FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa - Top 5 players that are being missed after the group stages
The group stages of the FIFA World Cup 2010 have took away some real superstars of the world cup along with them. When the tournament started off most of the pundits predicted that Italy and France would at least reach the last sixteen if not the last eight teams.
The first player that is being missed dearly by fans at the moment is Didier Drogba, what was supposed to be a ground breaking world cup for the African nations turned into a nightmare after the third round of matches as all but Ghana were knocked out. Ivory Coast were also knocked out and so the world cup will be deprived of the antics and often flashes of brilliance that Didier Drogba brings to the beautiful game. Drogba came at the back of a brilliant season and only just reached match fitness in time to start against Ivory Coast’s last game against North Korea. Their elimination means that we might have to wait another four years to see the temperamental Ivorian in the world cup again, but by that time it is possible that the 32 year old will have retired from football, which might mean that we have already seen the last of him.
Andrea Pirlo is another super star who has left the world cup after the 2006 World Champion’s Italy failed to make it to the Round of 16 Stage. Pirlo like Drogba was only just fit in time to make Italy’s bench for their game against Slovakia. He was introduced into the game when Italy needed a goal or two to salvage their world cup campaign. With him on the field, Italy automatically looked much more comfortable on the ball and in control of the game. However their eventual defeat means that we will not be able to see the Italian playmaker again at the World Cup stage for another four years.
The Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’ featured prominently for Cameroon in their world cup campaign and scored two goals in three matches for them. Their elimination also means that we have seen most probably the last of Eto’ in a Cameroon shirt. His differences with the Cameroonian hierarchy were apparent from the start but despite these disagreements he still performed to the best of his abilities. His status as an entertainer is indisputable in the foot-balling world as the striker has been known to score goals and create them as well.
The French had a terrible world cup campaign plagued with controversy and in-squad fighting. This meant that their talented individuals never really performed as a team therefore their elimination came as a little surprise to everyone. However with their removal, a lot of big names in their squad also left the tournament. One of those big names was Patrice Evra, the French captain and the Manchester United left back. His performances for United made Evra a player to watch out for mat this world cup, but disharmony amongst the French prevented him for showcasing his true skills as a footballer. The world cup will surely miss this talented defender who has the potential to perform at the highest level.
The second last man on the list is Tim Cahill, the Australian managed to arrive at the party a little late at the World Cup, after getting sent off in the first game of the tournament he missed the second one against Ghana. He returned for the Aussies in the last game for the tournament against Serbia. He featured prominently against the Serbs and constantly caused them problems in defense. He also managed to score a blinder of a goal through a header from 12 yards out. Cahill’s talent will be missed at the world cup given various skills and versatile nature as a footballer. So it’s another four more years before the Australian can make a mark on the international level.
The Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is another player that will be missed after his team also exited the world cup at the group stages. His brilliant performance against the Argentines in the group stages to deny Lionel Messi his first goal in this world cup will be remembered forever. His heroics against the Greeks will not be forgotten either. A lot of clubs will be interested in his services after his brilliant displays in South Africa.
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