Firing Blanks - Little Boy Blue's World Cup Diary

Just as many were beginning to believe in the Argies' ability to emulate their 1978 and 1986 triumphs, they were ripped apart by the most unGerman of German sides, oozing style and flair where they once epitomised organisation and efficiency, and Messi had to come to terms with the damning reality that, in five games in South Africa, he had failed to notch a solitary goal.   In fairness to Messi, he was the same bundle of tricks who has been torturing Spanish defenders for a right few years and just an inch or two here and there, some brilliant goalkeeping and maybe the dodgy ball denied him the strike he deserved.  Nor was the Barcelona magician the only big name star to draw a blank in South Africa and the others can hardly point to the fateful finger of misfortune.   If Wayne Rooney had turned in four such anonymous performances for Man Utd you can bet your bottom dollar he would be on the receiving end of Sir Greetin' Face's hairdryer treatment.  The unkind texts about search parties being sent out to look for a lazy fat bassa who went missing in South Africa have been doing the rounds.  I suspect he was not fully fit.    From the moment he was injured in the Champions League quarter-final in Munich, his season was in turmoil and, hurried back for the return leg just a week later, he was never the same player again.  If United hadn't been so hot on Chelsea's tail in the league race, a pre-World Cup rest might have done him a lot of good but, of course, Fergie wouldn't dream of allowing England's lofty ambitions to interfere with his burning desire to see United retain their title.   The similarities between Rooney and Fernando Torres are spooky, although with Liverpool's season being over earlier than ManUre's he did get the rest and recuperation the Englishman was denied.  But did the break rob him of the sharpness which makes him such a vital cog in the machine for both club and country?  Torres has certainly looked out of sorts at the World Cup and, while he still has two games to break his duck, there is every possibility that coach Vicente del Bosque will opt to go for the more physical presence of Bilbao's Fernando Llorente ahead of Torres.   Kaka doesn't have to worry about any commitments for the closing stages of the competition.  While Luis Fabiano and Robinho rose to the World Cup challenge, Kaka's South African interlude was just a follow-on from an in-and-out season at Real Madrid.  And with Jose Mourinho's desire to swop Kaka for Chelsea's Frank Lampard being football's worst kept secret of the summer, he can hardly be brimming over with confidence.  Then again, if he felt he was worthy of more respect from the Special One, what better stage to make his point than at the World Cup?  Sadly, he blew hot and cold during Brazil's campaign and his biggest worry now is that, not only is he not wanted in Madrid, Chelsea may not see any swop deal as being in their best interests.   Struggling to make his mark at Man City, Roque Santa Cruz fancied his chances of making a statement of intent in South Africa but, even with Paraguay having surpassed all expectations by reaching the quarter-finals, he made next to no impression.  Similarly, having had a big hand in helping France to the finals, Thierry Henry was no more than a bit-part player in the last major tournament of his career and much-hyped Italian hit man Alberto Gilardino of Fiorentina had a nightmare of a tournament.      All of which has me thinking that, if Scotland had maybe squeezed through the qualifiers, what sort of damage would Boydie have done in South Africa...and what sort of price could the Rangers get for him!!!  Then again, qualifying for the World Cup Finals would probably have kept George Burley in the job.  Just a thought!   Tomorrow: Brazil: Missing You Already + Semi-Final Previews