The dust has settled, the medals have been presented and the World Cup is over. Four more years of waiting until the anticipation, the build up and inevitably the disappointment returns. South Africa 2010 was the tournament of teams, not of players. Success was built upon organisation, self belief and teamwork. The Dutch wriggling their way to the final despite a fairly poor defence and the Spanish doing enough to win every game; both doing so through cohesion and organisation and both with the formation that was so prevalent throughout – the 4-2-3-1.
The individuals that the media hyped up to levels befitting of the moon landing struggled to make their mark and the sponsors set themselves up for a fall. It is well known of course that Nike’s infamous advert “write the future” featured players who all failed to impress (or in one case even make the squad – Ronaldinho).
The four players most hyped however; Rooney, Messi, Ronaldo and Kaka, all were poor, different reasons for each but perhaps the biggest cause is that of hype.
Rooney
First and foremost, England’s hopes were placed squarely on the lad from Kirby’s shoulders and the burden of expectation fell on him. A poorly organised team; which looked lethargic and devoid of ideas, were summed up best by Rooney’s performances in SA. 4-4-2 failed to bring out the best in Rooney, a formation he has rarely, if ever played. Heskey brought in to bring out the best in Rooney failed to work and essentially the hustling bustling tricky bullish forward many expected was drained, ineffective and – bluntly put – poor. Both tactically not given the best chance to shine, he probably wouldn’t have been much better had he been in a role more suited to him.
Kaka
Unlike Rooney there is a much clearer and more concise reason that Kaka was disappointing. Fitness. Whilst still achieving a total of 3 assists (joint top at the World Cup) his performances lacked the drive and verve he has lacked for over a year as the Brazil fitness coach openly admits he simply isn’t fit enough. At the World Cup, you don’t do things by halves.
Ronaldo
Portugal don’t score, it’s been that way for a long time now. The Brazil v Portugal game was supposed to be a thriller according to the media, although this simply was based upon stereotypes and a lack of research. The demolition of North Korea was a fluke and one that only happened as the Koreans after putting in a performance worthy of the World Cup against Brazil forgot how to play football and allowed the Iberians to run riot. Ronaldo still only got one goal, his first in well over a year for the international side. Playing out wide and without the support given at club level for both United and Madrid Ronaldo was never in a position to ignite the tournament and coming up against Spain in the second round meant he had few games to state his case. Most worryingly was the general consensus that during Portugal’s opener against the Ivory Coast the general public discussed his shot that cannoned off the post as amazing. A shot that didn’t go in – that was what people were talking about. A nearly goal, a not quite, a nothing. Delivering a superb performance against a truly abysmal North Korean side was about all Ronaldo could muster up in SA and it’s not really that surprising.
Messi
Nominated for the Golden Ball, part of a very exciting Argentina side and according to the media, a series of eye catching displays. No. Messi wasn’t great, he by no means deserved to be nominated for the Golden Ball and at no point was he close to showing his ability which is so widely touted as the best in the world (which is not in dispute as he probably is). Fawning over Messi was part of the criteria for pundits and grew old very quickly. No goals form a man who scored 34 in the league for Barca during the season doesn’t do the man justice. What was noticeable was Maradona’s sudden change from a stagnant 4-4-2 to a much more flexible 4-3-3 with Messi at the heart of it. He was more lively and more involved than during qualification and friendlies before hand but still unable to make his mark.
The end of the indivudal
Four players, who were lukewarm. Four players whose sides flattered to deceive and were dumped out unceremoniously by teams whose team efforts far exceeded any individual performance. Those players who did shine, were all members of teams who looked good from back to front, not in one area. The death of the media hyper of individuals? One can hope…
The Vuvuzela View 