SEOUL, June 26: Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder where you are - because it is not at the 2002 World Cup which reaches its climax in Yokohama on Sunday.

The glorious history of the World Cup is littered with players who came from nowhere to take centre stage and thrill fans across the globe.

In 1958 a little-known Brazilian 17-year-old called Edson Arantes do Nascimento weaved his magical spell, scoring six goals including a hat-trick against a hapless France.

He also wisely shortened his name to Pele as he became the most sought after autograph in football.

In 1962 Brazil produced another sparkling diamond of football talent.

He may have put his boots on the wrong feet but Garrincha, ‘the little bird’, flew past defenders and invented the banana shot, dipping a swerving ball past baffled goalkeepers.

In 1974 in what was then West Germany, the brilliance of Johan Cruyff became a lasting memory. The Dutch maestro failed to take the title but he cemented his place amongst football’s legends.

In 1986 Maradona was irrepressible, turning defences inside out as he took Argetina to the title and in 1998 Zinedine Zidane became the latest in a long line to be hailed the best player in the world.

But what has happened to the 2002 World Cup? No-one has shone, stamped their authority and left fans open-mouthed with their audacity. Most have gone home, knocked out of the tournament early.

French legend Michel Platini, now a FIFA vice-president and special adviser to president Sepp Blatter, sees the cupboard bare.

“Veron, Owen, Henry, Trezeguet, Figo, Beckham: They are all good players but they are no longer here. The best players in the world have been neither present nor very good in this World Cup. Ronaldo is scoring goals but even he is not very good here,” said the plain-speaking Platini.

Franz Beckenbauer is also disillusioned by what he has seen here.

“Billions of viewers around the world are switching on television to watch the World Cup and what are they seeing - tired stars,” said Beckenbauer.

“All the best players play in Europe and they have to play too many matches. FIFA has to do something. It has to react,” he insists.

Platini agrees the players have arrived exhausted.

“The players have not had a long enough gap to recuperate after a tough European season and the start of the World Cup,” he explained.

The nearest 2002 World Cup came to unveiling a star came in the Brazil clash with England in the quarter-finals when Ronaldinho produced a burst of dribbling magic that left the English defence tackling thin air.

It also allowed Rivaldo to equalise.

Minutes later the 22-year-old Ronaldinho delivered a free-kick from 35-yards out on the touchline that was almost in the back of the net before David Seaman could react.

But then Ronaldinho was harshly given a red card by Mexican referee Filipe Ramos Rizo for his tackle on England’s Danny Mills, ruling him out of the semi-final.—AFP