Gianni Torchio (Italy) Rank:01

Just like the year before in Athens, Gianni never came close to not winning a match on the way to the final, where this time he even won both games. 1st scorer of the competition, 1st in goal difference and 4th in defense, there is no doubt that the currently #1 ranked player in the world is a worthy champion. But Gianni Torchio is more than a series of numbers and statistics; he is a perfect gentleman with a heart of gold who respects his opponents and has a kind word for everyone. The Kick Off Association is proud to have him as a champion.

Spyros Paraschis (Greece) Rank:02

Spyros' performance was not spectacular until the 2nd semi-final against Fabio, as he had plenty of close wins and several draws. However, he shaped up just in time to earn a convincing qualification to the final, where he played excellently as he almost always does against Gianni, in one of the most classic matchups of recent KOA history (they’ve played each other in every world cup since 2005). He had the 4th offense and the 5th defense of the competition.

Fabio Fichera (Italy) Rank:03

One more member of the Milan school of Kick Off reached a world cup's final four, rising the number of Italians who enjoyed that priviledge to 7, more than any other country. His 11th position (twice) belongs in the past; he is now a clinical scorer and a very competent defender with a mean header. He was 3rd in defense, 3rd in offense and 3rd in goal difference.

Alkis Polyrakis (Greece) Rank:04

Alkis' world cup was in a way the opposite of Spyros', as he stormed his way to the semi-finals scoring more goals than ever (the final 7.30GPG average was a record for him), but he collapsed in the big screen games as he lost all three matches there without putting up much of a fight. His only consolation was the best defense award he took back home for the first time since 2003.

Nikos Andreou (Greece) Rank:05

After three sterile years, Nikos returned to the world cup quarter finals where he belongs. His main weapon that served him well in the past, his defensive skills, did not abandon him this time as he had the second best defense of the competition. Although he kept Fabio down to six goals in two matches in the quarter finals, he could not score enough to go through.

George Kakaletris (Greece) Rank:06

Limit up performance for George, who after a mediocre first day played some excellent matches on Sunday, especially against his old rival Ektoras and became the 6th Greek player to reach a world cup's final 8 stage. As he likes to say, he is definitely the best keyboard player in the world.

Steve Camber (England) Rank:07

After the highlight of his world cup career (4th in Milan 2004), Steve never managed to escape from positions 13-15. Voitsberg was a different story though; he managed to win his Round 1 group for the first time since 2005, and he did not crack in the second round either.

Alessandro Verrani (Italy) Rank:08

An appereance in the quarter finals was long overdue for Alessandro "Il Patatino" Verrani, who owed his qualification mainly to a couple of close wins versus Frank. A very solid player who never lost a match by more than three goals, not even against Alkis and Spyros.

Ektoras Kapsoulis (Greece) Rank:09

Ektoras didn't manage to show some improvement compared to his previous world cup participations, as luck brought him in a Round 2 group with George who knows him too well. His record against him before the competition was 10W-2D-3L, but one loss was all it took to cost him his place in the quarter finals. He was the 5th scorer in Voitsberg.

Jacob Kofoed (Sweden) Rank:10

Jacob arrived in Austria determined to prove that the 25th place the year before in Athens did not reflect his skills, and he certainly succeeded. His narrow victories against the Germans -Oliver and Frank- helped determine his final position.

Robert Swift (England) Rank:11

After two catastrophic world cups, Robert returned to the Top 16 even though he had to survive very difficult groups in both first rounds. He had the 7th best goal average of the competition, but more importantly he received a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the Kick Off Association.

Oliver Stender (Germany) Rank:12

A lot of people expected much more from last year's surprise player, but this time the top ranked German had a disappointing performance and the hopes for another quarter final appereance for his country did not fructify. He did have the 6th best offense of the world cup but his defensive skills seemed to abandon him at times.

Frank Fuhrmann (Germany) Rank:13

A good overall performance from the German champion, who could have finished even higher with a little bit more luck. Two draws against Ektoras in the first Round and an overtime defeat against Jacob in the playouts determined his final position.

Alex Brante (Germany) Rank:14

Alex Brante did not cause a sensation in Voitsberg, but he did beat all the people that he was expected to and even gave Oliver a good fight in the playouts. He still needs to improve his offensive skills.

Luca Fagioli (Italy) Rank:15

Luca is another player who was expected to perform better, but after a good first round he could not continue his good form on Sunday. His performance varied a lot from game to game; he could draw against Spyros and then lose to Alex.

Knut Loite (Norway) Rank:16

Just like last year, Knut's "Lockout & lob" routines were effective enough to give him a place in the Top 16, but just like last year he couldn't finish above anyone on Sunday. Beating Nikos was the highlight of his weekend.

Rodolfo Martin (Spain) Rank:17

Three consecutive almost identical performances for Rodolfo in Rome, Athens and Voitsberg: below par performance and disqualification on Saturday, before shaping up and becoming unstoppable on Sunday to win the Silver Cup. A player of his experience should try aiming for something more as he certainly has the skills to take it one step further.

Tommaso Rollo (Italy) Rank:18

After finishing 26th in his first world cup appereance in Rome, Tommaso made it to the Silver Cup final this year. He had a good chance there as he had defeated Rofolfo in the group stage earlier, but a bad start of two goals conceded in the first 30 seconds plus the tension on the big screen cost him.

Lorenzo Lozito (Italy) Rank:19

The Italian rookie had one of the weirdest custom made joysticks I've ever seen, and I've seen plenty of weird ones in my time. He had a respectable first appereance with some great results, the best of which a 7-7 draw against Fabio.

Kostas Kakaletris (Greece) Rank:20

Some good results for Kostas, who always seems to be able to play his best in major competitions. He could have done a bit better in the Silver Cup group but his offense betrayed him in the matches against Tommaso and Flavio.

Volker Boger (Germany) Rank:21

Five years after his first world cup in Milan, Volker returned to action and had some good moments in Voitsberg. He needs to improve his defense as he had the worst average amonth the top 25 players of the competition.

Jorg Panhorst (Germany) Rank:22

Jorg discovered the KOA in 2003 in Groningen, and hasn't missed a world cup since. Two victories against Lorenzo, one in each round, were the highlight of his tournament.

Klaus Lederer (Austria) Rank:23

Eight whole years after his first appereance in Darford where he had reached the quarter finals, Klaus returned to the KOA who had given up all hope of seeing him again. The game has obviously moved on over the years, but even so he was the only Austrian who managed to make it to the Silver Cup group.

Flavio Zurla (Italy) Rank:24

Weird world cup for Flavio who missed the qualification to the top 16 when Knut beat Nikos in the last match, but then played very badly on Sunday to finish last in the Silver Cup group. But he is Italian, so we know he will win a medal some day.

Mark Williams (England) Rank:25

After a rather poor performance in the first round, Mark unexpectedly found himself in the Bronze Cup where everyone else but him spoke German, and he promptly won it. That turn of events gave him the 6th best defensive average of the tournament.

Harald Bauer (Austria) Rank:26

Harald came close to winning the Bronze Cup but a 0-2 defeat to Armin cost him. His strong point against players of his own caliber is defense.

Thorsten Butschke (Germany) Rank:27

The previous times Thorsten found himself in a group with Austrians, he finished first, both in the Rome world cup and in a 2008 tournament in Voitsberg. He didn't manage this time, although he scored more than everyone else and was the only player in the group who defeated Mark.

Armin Kogler (Austria) Rank:28

In his first world cup appereance, Armin was shocked to lose all matches on Saturday, but he felt much more comfortable in the Bronze Cup where he managed some convincing wins. He only conceded 9 goals in the 8 Bronze matches.

Michael Malli (Austria) Rank:29

Michael will probably remember his convincing 3-0 victory against Kostas as the best result of his short KOA career. He had avoided the group of last players in Rome, he couldn't repeat it this year.

Helmut Hausmann (Austria) Rank:30

Another player who hadn't played a KOA tournament since the very first one, Helmut longs for the glory days of 2001 where he had managed draws against Steve Camber and James Lockerbie. Just like Klaus, he promised not to wait so long until his next appereance.

Michael Fuchs (Austria) Rank:31

An organizer's life is always difficult, and the actual Kick Off part of the weekend is often something of an afterthought for the person who has all the responsibilites in his mind. Michael only defeated Astrid and Andreas, which was enough to keep him out of the Game of Shame.

Wolfgang Magg (Austria) Rank:32

Wolfgang was a prime candidate for the Game of Shame after losing both games to Astrid in Round 1. Unfortunately, he got ill with a bad case of tiredofbeingtrashedtosis and never returned on Sunday.

Astrid Loite (Netherlands) Rank:33

Although it was rather unfair for her to play in this year's Game of Shame, Astrid once more found the strength to defeat her eternal opponent, Andreas, and avoid the last place of the competition for one more year. As far as the battle of the sexes in Games of Shame is concerned, the score is: Women 4 - Men 0. You need to shape up, boys!

Andreas Klammer (Germany) Rank:34

He noticeably improved his skills, he swapped his joystick for a joypad, he even played a little better than Astrid in their annual matchup, but despite all those shots on goal Andreas could not avoid finishing last in yet another world cup. As long as the KOA gives away free clothes, he will continue to attend.