Saga of stars and scars
Like earlier FIFA tournaments, the World Cup 2010, too, has thrown up its own heroes and zeroes...
Vaibhav Sharma

ONE major reason for the pre-eminence of the FIFA World Cup every four years is that it produces more stars, national heroes and legendary tales than probably any other event in between. The Zidanes, Ronaldos, Maradonas`85.the list is endless would not have been considered half the players, but for their exploits on the biggest stage of all. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa, apart from the organisational success, has been a big hit in terms of performances. Some new stars have risen, some have seen their last sunset and some others were weighed down by expectations.

Whenever the present goes into fast forward mode, as it does during a month of football mania at the World Cup, we get a glimpse of the future. The players, who will be sought after by clubs, agents and the world in the years to come have shown promise, delivered or made moves that could alter the course of their careers, and that of the game as well.

ASAMOAH GYAN: The man who was central to Ghana’s efforts, and success at the 2010 World Cup. Gyan, who plays primarily as a striker, scored many crucial goals, and was extremely influential in open play. Sadly, he will also be remembered for the penalty miss against Uruguay, which made them lose in the shootout.

But simply put, there was more to the man. He was at the end of every ball, at the centre of every action and carried the Ghana attack with a lot of flair. He did very well in the 2006 finals as well, and despite being linked with big clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and AC Milan in 2007, he is currently playing in the French league with Rennes. That should be changing pretty soon.

THOMAS MUELLER: The lanky German forward is all of 21 years, but the maturity he has displayed on the world stage is testimony to the fact that he is set for bigger things. Having warmed the benches at his club Bayern Munich for long enough, Mueller has risen in the national team ranks to become the leader of the German frontline. Having scored four goals at the finals, he was in the running for the Golden Boot, but a suspension kept him out of the semis clash.

LUIS SUAREZ: He’s another player who will ultimately be remembered because of the ‘hand’ ball that saved Uruguay and sent Ghana packing. Suarez was sent off and his World Cup ended there. But he was already a hero, he was the sacrificing hero who had put the team before himself. But Suarez didn’t need this little stunt to earn a reputation. He came into the World Cup at the back of a growing reputation due to the skill he displayed in the Dutch league.

MESUT OZIL: He’s another German player who has put the stamp of his authority on the finals in South Africa. Ozil, who plays for German giants Werder Bremen, has been a revelation. He hasn’t really slotted all the goals in, but the one strike against Ghana was proof enough about his class. An 18-yard strike, from outside the box, was a left-footed dream strike. That it ensured Germany’s passage into the Round of 16 as Group winners was the icing on the cake.

GONZALO HIGUAIN: The man thrives on competition. Need proof? He fought off the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Raul and Karim Benzema to make himself a regular starter for Spanish giants Real Madrid. So, when he was picked ahead of Carlos Tevez and son-in-law Sergio Aguero by Diego Maradona, eyebrows were raised, but not exactly in amazement. The Argentine striker reinforced his coach’s belief with four goals in four matches. He might be an established name at the Bernabeu, but there is a world out there to conquer for Higuain.

What do you do when you are rated among the best players on the planet, and you go into a World Cup? Well, you pull up your socks and try to become THE best.

WESLEY SNEIJDER: Any other name, before the enigmatic Dutchman would be sheer injustice to him. After winning the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan, Sneijder was expected to be in his element, but this, by some distance, has been his moment in the sun. Apart from the goals, his game play has been breathtaking. With no Arjen Robben to start with, the Dutch looked a tad shaky, but he calmed them down and coolly got the wins.

He has always epitomised the Dutch philosophy of Total Football, and now, with some consistency coming into the national team and talks of a rift not overshadowing the performances, not till the win over Brazil at least, he has the class to lead another Oranje revolution.

DAVID VILLA: Cometh the moment, cometh the man. And the man, for Spain, has been David Villa. After winning the Golden Boot at Euro 08, it was expected that Villa would move to bigger clubs and better wages. But he stuck to Valencia and it was not until the 2010 summer transfer window that he was sold to Barcelona because of debts at Valencia. His knack for scoring crucial goals has meant that when he was down and needed a goal, or Spain were trailing, Villa in the box usually meant a goal. His ability to score is known, as he dictates the pace, tempo and flow of the game upfront. For a short man, that is too much ability. Whoever said, ‘Big things come in small packages,’ couldn’t have been more accurate.

LIONEL MESSI: Let’s not get too judgmental about the FIFA Player of The Year. He came into the World Cup a tired man, with hours, and hours of soccer for Barcelona behind him. Still, even though he didn’t get the goals, he clearly got the game running. His influence was stamped all over Argentina’s play and he did produce some breathtaking skills to keep defenders on their toes. Too sad for him though that not every story has a perfect ending. But he will be sure to write it, again, in his own way. Just wait for another four years.

Fitness mantra
Rain check
Ratna Bose

THE monsoons reduce the immunity of the body and make us susceptible to many diseases, which are commonly associated with it. Basically, we have to note that this season is conducive to the growth of all kinds of bacteria and viruses. So, care has to be taken to keep a good personal hygiene and a strict regimen.

• Wash your hands with soap and water at regular intervals.

• Roll up your carpets and heavy curtains where there are chances of bacteria and viruses hiding.

• Keep your food simple and well cooked and try your best to eat freshly prepared food.

• Avoid heavy salty food as it promotes water retention and bloating. It is better to have medium to low-salt food.

• Eat light foods like vegetables, fruits, cereals etc and avoid too much of meat or fish. One can also enjoy grilled, tandoori foods, which need minimum oil/butter.

• Avoid fried foods as they decrease the digestive efficiency.

• Avoid raw salads or choose steamed salads, as there are many infectious organisms in this season.

• Avoid consuming dairy foods like paneer or raita outside from street vendors.

• Wash all green vegetables thoroughly as a lot of worms and insects are hidden in their leaves.

• It is preferable to drink boiled and cooled water in the monsoons to avoid water borne-diseases.

• Fresh juices should be avoided. Nimbu pani made with boiled and cooled water is the best.

• Highly spicy foods may be irritating to the already vulnerable gastrointestinal system. So, eat relatively low-spice foods.

• The use of herbs such as mint and tulsi in weak tea is advisable.

• A weak concoction of saunf, cardamom and cloves is soothing and can be a substitute for strong tea and coffee.