The first World Cup on African soil is over. So, what will we remember from the tournament? Sports Editor Steven Beacom picks out his best and worst of the competition

Best game: Not many to choose from. My choice is Germany 4-1 England. That was an incredible game, full of drama, even if England’s quality was sadly lacking. Slovakia 3 Italy 2 was exciting in the group stages and Uruguay beating Ghana on penalties was also entertaining.

Worst game: Too many to choose from. England 0-0 Algeria was up there but I’m going for Brazil 0-0 Portugal.

Best team performance: Germany 4-0 Argentina. Awesome.

Worst team performance: France win this for their shameful attitude on and off the pitch throughout the tournament.

Unlikely heroes: Uruguay were up there and I enjoyed watching Chile but New Zealand get my vote. They were supposed to be the whipping boys but drew every group game and were desperately unlucky not to make the knockout stages. And I love this: New Zealand were the only team not to lose a game at World Cup. Also Paul the Octopus, the best tipster ever. I hear he’s going for Rory McIlroy in the Open!

Best player: Thomas Muller (Germany). What a find he is. Had he not been suspended for the semi-final with Spain, Germany may have won the thing.

Most disappointing player: How long have you got? Wayne Rooney wins the flop of the tournament and he had plenty of competition including World Cup winner Fernando Torres.

Best save: The most important was the Iker Casillas’ stop to deny Arjen Robben in the final. The best though was the acrobatic effort from Uruguay’s Luis Suarez to stop Ghana beating them in the quarter-finals. Come on, what else was he supposed to do?

Worst ‘save’: Many will say Suarez’s. I’m going for Robert Green’s howler against USA.

FIFA’s biggest foul-up: Not having goal-line technology. I doubt it would have made any difference to the outcome but Frank Lampard’s ’goal’ against Germany should have stood and would have have done but for FIFA’s desire to live in the past.

Best goal: Andres Iniesta’s finish in the final was top class, but the best strike came from Holland’s retiring captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst in their semi-final triumph over Uruguay.

Worst penalty: Asamoah Gyan’s strike which hit the bar in Ghana’s game with Uruguay. It came after Suarez’s handball and was the last kick of extra-time. It could have sent the Africans into the semi-finals.

Best penalty: The same player showed bottle by stepping up in the penalty shoot-out and smashing home the perfect spot-kick, though it didn’t prevent his side from losing.

Best entertainment: Spain’s passing game and Germany’s brilliant football on the break, but the most entertainment was provided by Argentina boss Diego Maradona, on the touchline or in press conferences. After being criticised by Pele and Michel Platini, he countered: “I would tell Pele to go back to the museum. I'm not surprised by what Platini said. I always had a distant relationship with him. We all know what the French are like and Platini is French. He thinks he is better than the rest. I pay no attention. These two — have they nothing more important to do than talk rubbish about me?”

Worst entertainment: Holland’s rough house tactics in the final. A total disgrace.

Best coach: This may surprise you but I’m going for Joachim Low of Germany for bringing together a bunch of youngsters with a few old timers and getting them to gel so superbly.

Worst coach: I’ll give it to France’s Raymond Domenech, just ahead of Fabio Capello.

Best moment: Andres Iniesta’s fantastic finish in the final, ensuring justice was done.

Beacom team of the tournament: Casillas (Spain), Ramos (Spain), Lugano (Uruguay), Puyol (Spain), Coentrao (Portugal); Iniesta (Spain), Schweinsteiger (Germany), Sneijder (Holland), Muller (Germany): Villa (Spain), Forlan (Uruguay). Subs: Stekelenburg (Holland), Mensah (Ghana), Xavi (Spain), Ozil, Klose (both Germany)

Overall verdict: It was not a classic tournament. Not enough goals, negative play and too many big name failures. It did have its high quality moments but they were few and far between. Ultimately the best team won — let’s be thankful for that.