French toast...by Apollo

It is now the day after the 2006 FIFA World Cup and besides having no idea what to do with myself now that football coverage will once again slow to a predictably North American trickle, I am reflecting over this year's tournament with the following thoughts, in no particular order:

Fabio Cannavaro: Easily the biggest reason that Puma will be stitching the fourth star on Italy's jerseys any day now. Without running mate Alessandro Nesta, the Juventus centre-back was forced to deal with the world's top strikers, all the while shepherding a changing backline that included the mercurial Marco Materazzi. Cannavaro seldom put a foot wrong all tournament, and while his club seems destined for Serie C or lower next year, the euros of Real Madrid and a host of other clubs will soon be beckoning the Italian Captain.

Zinedine Zidane: The insane red card incident aside, it's hard to imagine how the world's sports media could have voted for Zidane as Golden Ball winner as tournament MVP at halftime of a Final that stood 1-1. Up to that point, Cannavaro had far more of an impact on his side's fortunes, even if the red card in extra time had never been given to the Frenchman. Zidane, while brilliant in spots, and surely the sentimental favourite to hoist the title for France on the eve of his retirement from the game, was suspended twice in the tournament, and was forced to sit out the match against Togo in the group stage where France actually faced elimination. To that point, Zidane had done virtually nothing to distinguish himself while playing in undoubtedly the weakest group of the tournament. Meanwhile, France owe their Finals appearance as much to the ineptitude of Spain, Brazil, and Portugal as to Zidane's near vintage performances. If Cannavaro had been able to somehow score a goal or two throughout the tournament, the Golden Ball surely would have been his. That aside, it's just as sure that Zidane is harldy feeling comfort with this latest award, while Cannavaro has a much more satisfying prize in his possession.

Ronaldinho Gaucho: The demise of this year's Brazilian Selecao would have generated far more headlines if it hadn't happened so early in the knockout phase. The world had to move on to enticing semifinal matchups and had little time to perform a post mortem on the flameout of the world's most talented side. That's just as well, as it is almost impossible to explain how Brazil, and their talisman midfielder, could have performed so badly. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, everything seemed in place. Ronaldinho was coming off successive FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and had steered Barcelona to a coveted double of La Liga and Champions League titles. Almost invisible in the Champions League Final against Arsenal, he was still enough of a threat that great things were expected of him in Germany. Having burst on the scene with an outrageous winning goal against England in 2002, Ronaldinho was poised to be the lasting memory of this World Cup. There were doubts raised of Ronaldo, Adriano, Cafu and Roberto Carlos. But no one questioned Ronaldinho. He would show up. He would carry Brazil as he did in the 2004 Confederations Cup.

Like his teammates, the world waited patiently and nervously for Ronaldinho to finally shine, and he simply never did. Forced into the midfield in the 4-2-2-2 system, Ronaldinho did show plenty of tricks and magic to make Nike's marketing gurus drool, and there was always a lingering belief from the faithful that he was merely one goal away from making the tournament his. However, finally pushed up to a forward position against France, he discovered to his dismay that without him in the midfield, the service to the front was woefully inadequate. By the time substitutions were made and Robinho and Adriano were brought into the game, it was too late. While Kaka' was similarly disappointing save for a brilliant goal against Croatia, Ronaldinho just never got on track. True to form, as he went, so did Brazil, out of the tournament in the quarterfinal stage.

England: The most talented team ever assembled under St. George's Cross once again failed to live up to expectations. The Wayne Rooney injury, thought to be so devastating weeks before the tournament, proved to be a mere subplot. Far worse was Rooney's fiery temper, which again betrayed him and his country at a crucial moment. Also unexpected were the absolutely abysmal performances by Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who got England off to a horrible start in the deciding shootout against Portugal by feebly missing their chances. For once, captain David Beckham was not to blame, although this did not stop the media from lambasting him in any event. In the end, the decision to add Theo Walcott to the squad was not nearly as fatal as the decision not to play him, or anyone other striker who had a remote ability to finish the dozens of chances that Lampard wasted.

With the next major tournament, Euro 2008 now less than two years away, the beautiful game will return once again very shortly, at least on the Continent. The rest of the world will need to return to their domestic leagues, which begin play in a matter of mere weeks in some quarters. Meanwhile, the chants of Forza Italia will carry on at least until Italian fans and media find something to satisfy their relentless pessimism.