The Final Tally

BEST GOAL Rivaldo’s opener in the second-round encounter with Belgium was a stunning example of perfect footwork. The Brazilian No. 10 positioned himself at the edge of the 18-yard box for a looping cross from Ronaldinho on the right. His back to goal, Rivaldo received the ball on his chest, let it drop, trapped it with his right foot, swiveled like Baryshnikov and smacked it with his left, past a diving goalkeeper. It was a feat of pure Brazilian magic. Honorable Mention: Senegalese Papa Bouba Diop’s scrambling game-winner against France in the opening match.

WORST GOAL Just when everything seemed to be going right for the U.S.up 3-1 against world power Portugal and steaming toward the second roundnotoriously leaky defender Jeff Agoos managed to knee the ball right past goalkeeper Brad Friedel into his own net. The U.S. held on, but somehow this reminder of American footballer, soccertarnished what could have been a breakthrough tournament.

BEST SAVE Showing why he’s rated as the world’s best shot-stopper, German Oliver Kahn flung himself to the right to palm away an attempt by Korea’s Lee Chun Soo in their tense semifinal match. Honorable Mention: Spaniard Iker Casillas’s intercepts of the efforts by Ireland’s David Connolly and Kevin Kilbane in the penalty shoot-out.

WORST MUFF In a goalmouth melee following an English corner, Denmark’s Thomas Sorensen stopped Rio Ferdinand’s shot with his chest, but then his flailing arms pushed the ball into his own net.

BEST COACH Korea’s Guus Hiddink has done more to put Asian soccer on the map than any number of Nakatas or Ahn Jung Hwans. His simple ruleif you’re good and fit, you playwas revolutionary in a country where seniority squelches the talented. Honorable Mentions: Senegal’s Bruno Metsu, Japan’s Philippe Troussier and Turkey’s Senol Gunes.

WORST COACH Italy’s ultra-defensive Giovanni Trapattoni underestimated three opponents in a rowCroatia, Mexico and South Korea. Dishonorable Mention: Trap, again, winning the Sore Loser prize for cooking up a conspiracy theory to explain Italy’s second-round exit.

BEST HAIR Carlos Valderrama set the bar too high in Italia ’90 and USA ’94nobody even came close to the Colombian’s golden dreadlocks. Amid a riot of bad hairstyles at this Cup, the most distinguished look was bald. Take your pick from Sweden’s Henrik Larsson, Brazil’s Roberto Carlos and England’s Ferdinand.

WORST HAIR Germany’s Christian Ziege arrived at the Cup with a tricolor mohawk, setting off a trend picked up by Turkey’s Umit Davala and the U.S.’s Clint Mathis. Ziege had the good sense to shave it off after a couple of gamesthe others didn’t. Dishonorable Mention: Brazilian Ronaldo’s new tufted frontal-lobe look, as gauche as his silver boots.

BEST DIVE England’s Michael Owen artfully fell over Argentine Mauricio Pochettino’s legs, buying the decisive penalty in one of the tournament’s most anticipated clashes.

WORST DIVE Italy’s Francesco Totti’s extra-time tumble in the South Korean penalty area earned him a yellow cardhis second of the gameand expulsion. Dishonorable Mention: Rivaldo’s shameful theatrics in Brazil’s first game against Turkey.

BEST REF Amid the controversies of disallowed goals and phantom fouls, fans have overlooked some fine officiating. Despite being defamed by losing coaches, the World Cup referees did manage to crack down on shameless diving, giving defenders the benefit of the doubt in 50-50 situations and ignoring minor infringements to keep the games flowing. Pierluigi Collina, in particular, won praise and a place in the final for controlling games that could have become ugly grudge-fests (i.e. Argentina vs. England).

WORST REF Spain’s Antonio Lopez Nieto lost all control of the Germany-Cameroon game, issuing yellow cards to 14 players and expelling two.