BERLIN - In an award overshadowed by debate over the merits or otherwise
of runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany striker Lukas Podolski was presented
Friday with the trophy for best young player at the World Cup.
A combination of
pictures shows Germany's Lukas Podolski during World Cup 2006 soccer
matches. Podolski was awarded with the trophy of the 'World Cup's Gillette
Best Young Player' on Friday, July 7,
2006.[Reuters] |
Almost one million people voted through the Internet in the competition, open
to the public for the first time, choosing three finalists. FIFA's Technical
Study Group added another three candidates and then selected the winner based
primarily on technical factors including time spent on the field and goals
scored as well as the impact the player had on the team.
"I would have very much liked to take another trophy home, but I'm very very
glad to have this," Podolski said. "It is a great honor for me to be given this
award."
Germany lost in the semifinals to Italy and will play Ronaldo and his
Portugal teammates in the third-place match Saturday.
Ronaldo was lambasted in the British media for his part in the ejection of
Wayne Rooney _ his teammate at Manchester United _ in Portugal's quarterfinal
win over England.
He approached the referee, asking him to pull the red card against Rooney
after the England striker stomped on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho. Ronaldo
was shoved by Rooney and later winked to his dugout.
That and accusations that Ronaldo faked injury and simulated fouls likely
cost the talented winger the World Cup award.
While Podolski is a steady forward and formed a good combination with
Miroslav Klose up front for the Germans, he lacked the star qualities that
Ronaldo and the likes of Argentina's Lionel Messi ooze.
The TSG chief Holger Osieck said Podolski has played a combined 565 of a
possible 600 minutes for the hosts and contributed important goals.
Ronaldo has been on the field for 395 minutes of Portugal's 575 minutes of
match time.
Osieck conceded that Ronaldo lost marks on the "Fair Play" factor, and that
his overall contribution to the World Cup was not as great as Podolski.
"This award is not an award to the best and most talented player, but to the
(young) player who delivered the best performance in the tournament," Osieck
said. "Together with Klose, he (Podolski) constituted an attack duo that was to
be feared and Germany was the last team playing with two strikers.
"The efficiency of the player has been taken into account and the facts here
are very much in favor of Lukas Podolski."
Osieck said the TSG did make some judgments on the episode involving Ronaldo
and Rooney.
