Lukas Podolski wins Best Young Player Award



Though I disagree with him winning the award, at the same time I can't think of who would be better deserving of it. Arriving on much hype, he only scored against Sweden in goals that Klose set up, and against Ecuador - a meaningless goal in a nearly meaningless game. Meanwhile he blew numerous chances in the nailbiter against Poland, was very quiet against Argentina (though he did put away a penalty kick) and wasted the few great opportunities he had to send Germany into the final past Italy. He plays similar to David Trezeguet - rather one-dimensionally - but is not nearly as effective.



Diving, crying and winking excluded, I'd say Christiano Ronaldo looked like a more certain candidate. He was more important to his team's success, though that may seem so by virtue of his position on the field compared to Podolski. I'm sure FIFA, or Gillete, or whoever votes on this took onto account Ronaldo's antics. Once again it's a shame, because Portugal don't need to resort to that kind of behavior. They have the players and the coaching to take them this far, they just for some reason think they need it to get by. But let me say this: I still maintain that Ronaldo is innocent in, and had nothing to do with getting Wayne Rooney sent off. First of all, I've played a lot of sports in my life, and I can say for certain that when one of your teammates is down, injured or in pain, you rush over to help them out and confront the aggressor. While you're there, suspended in disbelief that a guy consciously put his studs in another guy's private area, you might explain your exasperation to the referee in the heat of the moment. All guys with a pair can understand this. Furthermore, I replayed the incident over and over again, and it looks like (though I'm not a lip reader) all Ronaldo says to the referee is 'Look at that,' before Rooney shoves him.

Whatever, congratulations Lukas Podolski. But if only France's Franck Ribery were a year-and-a-half younger...