World Cup midfielders Review
They are the players that make the World go round. THey take the ball from the defence and put strikers in positions to score.
There are some players who seem to have stepped off another planet. Whenever they touch the ball the whole world holds its breath, expecting the unexpected. Usually distinguished by the No 10 on their backs, perhaps the most exalted of their breed is France’s Zidane. After surprisingly coming out of retirement, the inimitable ‘Zizou’ has rolled back the years to guide France into the Final of the FIFA World Cup, producing a quarter-final performance against Brazil that will inspire future France midfielders for generations to come.
Italy, France’s opponents in Sunday’s decider, boast two exceptional attacking midfielders of their own: Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero, two players who share the same position, hero status and pedigree. In the build-up to the tournament much was said about their seeming failure to replicate their imperious club form with the Azzurri. Italy’s barnstorming campaign has silenced the doubters, however, with sometimes one, the other or both inspiring the men in blue on to ever greater heights.
And who could forget the unstinting efforts of Michael Ballack, Luis Figo and Deco? The incombustible Germany captain was the driving force behind his side’s surprising run, while the Portuguese duo orchestrated their team’s return to the semi-finals after a 40-year absence. Also worthy of a mention in dispatches are the elusive Tomas Rosicky, the dependable Kaka, the deadly accurate David Beckham and Ronaldinho, who never quite reproduced the form that made him the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year.