Fine, everyone did their bbest or bust XI.

Those are great and also a subjective matter. So for the record here is mine...

Casillas, Maicon, Puyol, Lugano, Coentrao; Schweinsteiger, Sneijder, Xavi, Müller; Villa, Forlán

We just all see the game from that perspective but this post was more aboutt he players that truly racked up some major points as well as a big payday or they were not considered by many as the top of the heap in South Africa but did deserve some mad props individually and in the overall function of their team in South Africa.

How can a goalkeeper that allows only one goal in the entire tournament. Eduardo, alongside Fabio Soentrao were the two biggest stars of a Portuguese side that disappointed in their overall performance in the World Cup. The Sporting Braga goalkeeper had a brilliant club season leading one of the teams that is not considered one of the Big Three to a spot in Europe after finishing in second place this past season.

Mauricio Victorino was a player that Oscar Washington Tabarez counted on in the back when some of his key pieces were out due to injury or suspension. The Universidad de Chile man was vital in keeping the battered Uruguayan back stable and the team did not lose that much when he played for the injured Diego Lugano against Ghana.

Antolin Alcaraz was a rock in the back for Gerardo Martino and he proved it time and time again throughout the World Cup. On top of that he was a threat in the air for the set piece-oriented Paraguayans.

Per Mertesacker, was instrumental in the middle for a rock solid German middle. Also give credit to players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira for protecting him as well.

Egidio Arévalo Ríos not only earned a spot on the Toughest for English announcers XI but he was also one of the surprise call ups for Oscar Washington Tabárez. The Peñarol man did not take part in the qualifying phase, but his run of form with the reigning Uruguayan champs got him a spot in the final 23. Not only that, he virtually booted Sebastían Eguren from the starting lineup and earned himself a nice contract with Italian side Cagliari.

Mesut Özil was being talked about throughout the Bundesliga season as the player that had the most promise for Joachim Löw's team coming into South Africa. That is why if you speak to anyone who follows that league... they weren't surprised by his explosion onto the international scene.

Eduardo, Victorino, Alcaraz, Mertesacker, Fucile; Khedira, Arévalo Ríos, Özil, Honda; Asamoah Gyan, Vittek