By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter

BEST PLAYERS

Michael Ballack (Germany)

Rio Ferdinand (England)

Oliver Kahn (Germany)

Rivaldo (Brazil)

Ronaldo (Brazil)

BEST NEWCOMERS

Landon Donovan (United States)

Khalilou Fadiga (Senegal)

Miroslav Klose (Germany)

Ronaldinho (Brazil)

Hasan Sas (Turkey)

FIVE FLOPS

Luis Figo (Portugal)

France

Hakan Sukur (Turkey)

Juan Sebastian Veron (Argentina)

Francesco Totti (Italy)

BEST GOALS

Jared Borgetti (Mexico v Italy)

When Cuauhtemoc Blanco looped a ball towards the near-post, there seemed little danger. But Jared Borgetti leapt above Paolo Maldini and with an almost unnatural twist of his head glanced the ball in the far corner leaving goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stationary.

Nelson Cuevas (Paraguay v Slovenia)

Paraguay needed one more goal to claim the second qualifying spot in their group and it came with six minutes left. Substitute Nelson Cuevas beat two defenders as he ran along the edge of the Slovenian box and then fired home left-footed off the underside of the crossbar.

Salif Diao (Senegal v Denmark)

A fantastic move the length of the field. El Hadji Diouf backheeled the ball to Diao, he spread it to Fadiga on the left who cut inside and and snaked a stunning return pass for Diao to steer the ball past Thomas Sorensen into the corner.

Rivaldo (Brazil v England)

As good in the build-up as in the execution. Ronaldinho surged into the England half, and sent Ashley Cole the wrong way with a glorious step-over. Rivaldo's superb movement had earned him a yard of space away from Sol Campbell and when the pass arrived from Ronaldinho his first-time finish was perfect.

Dario Rodriguez (Uruguay v Denmark)

The Danes cleared a corner but only as far as Pablo Garcia, who controlled the ball on his thigh and lobbed in across for Rodriguez to thump a left-footed volley into the top corner.

WORST MISSES

Hakan Sukur (Turkey v Senegal)

One of a string of missed chances. Hasan Sas presented him with a chance about 10 yards out, he tried to control the ball but it rolled under his foot.

Nuno Gomes (Portugal v South Korea).

On as a substitute, with five minutes left he was clean through with just goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae to beat but failed make any significant contact with the ball and Portugal were out.

Richard Morales (Uruguay v Senegal)

Uruguay's astonishing come-back had seen them level with Senegal after being 3-0 down. Morales had a chance to head into an empty net and put Uruguay through to the second round but, inexplicably, he put it wide.

Ronaldo (Brazil v Germany)

Ronaldinho's brilliant through-ball saw Ronaldo presented with a chance to break the deadlock in the final. The striker somehow contrived to miss the target by a couple of yards. Fortunately for Brazil, he made up for it in the second half.

Christian Vieri (Italy v South Korea)

One of two clear opportunities that fell to his weaker right foot. The second came when he was unmarked in the Korean box, but was sliced high and wide and Italy were out of the World Cup.

WORST BLUNDERS

Andre Arendse (South Africa v Spain)

Spain's Gaizka Mendieta played a straightforward pass into the box and goalkeeper Arendse came out to collect it. Somehow he allowed the ball to squirm under his body, leaving Raul to tap into an empty net.

David Seaman (England v Brazil)

Freak goal or not, Seaman himself will always think he was to blame for the goal which saw Brazil knock out England in the quarter-final. Ronaldinho's free-kick, quite clearly an attempted cross, floated over Seaman into the top corner.

Assistant referee (Spain v South Korea)

Spain's golden goal winner being ruled out in the quarter-final against Korea. An assistant referee flagged that Joaquin had taken the ball out of play before crossing for Fernando Morientes to head home. The ball was clearly in.

Jeff Agoos (United States v Portugal)

Portuguese striker Pauleta swung in a cross from wide on the left and Agoos struck a stupendous volley straight past Brad Friedel for a classic own goal.

Hong Myung-Bo (South Korea v Turkey)

Hong's mistake in the third place play-off led to the fastest-ever goal in World Cup finals history. The Korean skipper was robbed by Ilhan Mansiz and Hakan Sukur shot home after 10.8 seconds of the match.

BEST SAVES

Andre Arendse (South Africa v Spain)

Having made one terrible blunder, Arendse redeemed himself with a splendid one-handed save, after initially going the wrong way, to keep out Fernando Morientes' diving header.

Lamine Diatta (Senegal v Uruguay)

A save by a defender, but no less valuable for that. With the scores 3-3, and Senegal's goalkeeper Tony Sylva out of position, Uruguay's Gustavo Varela hammered a shot from 40 yards which was heading into the net until Diatta suddenly appeared to block with his head. Richard Morales headed the loose ball wide.

Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria v England)

Paul Scholes must have thought he had scored when he unleashed a thunderous drive, but Nigeria's young goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama ensured a draw for his side by tipping the shot on to a post.

Brad Friedel (United States v South Korea)

Having already saved Lee Eul Yong's penalty, Friedel made another superb stop to deny Seol Ki Hyeon, blocking his fierce shot from 12 yards.

Oliver Kahn (Germany v United States)

Kahn reinforced his position as the tournament's top goalkeeper with a string of excellent saves in this quarter-final. The pick came when Landon Donovan cut in from the right, nutmegged a defender and fired a low shot towards the far corner only for Kahn to hurl himself full length and divert the ball past the post.

BEST MOMENTS

Senegal setting the scene for a tournament of upsets by beating World Cup holders France 1-0 in the opening match.

Millions of South Koreans taking to the streets of Seoul to celebrate the hosts' victory over Spain and a place in the semi-finals.

The sheer drama of Robbie Keane's injury-time strike to earn the Republic of Ireland a draw against Germany.

Ronaldo burying the memory of France '98 and his subsequent injury troubles by scoring twice in the final against Germany.

David Beckham laying his own particular ghost to rest by scoring the penalty to secure Argentina's defeat by England.

WORST MOMENTS

Before the World Cup had even started, Roy Keane's truculent behaviour towards coach Mick McCarthy saw him sent home without kicking a ball.

Portugal's Joao Pinto committed the worst sin in football by punching Argentinian referee Angel Sanchez in the stomach after being sent off against Korea.

Brazil's Rivaldo feigning a head injury in group match against Turkey, leading to the dismissal of Hakan Unsal, made headlines around the world for all the wrong reasons.

Mexico's shocking tactics when facing defeat by United States in the second round. Cobi Jones was the main victim as Rafael Marquez was sent off for what was virtually a flying head-butt, and the American striker was then stamped on by two opponents.

David Seaman's bitter tears after England had been beaten by Brazil. To see his distress left a lump in the throat.