The FIFA World Cup is prestigious. Only the best of the best get to lift the Jules Rimet trophy – or so you’d think. Over the years a mixture of unknown and generally distinctly average players have picked up a winners’ medal, and these are the best of the bunch.
Well, ‘best’ may be the wrong word in this case. Some are great players, meanwhile some are just kind of there. Like a bad smell or that guy that pops up at the party even though he wasn’t invited.
Mattihas Ginter – Germany 2014
The defender, who has the face of a serial killer, was awarded a winners' medal despite not playing a single minute in Brazil. Image Source: Twitter
Joan Capdevila – Spain 2010
Whilst Joan was no mug on the pitch, it's fair to say that in comparison to the rest of Spain's World Cup-winning squad, he didn't really possess the same level of talent. Nonetheless, the defender's name will forever be linked back to that historic team. Image Source: Twitter
Marco Amelia – Italy 2006
Apparently this fella played for Chelsea. Can only imagine his contributions to the Italian winners was along the lines of making sandwiches, cleaning boots and carrying the ball bags. Image Source: Twitter
Simone Barone – Italy 2006
Simone Barone somehow, some way snuck himself into the Italy team at the World Cup despite being an utterly average for his whole career. Image Source: Twitter
Rogerio Ceni – Brazil 2002
Yup, the keeper who scores all the free kicks and penalties. Quality. Image Source: Twitter
Luizao – Brazil 2002
Played for about 600 clubs; terrible for them all. Image Source: Twitter
Roque Junior – Brazil 2002
A black David Luiz. Image Source: Twitter
Stephane Guivarc’h – France 1998
It's almost hard not to be impressed by Guivarc'h's journey from the World Cup Final all the way to being named the worst striker in Premier League history. Future stars such as Thierry Henry were on the bench for the game in Paris, and some how this fella led the way for well over an hour. Funny old game, football. Image Source: Twitter
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There you have it. In terms of a starting XI and one sub of shocking World Cup winners, you can’t get better than this in recent history. Sure, there are many more that could have qualified over the years, but these are definitely the most notable – and in some cases, just plain awful.
Moral of the story is ‘never give up on your dreams, kids; even Stephane Guivarc’h has a World Cup winners’ medal.’
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