis (Argentina) – Cannavaro (Italy) – Terry (England) – Evra (France)
Kaka (Brazil) – Gourcuff (France) – Ribery (France)
Rooney (England) – Anelka (France) – Torres (Spain)
If there is anyone you believe shouldn’t be on there please tell us, and if so who should go in their place?
