Didier Drogba, Ivory
Coast - Broke arm in pre-tournament friendly against
Japan. His team didn’t qualify for the knockout stages.
Fabio Cannavaro,
Italy – ‘Led’ his team, the reigning world champs, to
the bottom of arguably the weakest group (Paraguay, Slovakia and
New Zealand) in the tournament. No dancing girls for Fabio.
Wayne Rooney,
England – As I said in England’s World Cup
reports, Rooney has been the undoubted flop of the tournament,
scoring no goals and looking way below
his best form. Perhaps he may yet end up living in a caravan
park…
Franck Ribery,
France – Part of a French team that hated its head
coach and hardly broke a sweat in finishing bottom of Group A.
Tim Howard and Landon
Donovan, USA – Out in the Round of 16, short of their
expectations.
Ronaldinho,
Brazil – Not even picked for the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo,
Portugal - Out in the Round of 16. C-Ron was another
Nike star way below his best in South Africa. Hit the headlines for
the wrong reasons for spitting in the direction of a
cameraman after his side’s defeat by Spain.
So, ironically, not one Nike star in the campaign has even made it
to the last eight in South Africa. Cursed? Well, no, but it’s an
interesting set of coincidences.
And don’t forget the cameo by tennis legend Roger Federer, who today lost
at Wimbledon for the first time in ages.
Nike. Just Don’t Do
It. It Will Hurt Your Career.
