FIFA 2010 World Cup Special Report: 7 Superstars That Have Failed to Impress at the World Cup
Two rounds of the World Cup have progressed so far, two rounds that have seen enough drama that the four year wait seems almost worth it. This is a tournament where the best teams and players show their skills and talents, and prove to the world their worthiness of becoming heroes. Along the same line, there were players like Lionel Messi, Steven Gerrard, David Villa, Diego Forlán (and the list goes on) who have proven that they were worth expecting performances from, but there are those who have disappointed too. Here is a list of players that have failed to impress so far.
7- Netherlands - Robin Van Persie
Well, the “Dutch Assassin” still kicks with his left foot, but instead of it being sharper in the World Cup, he has entered with it being without any gleam. He was expected to be one of the favourite stars to be observed in the World Cup after he helped Netherlands with a marvellous qualifying campaign. Now that Netherlands has qualified for the next level, he has to surely team up with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder in order to take the team to the further stages.
6- France - Nicolas Anelka
After the recent outburst at the French coach in response sent France’s forward/winger back home, Anelka has been popularly been named as “Le Sulk” by fans. He used profane language against the coach, which resulted in his exile from South Africa, and then the French Captain Patrice Evra and co. took matter into their hands while the board and players split into two factions. While Anelka played, he had no real grasp over the proceedings of the game, and it would have been your luck if you would have spotted him near the ball. He was one of the major reasons for the disqualification of the Les Bleus.
5- Italy - Alberto Gilardino
Gilardino is among the big list of Italian players that have flunked at performing in the 2010 World Cup. With the current performance, Italy are still arousing doubts of their progression to the next stages, a task that should not have been so difficult for the defending Champions. Gilardino was an essential part of the team’s qualification last time in the World Cup, and the responsibility is on his shoulders again. The Italian team lacks strikers so far, scoring just two goals: one of them from a penalty corner, and the other from a penalty shoot, showing the reason why it’s important for him step up.
4- England - Frank Lampard
Lampard is on a rampage with Chelsea, having spectacular stats of 20 goals and 10 assists per season. He is also one of the reasons why the English team have had such a troubled ride till the last 16. So far, he has lacked in his impeccability to produce passes at all times and those stunning balls he launches bang on target every now and then. The match against Slovenia was further proof of that. He, along with Rooney, needs to find his pace in the midfield and forward position if he wishes for his team to keep their World Cup campaign running till the last matches.
3- France - Franck Ribery
He was also among those starring in the Nike commercial and got tackled by Rooney. His last match with South Africa showed a similar story when he alone must have been in the defending position, instead of holding out the left wing position that he so desperately wanted. His crosses and passes in this tournament have been flecked with imperfection to say the least. You can literally count the good crosses he made in the whole tournament on your fingers. Now that France have returned home after a dismissal performance in South Africa and a controversial campaign, the Les Bleus should reunite and weed out the flawed parts of their system.
2- Spain - Fernando Torres
He might have been recovering from an injury, but the way he has played, he might have had the injury on his head rather than his groin. The star Spanish player has failed to even be able to connect the ball to his feet, and has been far too often too fast for the ball; while leaving it behind and netting himself instead between the posts. His counterpart David Villa, though, seems to have found his form. If the world class striker does not want to be humiliated any further by fans, he must show them what they really admire about him.
1- England - Wayne Rooney
Perhaps Wayne Rooney’s commercial of "Write the Future", in which he gets knighted by the Queen of England for being a patriot and accomplishing great deeds for the country, got to his head. He hasn’t been able to play as a true centre forward; his finishing is tarnished and so is his running, the two things he is great at. His strikes have failed to make full contact or find the gaps that he so easily does. He was in superb form with the English Club Manchester United, scoring 26 goals in the season. If he wants The Three Lions to qualify from the last 16, he really needs to up his tempo.
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