The Boot Award: My dubious awards from the 2014 World Cup

The Boot Award

by rick olivares pic by getty images

The 2014 World Cup is over. The trophy has been awarded to Brazil. The end of the tournament trophies handed out as well.

We’ve got one last bit of awards to hand over to some deserving folks for adding color and controversy to the games.

The Boot Award is for those who need to be booted from this competition.

Casillas

Silva    Pique    Pepe    David Luiz

Boateng    Muntari    Song

Suarez    Balotelli    Fred

Goalkeeper:

Iker Casillas (Spain) – The Captain is not having the best of seasons. The past two years have been nightmarish where he lost his starting slot in Real Madrid and now surely has lost the number shirt of Spain with poor performances in Brazil. In the Netherlands’ thrashing of La Roja, Casillas lost his cool and got cautioned for his complaining.

Defenders:

Thiago Silva (Brazil) – Gave up the worst possible and unnecessary foul that rendered him unavailable for the match against Germany. Returned in the third place match against the Netherlands and was just as culpable as David Luiz in their poor defending.

David Luiz (Brazil) – From being the rock in the back to being having feet of stone. He taunted foes and tackled them mercilessly. When the dust settled, he cried unabashedly in front of the camera when his side was eliminated.

Gerard Pique (Spain) – Looked imperious during Spain’s run to the top in the previous six years then came the debacle against the Dutch in their opener where Pique was continuously picked apart by clever passes and sparkling runs. Never played afterwards.

Pepe (Portugal) – The man who is good with headers lost his head and needlessly head-butted Thomas Muller who sold the call. Down already a couple of goals, his sending off didn’t help Portugal at all as they further got blitzed by the Germans. Never played again.

Midfielders:

Kevin Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari (Ghana) – Both got into fights with team officials post-draw with Germany. Bother were suspended indefinitely which means their international career is pretty much over. They were sent home immediately. And maybe this is the last we’ll hear of them. Germany got the right Boateng.

Along Song (Cameroon) – Struck Mario Mandzukic with an elbow from behind as the Croatian got in his way while chasing the ball. Received a three-match ban. No one will be singing him any songs as he didn’t do the Indomitable Lions any favors.

Forwards:

Fred (Brazil) – Zero impact in the World Cup as he played like Wilma. Come to think of it, Wilma might even be better. Booed by the home crowd all throughout. Saw his stock drop precipitously.

Mario Balotelli (Italy) – Was the difference against England then disappeared. Looked disinterested. Perhaps after this, his teammates coddling of his petulant ways may end. And Italy actually played better without him.

Luis Suarez (Uruguay) – I know Uruguay was hungry for a World Cup title they last tasted in Brazil. Turned out Suarez was hungry for Italian food as he bit Azzurri defender Giorgio Chiellini. This led to an even longer ban from any of his previous infractions while at Ajax and Liverpool and led to his subsequent sale to Barcelona. Is Spanish cuisine next on his food tasting tour?