As some readers may know, I have a penchant for liking players who are slow, lazy, flimsy, mentally weak, but technically sublime. No player incorporates such a list of characteristics better than Juan Roman Riquelme. As another blogger pointed out, you either love him or you hate him - very rare that there is an in between. And in case you haven't guessed already, I fall into the former camp.
I first heard the name Riquelme through the medium of computer games - more specifically, through Championship Manager - the game that eats away the time of those who love football, but are too lazy to do anything about it. He was one name on a long list of 'must-buys' from South America which cropped up in each incarnation, up there with the likes of Saviola, Klimowicz, Aimar, Palermo and Diego.
However, it wasn't until quite a few years later that I got to see him play in the flesh. I had heard about his good form for Villarreal (he had won an award for 'Most Creative Player' in a league that consisted of Zidane and Ronaldinho), so I was excited to see him pitted against the 'golden generation' of English football, which might I add is one of the biggest myths to have surfaced throughout my life time.
Anyway, I watched the game with intrigue, and Riquelme most certainly didn't disappoint. He put on one of the best displays I've ever seen from a player, with grace and finesse just emenating from every touch of the ball he took. Ledley King remarked after the game that he couldn't get near Riquelme, despite the fact that Juan Roman has the pace of, well, something very very slow.
If you didn't see the game, then watch the highlights of Riquelme's performance here (there's a couple of clips before you get to the England game), and just remember that this is only a snippet of what actually happened that day. Yes it was a friendly by name, but it certainly wasn't a friendly by nature, which is hardly surprising given the two teams in question. However, in a hotly contested affair, Riquelme played the game at his own pace, dictating everything from wherever he decided to roam. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and I fell immediately in love with this "lazy genius".
There were highs and lows in the career of Riquelme after this game - the highest high being taking his team to the Champions League semi-final with series of stunning performances, none moreso than against Inter Milan in the quarter final; the lowest low being that famous 'spaghetti western' style missed penalty against Arsenal.
Then came the World Cup. Many argue that he was disappointing, but I would say that many are wrong. He set up both goals against the Ivory Coast, he ran the show against Serbia in what was the team performance of the tournament, admittedly he was below par against Mexico yet he still created two very good chances, and against Germany he assisted the goal, with his substitution being cited as a major factor for Argentina's demise. That's not a disappointing World Cup, is it? Not in my books anyway.
Fast forward to today. Having resorted to playing club football in his home country, I very rarely get to see him play anymore, but I did get to see him tog out for Argentina last weekend, and on a bobbly pitch he put in a first half performance that made me fall in love with him all over again. He set up Messi's goal wonderfully, and barely once did he give the ball away.
With Riquelme, it's the little things that matter. You can look at his videos on Youtube, but they never tell the full story. There are little flicks and shimmys and passes that escape the highlights reel, but are as sublime as they are subtle. Tim Vickery is certainly right - he is one of a dying breed. There are few playing the game today who have the mental capacity, awareness, and execution skills of Juan Roman, which is a great shame.
There is hope on the horizon however. Extinction may be prevented. For amidst the wave of immense physical specimens such as Drogba and Ronaldo, emerged a team of midgets in the form of the Spanish national side. They proved and continue to prove that cunning and guile go a long way in the world of football. They proved that the game is indeed beautiful, and lets hope that many follow in their footsteps.
I first heard the name Riquelme through the medium of computer games - more specifically, through Championship Manager - the game that eats away the time of those who love football, but are too lazy to do anything about it. He was one name on a long list of 'must-buys' from South America which cropped up in each incarnation, up there with the likes of Saviola, Klimowicz, Aimar, Palermo and Diego.
However, it wasn't until quite a few years later that I got to see him play in the flesh. I had heard about his good form for Villarreal (he had won an award for 'Most Creative Player' in a league that consisted of Zidane and Ronaldinho), so I was excited to see him pitted against the 'golden generation' of English football, which might I add is one of the biggest myths to have surfaced throughout my life time.
Anyway, I watched the game with intrigue, and Riquelme most certainly didn't disappoint. He put on one of the best displays I've ever seen from a player, with grace and finesse just emenating from every touch of the ball he took. Ledley King remarked after the game that he couldn't get near Riquelme, despite the fact that Juan Roman has the pace of, well, something very very slow.
If you didn't see the game, then watch the highlights of Riquelme's performance here (there's a couple of clips before you get to the England game), and just remember that this is only a snippet of what actually happened that day. Yes it was a friendly by name, but it certainly wasn't a friendly by nature, which is hardly surprising given the two teams in question. However, in a hotly contested affair, Riquelme played the game at his own pace, dictating everything from wherever he decided to roam. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and I fell immediately in love with this "lazy genius".
There were highs and lows in the career of Riquelme after this game - the highest high being taking his team to the Champions League semi-final with series of stunning performances, none moreso than against Inter Milan in the quarter final; the lowest low being that famous 'spaghetti western' style missed penalty against Arsenal.
Then came the World Cup. Many argue that he was disappointing, but I would say that many are wrong. He set up both goals against the Ivory Coast, he ran the show against Serbia in what was the team performance of the tournament, admittedly he was below par against Mexico yet he still created two very good chances, and against Germany he assisted the goal, with his substitution being cited as a major factor for Argentina's demise. That's not a disappointing World Cup, is it? Not in my books anyway.
Fast forward to today. Having resorted to playing club football in his home country, I very rarely get to see him play anymore, but I did get to see him tog out for Argentina last weekend, and on a bobbly pitch he put in a first half performance that made me fall in love with him all over again. He set up Messi's goal wonderfully, and barely once did he give the ball away.
With Riquelme, it's the little things that matter. You can look at his videos on Youtube, but they never tell the full story. There are little flicks and shimmys and passes that escape the highlights reel, but are as sublime as they are subtle. Tim Vickery is certainly right - he is one of a dying breed. There are few playing the game today who have the mental capacity, awareness, and execution skills of Juan Roman, which is a great shame.
There is hope on the horizon however. Extinction may be prevented. For amidst the wave of immense physical specimens such as Drogba and Ronaldo, emerged a team of midgets in the form of the Spanish national side. They proved and continue to prove that cunning and guile go a long way in the world of football. They proved that the game is indeed beautiful, and lets hope that many follow in their footsteps.
1 comment:
Kilmowicz. What an absolute gem.
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