If it was said either Julio Cesar or Bryan Ruiz were the best of the west at the World Cup - would you stand up and walk out me?
Bear with it - there is a solid case for the QPR keeper. Chelsea's Andre Schurrle marched to a winner's medal with Germany, and thrashed a superb goal past Cesar to go with a side foot just before that in the semi.
But the QPR Brazilian had his back to the wall from the moment he saved his country's bacon in a penalty shoot-out against Chile.
After half a season of doing nothing and then doing, well, not as much as he might have wanted at FC Toronto, Cesar came good.
Cesar also made a great save from Thomas Muller in the second half against Gemany while his defence impersonated Cristo Redentor back in Rio, except the statue has its arms out rather than limp at the sides.
The QPR man is still likely to leave Rangers when someone get their head around his £70k-a-week as Schurrle eclipsed Fernando Torres and just about every other Brazil boy currently residing at Stamford Bridge.
Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Eto’o, Azpilicueta, Torres, Moses - were they there? And the sale of David Luiz before things got underway was genius: poor Parisians. A one-off free-kick past Colombia doth not a tournament make.
Kenneth Omeruo, who he? But at least Frank Lampard got a chance to say an England goodbye in style. There was also a wonderful moment for Thibaut Courtois when he denied Lionel Messi a one-on-one. You had to allow the Chelsea keeper a gloating moment as he punched the air in delight.
Maybe he won’t be second choice for too long. Belgian team-mates Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku had their moments, and Gary Cahill was OK, if OK is enough for the world’s greatest competition.
In the way these things come back to haunt, should Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling get an honorable mention? They might be west Londoners, but they not here now.
Loic Remy was likewise pretty absent for France as the QPR striker played second fiddle to Karim Benzema.
If anything, relegated Fulham did best of the three west London biggies.
I’m trying to imagine Martin Jol's grimace while he watched Ruiz show his worth in Costa Rican white rather than Fulham white - and by a margin.
Ashkan Dejagah wasn’t the worst on show as no-hopers Iran made a fist of things. And Giorgios Karagounis belied his 37 years for Greece, although crocked Kostas Mitroglou made sure Fulham continue to regret hearing his name, never mind parting with £12m for the striker.
In the same vein, Clint Dempsey was touted by fans as the hero who would come back and save Fulham from relegation. He didn’t, but keeper Tim Howard, when he came with Everton to the Cottage last season, kinda hinted his pal would come good for USA.
Dempsey did, and that’s now twice in a row, but don't mention that in Rob Green's hearing. It might ruin the QPR keeper's celebrating his new contract.
