Switzerland v England

[Big Foot]

Good world cups:-

Diego Forlan
Wesley Sneider
Thomas Mueller
David Villa
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Sami Khedira
Arjen Robben
That Nigerian Keeper
Asamoah Gyan (until he missed that penalty)
Gonzalo Higuain

Luis Suarez
Xavi
Iniesta

[Hoop Blah]

I don't think Xavi had much of a tournament to be honest. He wasn't crap, and obviously his team did pretty well, but I don't think he really dominated a game in the way he can.

I think a couple of those on the list were seen to do well just because of low expectations. Gyan for example, he missed so many chances it was unreal.

It looks from the names you guys have listed (which is as good a list as any) that it comes down to a handful of the Dutch, Spanish and German players with a few randoms thrown in too.

There are plenty of big name players from all the leagues to say that it wasn't just a Premier League effect on big names failing. I think it was more a case of not many teams actually getting into their stride.

The likes of Forlan, Ozil and Villa are just the exceptions to the rule almost.

[Big Foot]

I don't think Xavi had much of a tournament to be honest. He wasn't crap, and obviously his team did pretty well, but I don't think he really dominated a game in the way he can.

I think a couple of those on the list were seen to do well just because of low expectations. Gyan for example, he missed so many chances it was unreal.

It looks from the names you guys have listed (which is as good a list as any) that it comes down to a handful of the Dutch, Spanish and German players with a few randoms thrown in too.

There are plenty of big name players from all the leagues to say that it wasn't just a Premier League effect on big names failing. I think it was more a case of not many teams actually getting into their stride.

The likes of Forlan, Ozil and Villa are just the exceptions to the rule almost.

Xavi was awesome, he plays a passing game and completed the most passes of anyone at the world cup.

He stuck to his guns, played the game the way he played it and was the best at playing it that way = world cup hero

[Wax Jacket]

I don't think Xavi had much of a tournament to be honest. He wasn't crap, and obviously his team did pretty well, but I don't think he really dominated a game in the way he can.

I think a couple of those on the list were seen to do well just because of low expectations. Gyan for example, he missed so many chances it was unreal.

It looks from the names you guys have listed (which is as good a list as any) that it comes down to a handful of the Dutch, Spanish and German players with a few randoms thrown in too.

There are plenty of big name players from all the leagues to say that it wasn't just a Premier League effect on big names failing. I think it was more a case of not many teams actually getting into their stride.

The likes of Forlan, Ozil and Villa are just the exceptions to the rule almost.

Xavi was awesome, he plays a passing game and completed the most passes of anyone at the world cup.

He stuck to his guns, played the game the way he played it and was the best at playing it that way = world cup hero

tbf Gerrard played hs usual way too - giving the ball away, wanging passes into the crowd and shooting miles wide

[bobbybottler]

I don't think Xavi had much of a tournament to be honest. He wasn't crap, and obviously his team did pretty well, but I don't think he really dominated a game in the way he can.

I think a couple of those on the list were seen to do well just because of low expectations. Gyan for example, he missed so many chances it was unreal.

It looks from the names you guys have listed (which is as good a list as any) that it comes down to a handful of the Dutch, Spanish and German players with a few randoms thrown in too.

There are plenty of big name players from all the leagues to say that it wasn't just a Premier League effect on big names failing. I think it was more a case of not many teams actually getting into their stride.

The likes of Forlan, Ozil and Villa are just the exceptions to the rule almost.

That's a list which only considers good perfromances from an attacking perspective though - I'd suggest that plenty of defenders and defensive / holding midfielders had excellent tournaments (Heitinga, de Jong, Lahm, Busquets, etc.) - it doesn't make great TV though.