The Behind The Goal Awards: World Cup 2014

As the 2014 FIFA World Cup draws to a conclusion with the final between Germany and Argentina, and  before that the third place play-off featuring Brazil and the Netherlands, I take an early look back at the best and worst of the tournament with a World Cup edition of the BTG Awards.

Player of the Tournament:

The World Cup was all about which of the game's genuine superstars would announce to the world that they were the best. Cristiano Ronaldo flattered to decieve in a disappointing Portugal side. Neymar threatened to take it by storm before his injury ended Brazil's hopes of letting him. Lionel Messi has the chance to become an all-time legend of the game with a win in the final, but he hasn't taken Argentina there single handedly. Which leads us to the player without whom his nation would have looked far weaker, especially one already missing another world class player in Radamel Falcao. My player of the tournament scored six goals, and was only stopped in the quarter final by some rough tactics by Brazil. The winner is Colombia's James Rodriguez.

Goal of the Tournament:

'Ham-ess' also wins this award, for this...

Biggest disappointment (player):

While the game's world class players proved why they are just that by scoring goals, influencing games or producing brilliant pieces of skill, another's World Cup participation will only be remembered for a moment of madness. Uruguay's Luis Suarez's bite of Giorgio Chiellini of Italy cost his country their realistic tournament challenge and himself a four month ban from football. After a phenomenal season for Liverpool, I thought his previous misdemeanours were things of the past. All eyes will be on the striker when he returns to action, probably at Barcelona.

Biggest disappointment (team):

While few in my country expected our team to win the competition, or even reach the business end, elimination in the group stage fell far below the standard required. Granted, England were in a difficult group, and their two defeats came against teams higher than them in the FIFA rankings, but what was difficult to accept is that while Roy Hodgson's side were never outclassed, they were never clinical enough in the key areas to win those games. The final game against shock quarter finalists Costa Rica was one of the biggest non-events in the history of English football. I don't think Hodgson should pay with his job, and it looks like he won't, but we will expect far better in the next European Championship if he and this group are given two more years to gel together.

Best game:

Round of 16
Brazil 1-1 Chile (Brazil won 3-2 on penalties)

Worst game:

Group stage
Iran 0-0 Nigeria

Boob of the Tournament:

My pre-tournament prediction that the Netherlands would fail to make it past the group stage. I was very relieved that Argentina knocked them out in the semi final. I would never have lived it down if the Oranje had won it all!

England have it easy. Too easy.

England were placed in Group E in Euro 2016 qualifying. But is the competition too easy with the extended format?

Sunday saw the draw for the European Championship qualifiers, yet any excitement about England's near-certain progression into the finals was offset by an overwhelming feeling of anti-climax. Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino stand in the Three Lions' way in Group E of the competition. Rumours that the E stands for Easy were neither confirmed nor denied by the FA.

UEFA's decision to expand the tournament to 24 teams - an increase from 16 last time out - means that for England and the other teams in Pot 1 of the seeding, qualification should be a foregone conclusion. Under the current six-pot format, it was straightforward enough for us to qualify anyway without making it even easier. People may have their opinions on the the heavy weather England made of reaching the World Cup, but don't forget we did so without losing a game. With an additional eight places up for grabs for Euro 2016, second place, or even third in the group, will be enough to reach France. But can you really see England not winning the group with their proverbial hands tied behind their backs?

The lack of significant format change has rendered the whole qualification process almost meaningless. No wonder the FA are worried that they may struggle to fill Wembley Stadium for the home games this time around. Who is going to get excited by another visit of San Marino? During the World Cup campaign they were an embarrassment, frankly. Being a bad side is one thing, but at times they barely even tried to take the ball forward. It's a waste of time that we all have to play and beat them twice more.

From UEFA's point of view, it will be good for the game and for the likes of Scotland and Wales, for whom qualification is now a far more realistic proposition. But I speak for many England supporters in raising concern that 24 teams in the finals is too many. It's quantity over quality. Some of England's matches are difficult enough as it is for some people to get excited about, but knowing that we should win and will qualify before we have even started makes it a really tough sell. At least our previous campaigns have been a touch more exciting; there have been crucial, or even 'must-win' games along the way. This campaign will be so easy there's almost no point.

TWIF 2.02: Januzaj for England? Maybe. Hart? Definitely.

Remember the name...

Manchester United got a much-needed win on Saturday night at Sunderland to ease the pressure on David Moyes, who hasn't got off to the greatest of starts to his tenure as Old Trafford boss. Their victory was down to two goals from Adnan Januzaj, who became the first player since Ruud van Nistelrooy to score twice on his first Premier League start for United. It hasn't taken long for them, and English football fans in general, to realise how special this kid could be, but the talk since the game at the Stadium Of Light of a possible England career seems very premature. In five years time, Januzaj will be eligible to wear the Three Lions on residency grounds, but for me there are two problems. Firstly he isn't English. It doesn't matter how long he may stay at United. It's like a donkey being born in a stable and calling itself a horse. Secondly, I think it's sad that players can be considered for International call-ups after such a short space of time, essentially one game in this case. Januzaj is a talent, but lets enjoy it and let him enjoy his football without the added pressure.

England need to show Hart

Speaking of England, we face two vital games in World Cup qualification on Friday against Montenegro and next Tuesday versus Poland. Two wins and Roy Hodgson's charges are off to Brazil. Anything less... well, it doesn't bear thinking about. Hodgson's biggest decision seems to be who to select in goal. Joe Hart is obviously struggling with form, but for me he has to keep his place. What message does it send out to drop him? Furthermore, the other options aren't nearly experienced enough at this level. Scott Carson found out the hard way in 2007 in the Croatia defeat that you need experienced heads in clutch situations. Fraser Forster has proved in the Champions League how good he can be, but with due respect to Celtic, he isn't being tested week in, week out like he would be at an English club. I would try him in friendlies in the build up to the World Cup, but for me, he's not ready yet.

TWIF 5 - McManaman madness, Rio out, Forest on the up

Sunday afternoon's game at the DW Stadium saw Wigan Athletic beat Newcastle United 2-1 to boost their hopes of Barclays Premier League survival, but the Latics' crucial victory was overshadowed by a horrendous tackle by Callum McManaman on Massadio Haidara, which left the Newcastle player in hospital. McManaman caught the Frenchman halfway up the leg and left him with suspected ligament damage. We got the usual 'he's not that type of player' defence of a man who was making his first Premier League start, but whether he is or not is irrelevant. It was quite possibly the worst foul I have ever seen in English football, and one which 99 times out of 100 would be punished by a red card and at least a three-game ban. Except this was the one time it wasn't. Referee Mark Halsey didn't even give a free kick. His view must have been blocked by the Newcastle player between himself and the incident. Lets hope that's the case, because due to our FA's outdated laws, only unseen acts can be dealt with retrospectively. Hopefully McManaman gets the punishment he deserves. As for Dave Whelan, I'm not sure what he was thinking in coming out in defence of what he called a 'fair tackle'. Speaking as someone who had his own career ended in similar fashion, he ought to have thought before he spoke, although that's something the Wigan chairman finds difficult. No doubt had the shoe been on the other foot, he would have been at the front of the queue to condemn Haidara. I have said before, and I'll say again, I would bring back diving to get rid of coward's tackles like this. It makes me so mad to see careers threatened like this, and as for the Wigan supporters who cheered McManaman off when he was substitued, grow up.

Rio Ferdinand finally got his long-awaited recall to the England squad this week, only for the Manchester United defender to pull out. Ferdinand claims that his personal medical programme means that he cannot join up with the national squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against San Marino and Montenegro. No doubt Ferdinand would have had words put in his ear by his club manager Sir Alex Ferguson, which is more than can be said for England chief Roy Hodgson. It is clear in my view that there has been little or no communication between the two managers. I'm not sure Ferdinand has pulled out due to Hodgson leaving him out of the European Championship, and I'm very sure that it has nothing to do with his situation with Ashley Cole. If he had pulled out for either of those reasons, he would have been cutting his nose off to spite his face. Ferdinand has made it clear that he wants to put the Three Lions shirt on again, and it would have been a very tough call to withdraw. I just hope that he can be considered again by Hodgson. Despite what some people think, his selection wouldn't be a backward step. He is still among the best central defenders we have got, and our squad is stronger with him than without him.

Nottingham Forest continued their excellent form under returning boss Billy Davies on Saturday with a vital 2-1 win away at fellow promotion contenders Hull City at the KC Stadium. Second-half goals from Darius Henderson and Lewis McGugan earned the Reds their sixth consecutive win in the npower Championship - one shy of the club record - and cemented Forest's position in the top six with eight games to go this season. As a fan, I have written about Forest's trials and tribulations a couple of times before on Behind The Goal, and I couldn't foresee the incredible turnaround in fortunes at the club. Since Billy Davies took over from Alex McLeish, Forest have amassed 19 points from a possible 21. Just as well they have; had they lost those six instead of won them, they would be second from bottom of the table. It just goes to show how vital Davies' appointment was. If only it had been done a few weeks earlier, and they may even be realistically challenging for automatic promotion. Forest and the play-offs have never really got on well, but we as fans would all be delighted to give them another go!