COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE MEN!
by Clinton Ooi

Throughout the World Cup the microscope has been focused on three groups of players - new emerging stars, secondly stars in the prime of their career and thirdly aging world class stars on their swansong. It is inevitable that players in the latter categories are almost demanded to light up games almost single handedly everytime they touch the ball. But is this fair, after what for most has been a long, long domestic season?

Beckham, Zidane, Ronaldo amongst others would definitely fit into this group. Failing to perform to their usual standards early in the group stages have earned criticism from all camps. Yes, it is non-coincidental that all three play for the mighty Real Madrid (but that's another story, for another day).

But just as the saying goes, form is temporal but class is permanent, all three have come good in the knockout stages so far. All three were instrumental in their teams' wins and all three managed to get on the scoresheet.

So let's wait and see, who will prevail in this cup of many twists and turns and unending surprises! For better for worse this I am certain these three will be in the headlines.