Two uninspired performances in Germany's opening World Cup games saw Lukas Podolski written off as lacking at least the nerve and perhaps the skill to live up to his reputation as the best German striker in a generation.
On this day 20 years ago Diego Maradona made three indelible marks on the World Cup, scoring its most infamous and then its most brilliant goal before providing its most memorable quote.
The memories of the greatest night in France's soccer history are receding faster than Zinedine Zidane's hairline.
A glut of great goals in highly competitive matches played in an old-fashioned sporting spirit in front of good-natured, sell-out crowds have all helped to produce a great start to the World Cup finals.
In a performance eerily reminiscent of his ghostly display in the 1998 World Cup final, Ronaldo appeared to be in a nightmarish world of his own again on Tuesday.