Auf Wiedersehen to the 2006 Curtain Calls

Every World Cup marks the final international stage for a certain number of players. Germany 2006 is no different. Some very notable personalities will be missing from the game when 2010 in South Africa rolls around.

Despite the controversy in the way it ended, there can still be very little debate on Zinedine Zidane's career in the game. His leading France to two World Cup finals in the last three tournaments is evidence enough. The way he played the game is what should truly be remembered. Mostly, he was an spirited and energetic presence in the midfield, with ball skills and vision even the Brazilians are still at a loss to figure out. In and around the penaly box, Zizou remained one of the world's deadliest finishers throughout his international career.

Another presence on the international stage for even longer than Zidane was Sweden's Henrik Larsson. When the Swedes made their run to the semifinals in the U.S. during the 1994 World Cup, they were led by a dynamic attacking player with long, flowing dreadlocks. In his final World Cup, Larsson had gone all the way from those legendary locks to a smoothly-shaved pate. The finishing skills were still there, though, as in the match's final minute he salvaged Sweden a draw in a high-profile group stage match by cooly flicking a cross from the left flank into the backside of the English net.

For Portugal, captain Figo was the leader of that country's so-called "Golden Generation", and their run into the semifinals in Germany, seemed to validate, to some degree, the high expectations that assemblage of players carried as a burden for several years. Figo's power, vision and excellent service of the ball were again some of the very best of the highlights for Portugal from this World Cup.

When speaking of service, however, England's David Beckham is acknowledged as one of the game's greats. To 'bend it like Beckham' has become a generational icon. His swerving, darting, dipping shots off set pieces are the stuff of goalkeepers' nightmares. From a rocky start in World Cup play with a dramatic sendoff in 1998 against Argentina, Beckham stablized to rise to the role of long-serving captain of one of the world's most visible teams and prove his value there, as well as when the ball was at his foot.

For me personally, it was an honor to see each play in their final World Cup.

As with all the content of this blog, written and photographic, Copyrighted 2006, All Rights Reserved, Perry McIntyre, Atlanta, GA - USA.