World Cup anti-stars shine for semifinalists | WORLD CUP 2010

Spain Star

Germany Star

Netherlands Star

Uruguay Star

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Wayne Rooney looked like a lost little boy. Lionel Messi tried and fought and ran into a brick wall. Cristiano Ronaldo had two opponents, one on the field and one in his own head. Kaka lost his composure and his reputation as one of the world’s elite.

This World Cup is an ad man’s nightmare, a tournament where a determined posse of anti-superstars who got busy with preparation and focus instead of commercials and celebrity functions emerged as the heroes.

While the biggest names in the game have now fled the African continent to count their millions and dwell on their summer of failure, the leading lights from each of the final four teams are more than happy to duck so far under the radar that their backs almost scrape the ground.

Spain striker David Villa is a quiet and reserved family man whose idea of a wild night is attending a charity function with his childhood sweetheart wife. Here in South Africa, he has been the driving force behind the Spanish run to the semifinal with a tournament-leading five goals and inspired play that carries none of the flashiness of a Ronaldo or Messi but is ruthlessly efficient.

When Real Madrid shelled out $131 million for Ronaldo a year ago, a hefty chunk of that figure was a nod to the Portugal star’s commercial appeal. Barcelona paid Valencia $50 million for Villa this summer, yet every penny of that transfer fee was for his pure ability as a player. Villa doesn’t do fashion shoots or promote underwear in his spare time. He will win you matches, though. Lots of them.

“For me it is the football,” said Villa in an interview at the 2008 European Championships. “It is my life, my love, my passion, my drive.”

Germany’s Thomas Mueller did not even have a full professional contract a year ago before being promoted to the Bayern Munich first team and earning an international call-up after an inspired club season. Argentina coach Diego Maradona refused to share a stage with Mueller at a press conference before an exhibition game in March, but the 20-year-old Mueller had the last laugh with a spectacular performance Saturday to dump Argentina out in the quarterfinals.

Mueller has been the biggest breakout star of this World Cup. Little known outside his homeland before the tournament, he has become a midfield destroyer capable of launching devastating counterattacks. His suspension for the semifinal against Spain on Wednesday (due to yellow-card accumulation) is a huge blow for the Germans, yet Mueller retains his wide-eyed appreciation at the way his World Cup has unfolded.

“I could not have hoped for things to be as good as this,” he said. “You have expectations of yourself but sometimes it is easier to come in without people expecting a lot of you.”

The level of focus and public demand seemed to weigh heavily on soccer’s biggest stars, especially Rooney and Messi. Ronaldo is too wrapped up in his own universe to notice the scrutiny, while Kaka is used to the spotlight that follows Brazil everywhere but still could not raise his game.

The excuse made for several top stars was that they were exhausted from a full season with their European clubs. Yet that argument has been summarily blown out of the water by Wesley Sneijder, who has sparked the Netherlands to their first World Cup semifinal since 1998.

Sneijder played a full and productive campaign with Italian club Inter Milan, which benefited from his industry and impact to achieve an unprecedented trophy triple of the Italian league (Serie A) title, Italian Cup and, most notably, Champions League crown.

While the Dutch team is one of the more glamorous at the World Cup, Sneijder likes to play the role of the funny man. After his two-goal effort sunk Brazil in the quarterfinals, Sneijder was happy to poke fun at himself.

“The ball just slipped through from my bald head,” said the follicularly challenged 26-year-old of his winning header. “It was a great feeling.”

The only South American side left in the tournament is the biggest underdog of the bunch, Uruguay. And while Diego Forlan is the biggest star his homeland has produced in recent times, his career looked destined to falter when he failed to settle at one of the world’s highest-profile clubs.

Forlan’s move to Manchester United in 2002 was a disaster as he failed to score in his first 27 games and became a target for ridicule. On one famous occasion, no less than three English newspapers used the same headline to mock his plight – “Diego Forlorn.”

Forlan ended up resurrecting his career with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, leading the latter to the Europa League title in May. Having guided Uruguay this deep into the World Cup, he is a realistic contender for the player of the tournament award.

“The attention has not been ours,” said Forlan, who has a co-team-high three goals in South Africa. “While everyone has been thinking about other teams we have swum through a net.”

Perhaps something was lost in translation but it is pretty clear Forlan meant the Uruguayans have ducked under the radar. Just like himself.

And just like the real stars of this World Cup, they have provided a timely reminder that hype and hoopla count for nothing in the heat of battle.

Stars looking to score | World Cup 2010

Stars looking to score | World Cup 2010

Football lovers everywhere went into the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ with burning hopes of seeing the game’s most illustrious stars parade their skills and light up the global stage with goals. The nets have certainly bulged across South Africa, with no fewer than 123 strikes buried so far, but the brightest talents have been conspicuously absent from the scoring charts.

Perhaps the most surprising player still grounded on zero efforts is Lionel Messi, the 2009 FIFA Player of the Year. Although there can be no doubt about the Barcelona forward’s massive contribution to Argentina’s quarter-final place, the outrageously gifted No10 is still waiting to open his account.

Given his Pichichi title as the Spanish Liga’s most prolific marksman last term, Messi’s failure to notch even one of La Albiceleste’s ten goals is almost bizarre, but the player himself is not unduly concerned. “It doesn’t worry me, even if I prefer to score when I play,” he said. “The most important thing is that we maintain the level we’re playing at and that we go on to win by playing as a team.”

Messi’s fellow South American star Kaka has fared no better on the goalscoring front, although the 2007 FIFA Player of the Year has set up three of Brazil’s eight goals so far, including Luis Fabiano’s effort against Chile in the Round of 16. Like his Argentinian rival, the Seleção playmaker prefers to focus on his team’s winning form than his own travails in front of goal. “My objective is to create goals and present the forwards with chances,” he said. “That’s how Robinho and Luis Fabiano have been able to score. I’m happy to have set up those goals and I hope to end the tournament as the player with the most assists and have Luis Fabiano finish as top scorer.”

While Messi and Kaka can certainly content themselves with their overall displays, the situation appears somewhat more worrying for Spain striker Fernando Torres, who has disputed 212 minutes at South Africa 2010 without adding to his international tally.

El Niño is still recovering from a knee operation in April that originally put his participation in doubt, but in-form fellow forward David Villa remains confident that the Liverpool man will soon rediscover his goalscoring touch. “I don’t think Torres’s performances have been poor, even if he hasn’t scored,” explained Villa. “He’s worked enormously hard to be here with us and we need to thank him for that, especially after his operation. Yes, strikers get judged on how many goals they score, but Fernando hasn’t had a lot of chances so far. He’s working, he’s progressing and you’ll see: the goals will come, like the one in the EURO 2008 final that won us the title.”

Torres will now be hoping to turn things around against Paraguay in the quarter-finals, when another pair of predators will also be determined to have their say. Manchester City’s Roque Santa Cruz and Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo – top scorer in Portugal last term – have both experienced a similar goal drought, no doubt partly due to coach Gerardo Martino’s conservative tactics.

While those players can all still make the difference, England’s Wayne Rooney can do nothing about his haul of zero strikes in four games. Three Lions fans expected much from the Manchester United icon following his 26 efforts in the Premier League last season, but he was unable to carry that bountiful form into the FIFA World Cup and England have now travelled home in the wake of their last-16 loss to Germany.

Likewise, Jozy Altidore was given 357 minutes of action for the United States without weighing in with a single goal, a frustration shared by France’s Franck Ribery, South Africa’s Steven Pienaar and Harry Kewell of Australia. Solovakia’s Marek Hamsik left empty-handed as well, unable to match his team-mate Robert Vittek, who currently shares pole position in the race for the adidas Golden Boot on four goals with David Villa and Gonzalo Higuain.

LUIS FABIANO Brazil | World Cup 2010

LUIS FABIANO Brazil

There was a time when Luis Fabiano seemed destined to have a career that flattered to deceive. That time has positively passed, though, and he is now an important figure for club side Sevilla and Brazil.

Luis Fabiano began his career with Ponte Preta in his homeland, but despite excelling in a subsequent period with Sao Paulo, where he gained a reputation for scoring breathtaking goals and helped the club claim the Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo crown, he disappointed during spells with Rennes and Porto, who parted with a sizeable fee to land the striker in 2004.

One year later he became the property of Sevilla, for whom he has since excelled.

Possessing strength, quick feet and a powerful, accurate strike, the Campinas native helped Los Rojiblancos win back-to-back UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey, and establish themselves as a genuine force in Spanish football. O Fabuloso (The Fabulous) finished as the 24-goal runner-up to Dani Guiza on the 2007/08 La Liga scoring charts.

Born in November 1980, Luis Fabiano made his international debut in 2003 and was part of Brazil's Copa America-winning squad the following year. However, it was not until 2007 that he cemented his place in the team. It was a feat he managed with some stellar performances in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying, in which he finished second to Chile’s Humberto Suazo in the top-scorer’s table with nine goals. He also stood out in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, where he snatched the adidas Golden Ball, courtesy of five goals in as many matches, including a double in the final against USA.

ELANO Brazil | World Cup 2010

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ELANO Brazil

Elano is an atypical Brazilian attacking midfielder, but one whose work ethic and direct approach appeal to coach Dunga.

He performed an important function as Santos lifted the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2002 and 2004, although his endeavours were often overlooked as the spectacular genius of Diego and Robinho commanded most of the headlines. A move to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2005 afforded Elano the chance to become an icon in his own right, and that he became, creating and scoring goals on a consistent basis as they won the Ukrainian Premier League in 2006.

Elano joined Manchester City ahead of the 2007/08 season. Initially, he took the exacting English Premier League by storm with his industry, driving runs, inventive passing and long-range shooting. However, he fell out of favour during the second half of the campaign, and was often left on the bench. A similar pattern ensued the following term, with Elano beginning impressively but fading as the season progressed. His occasional performances in England, combined with impressive displays for A Seleção, eventually brought an offer from Galatasaray, and Elano landed in Turkey in July 2009.

He made his Brazil debut in 2004 and thrived in a friendly against Argentina in London two years later, posting a well-taken double in a 3-0 win. He also scored memorable goals in friendly wins over Portugal and Italy in late 2008 and early 2009, and has gradually forced his way into Dunga's plan as a box-to-box midfielder who often splits playing time with Ramires.

Gonzalo HIGUAIN Argentina | World Cup 2010

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Gonzalo HIGUAIN

In a similar case to David Trezeguet, who could have opted to represent Argentina instead of France, Gonzalo Higuain may well have been turning out for Les Bleus instead of La Albiceleste at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Born in the French city of Brest, where his father Jorge Nicolas Higuain played professionally, the Real Madrid goal-getter decided to wait for the call from Argentina, despite an invitation from France supremo Raymond Domenech to turn out in a November 2006 friendly.

Indeed, he spent just ten months of his childhood on French soil and did not return until 1998, when he accompanied his father on a scouting job for then Argentina boss Daniel Passarella. In a curious quirk of fate, it was Passarella who eight years later gave Higuain junior regular first-team football and the chance to make his name at River Plate.

Quick, clever and able to finish with either foot, El Pipita was signed by Spanish giants Real Madrid within a year of breaking into Los Millonarios’ first-team squad. And despite having to compete with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooij, Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart, Javier Saviola and Karim Benzema since arriving at the Bernabeu, Higuain has made a starting berth his own.

A look at his career stats underlines the coolness in front of goal El Pipita will be hoping to bring to the Argentina cause in South Africa. In his 35 appearances for River he netted 13 times, including a decisive brace in his first superclásico against Boca Juniors in 2006. At Madrid, Higuain has improved his tally year on year, and this season has already surpassed the 22 Liga strikes he fired in 2008/09.

On the international stage he is something of a novice, having failed to appear for either France or Argentina at youth level. Called up to train with the Albiceleste’s U-18 side, he was unable to attend as he did not hold an Argentinian passport. With this document safely obtained in 2007, and after turning down those French overtures, the striker was linked strongly with a place in the Argentina squad for that year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup and Copa America - which overlapped – only to miss out on both campaigns.

Come 2009, after turning out in friendly action for his country’s U-23 team, he was finally called up by Diego Maradona for the senior national squad. And he has not disappointed, hitting a well-taken goal against Peru in a crucial qualifier and the winner against Germany in a high-profile friendly in March this year.

Lionel MESSI Argentina | World Cup 2010

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Lionel MESSI

There has been no shortage of players billed as Diego Maradona’s successor, yet few, if any, have borne that burden with the aplomb of Lionel Messi. Blessed with a wondrous left foot, outstanding vision, near-unstoppable dribbling skills and sublime technique, Messi is a sight to behold. Add in his explosive changes of pace, timing and nose for goal – a trait particularly in evidence in 2010 – and you have a player able to change any game in the blink of an eye.

The Rosario-born superstar took his first steps in the game at local club Newell's Old Boys, before joining Catalan giants Barcelona at the age of just 13 after a successful trial at the Camp Nou. Indeed, so impressed was Carles Rexach, then head of youth development at Can Barça, that “I made him sign for the club on the back of a napkin, as a symbolic gesture. He’d caught my eye immediately.”

An important factor in the move was the Azulgranas’ offer to pay for treatment to correct Messi’s growth-hormone deficiency, a condition that led to his nickname of La Pulga (The Flea), which had proved prohibitively expensive for his Argentinian suitors in the midst of the country’s economic collapse. Messi’s La Liga debut came in late 2004 and he definitively exploded onto the Spanish football scene the following year. His first goal, fired on 1 May 2005 against Albacete, made him the club’s youngest ever goalscorer, a record he held until beaten by Bojan Krkic in 2008.

The years 2008 through 2010 have cemented Messi’s rise to superstardom at Barcelona, where to date he has won three La Liga titles, the UEFA European Supercup, the Copa del Rey, three Spanish Supercups, two UEFA Champions Leagues and one FIFA Club World Cup crown. What is more, after scoring in the finals of the latter four competitions in 2009, the Argentinian was rewarded with that year’s FIFA World Player award. And after scoring 38 goals in all competitions in 2008/09, La Pulga surpassed that total in 2009/10.

At international level, Messi mirrored Maradona’s achievements at Japan 1979 by inspiring his country to victory at the 2005 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands. A member of the Albiceleste squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, he made three appearances, two as a substitute, but remained on the bench during the quarter-final exit against the host nation.

Part of the Argentina side beaten by arch-rivals Brazil in the final of the 2007 Copa America, the following year Messi was a key figure in the team which stormed to gold at the Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. And though he is yet to hit the heights of his club form in the blue-and-white of Argentina, Messi is determined to do that come South Africa 2010: “In order to become a legend, I have to win the World Cup,” he says.

CRISTIANO RONALDO Portugal | World Cup 2010

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CRISTIANO RONALDO Portugal

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo turns the beautiful game into child’s play. As Brazil’s legendary FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder Didi once said: “If we don’t treat the ball with love, she won’t do what we want her to do.” Perhaps more than any other player of the modern era, Real Madrid’s flying winger seems to maintain that wide-eyed innocence on the field that makes every dazzling dribble and every penetrating pass feel like the very first. And such is his artistry that, almost magnetically, the ball returns to his feet time and time again, ready for the next touch of genius.

There is something almost balletic about Cristiano Ronaldo’s play that transforms mere possession of the ball into a footballing pas-de-deux. Much as he is restless, almost jealous, whilst others enjoy the limelight, the graceful Ronaldo comes to life with the ball at his feet, pirouetting away from opposing defenders with poise, and gliding across the stage with an uncommon elegance.

From his early days with local club Andorinha, where his father was kit man, it was clear that the young Cristiano was destined for greatness. After a short stint with Nacional, he left Madeira to follow his dream and, as it has turned out, to become one of the greatest players in the world.

But in keeping with the finest artistic traditions, the young star’s rise to footballing pre-eminence came on the back of a series of life-changing choices. The first was to leave his family behind on the tiny Atlantic island in order to join Sporting Lisbon’s famous academy. Naturally, the winger found a home from home on a bigger stage, and success followed quickly. It was at the age of 15 that the talented teenager faced his greatest trial as a routine medical examination revealed an irregular heartbeat. Typically, Cristiano took the setback in his elegant stride, and a successful operation soon saw Madeira’s favourite son resume his career, from where he would go on to conquer the world.

Sporting’s fans were the first to bear witness to the young genius. He made his first team debut at the age of 17, scoring twice in the process. As it turned out, he would only wear the famous green-and-white hoops for one complete season; at the start of 2003/04, English giants Manchester United came to the Portuguese capital to play Sporting in a friendly to mark the opening of the new Jose Alvalade Stadium. It was love at first sight. The teenager bewitched his illustrious opponents, and Sir Alex Ferguson swooped to bring the youngster to Old Trafford, giving him the famous number 7 shirt, as worn by United legends George Best, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona.

With the world at his feet, Cristiano Ronaldo blazed a trail through English football on his way to becoming a global superstar. Adulation and awards followed in equal measure: he was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008, and he managed to fill the Santiago Bernabeu single-handedly as Real Madrid’s fans turned out in force to welcome their latest acquisition in 2009. All that is missing is success on the game’s greatest stage. He suffered the bitter disappointment of just missing out on glory with Portugal in UEFA Euro 2004. When the hosts finished runners-up to Greece that year, the image of the youngster in tears flashed around the world. In South Africa, he will be wiser, stronger and hungrier than ever before to turn his country’s dreams into reality and lead them to FIFA World Cup™ glory.

Lodeiro, the Celeste starlet | World Cup 2010

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Being tagged as a 'star in the making' can be a burden for any young footballer, particularly in a country as fiercely passionate about the game as two-time world champions Uruguay. For 20-year-old attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, however, the weight of expectation surrounding him throughout 2009 has so far shown no sign of slowing his progress.

Though his full international debut only came in November’s 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying play-off, first leg in Costa Rica, Nico’s performance against Los Ticos underlined the quality coach Oscar Tabarez had witnessed for both the Uruguay U-20s and Nacional, who were his employers until Dutch giants Ajax recently signed him to team up with free-scoring compatriot Luis Suarez.

The complete package
Marcelo Nicolas Lodeiro Benitez was born on 21 March 1989 in Paysandu, and as a boy he excelled at football, swimming, triathlon, volleyball and basketball. Indeed, it is perhaps these formative experiences that helped shape his all-encompassing style of play, which features technical ability, intelligence on the ball, explosive bursts of pace and a clinical eye for goal.

“I almost always do what the coach tells me but sometimes I like to spring a surprise, like taking on my man when I shouldn't or nutmegging someone,” the left-footer told FIFA.com in mid-2009. “That's how I play and I've no intention of changing,” added Lodeiro, whose multi-sporting days ended at the age of 12 when boyhood favourites Nacional lured him to the capital Montevideo.

Despite the challenges involved in leaving his hometown at such a tender age, Nico showed plenty of character to overcome his homesickness and rise rapidly through the Nacional ranks. Having helped the club to silverware at U-17 and U-20 level, he made his first-team debut against Fenix on 19 August 2007 in that year’s Apertura championship, and struck his first goal on 1 December.

The year 2008 included outings in the Copa Libertadores and his gradual emergence as an important member of El Bolso’s squad, though it was in the following year that Lodeiro’s talents really blossomed. In the first half of the year, the attacking midfielder played a central role in helping Uruguay qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 and scored four times in Nacional’s charge to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals.

His fine displays on Egyptian soil and in the Apertura 2009 convinced La Celeste supremo Tabarez to call him up for the South Africa 2010 play-off, despite the player being uncapped at senior level at the time.

“I couldn’t believe it when he named me in the starting XI for the first leg!” said Lodeiro, who was steady if unspectacular in the 1-0 win on Tico territory before a fine showing in the 1-1 second-leg draw which sealed Uruguay’s passage. “It was a real relief to clinch qualification. The release of tension I felt when the ref blew for full time was incredible.”

A goal in a 3-0 derby win over Penarol and a vital strike in the 2008/09 Uruguayan championship final victory over Defensor Sporting were further highlights of an unforgettable 2009 for the youngster. “I always dreamed of winning the championship with my club and breaking into the senior national team, but I never thought it’d happen in the same year,” said Lodeiro, who thus moves to Europe after fulfilling his promise to win something with Nacional first.

“We’ve had him watched five or six times,” said Ajax coach Martin Jol, while Suarez is another clearly looking forward to working with Lodeiro on a more regular basis: “He’s a player who can turn a game and he has enormous potential.”

But even in the face of such praise, the gifted creator is not allowing himself to get carried away: “Now I’m just focusing on working hard, giving plenty back to Ajax and trying to make the squad for the World Cup.”

And after Uruguay missed out on Germany 2006, could Tabarez’s blend of young guns like Lodeiro and Suarez, along with stalwarts such as Diego Lugano and Diego Forlan, make La Celeste one of the dark horses of South Africa 2010?

Eriksson confident on Drogba fitness

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Sven-Goran Eriksson is hopeful that Côte d'Ivoire superstar Didier Drogba can be unleashed on Brazil in their FIFA World Cup™ clash tomorrow. Drogba came on as a substitute in the opening Group G match against Portugal.

Eriksson would not confirm that the Chelsea star would start, but sounded optimistic. When asked how important Drogba was to the Elephants, Eriksson said: "Drogba is a world-famous player, he has scored 30 goals already this season and obviously everybody has respect for him. However, we did play well without him for an hour [against Portugal]."

The Swede was full of praise for Dunga, whom Eriksson managed at Fiorentina, and sees the Brazil side he has created as the archetypal modern football team. "When Dunga was one of my players he already knew everything there is to know. He was a very intelligent player and he has done excellent work as coach of Brazil," he said.

"They are a classy team, a technically able team and also a team that can bite when it has to bite. It's the modern style of football. Whenever Brazil play they are always the favourite right from onset. That is the reality, it will always be like this."

Eriksson accepted a point would not be the end of the world but insisted there was no way he would set his team up simply to keep Brazil out. "A draw against Brazil is always a good result, a fantastic result would be to beat them." he added. "A draw is not bad, but we are not going out thinking about a draw. We are going to try to win."

The former England and Mexico boss, who insists he has a fit squad to pick from with defender Arthur Boka having recovered from a thigh problem, was asked what he had managed to achieve in his short spell in charge. He was only confirmed as the successor to Vahid Halilhodzic in late March and revealed his key objective was to bring more defensive organisation to the side.

"It has been wonderful, I have enjoyed every day and the reason is I have lots of good players," Eriksson said. "What we are trying to do is to be very organised, especially with defending. The players have been fantastic to take that on board and the demonstration they put out against Portugal was very good. It's normal work but it's beautiful. I have never had such a smiling, happy football team in my career."

Paraguay strikers revel in support role

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Paraguay strikers revel in support role

There are few national-team coaches in world football that would not jump at the chance to call on forwards of the calibre of Paraguay's Nelson Haedo Valdez, Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz. The first two have been finding the net with regularity as strike partners at Borussia Dortmund and the latter is a proven performer on the European stage, thus justifying coach Gerardo Martino's decision to deploy all three in his side's second Group F encounter against Slovakia.

Continually teasing and stretching the opposition backline, the gifted trio helped provide the space for midfielders Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros to grab the goals in an impressive 2-0 victory. "We knew that we had a lot of freedom to go forward and help the team," Vera told FIFA after the game. "El Profe [Martino] is always telling us to do that. That's one of the benefits of having strikers able to drag markers out of position and create spaces."

Voted Budweiser Man of the Match, not least because of his fine clipped strike, the Paraguay No13 gave his team-mates an outlet on the right-hand side throughout the encounter at the Free State Stadium. "It means so much to me to have scored at a World Cup, and to be honest I never ever imagined it," said Vera, who plays his club football in Ecuador for Liga de Quito. "The most unbelievable thing is I didn't even see it hit the net. I managed to get a touch on the ball and heard the crowd roar, which is how I realised I'd scored."

"Nelson, Roque and Lucas did a spectacular job and made things easier for us midfielders," said Riveros, who chipped in with three goals in Paraguay's qualifying campaign prior to his strike here. "They fight, scrap, create spaces and give us the chance to steal in unmarked. In my case the goal came during a move involving another striker, [Oscar] Cardozo. What they [the forwards] do for the team is really important."

Putting the team first
Barrios, for his part, was still clearly delighted with the three points despite not featuring among the scorers. "I'm well aware that you can't always be the one in the limelight. Today the job I did wasn't as eye-catching on an individual level but it did help the team," said the Argentina-born former Colo Colo star, whose deft pass created Vera's opener. "That’s how it is, Vera got the goal but we all celebrated it. That's what real teamwork is all about."

Singing from the same hymn sheet was Barrios's club-mate Haedo Valdez. "I had to do more of the dirty work than usual, but it was worth it," he said. "The midfielders know how to play too and every goal counts, whoever puts them away." The final word went to Riveros, whose powerful left-foot shot sealed all three points in the 86th minute. "We wanted to win and dedicate it to all the dads in Paraguay on Fathers' Day. That's why I ran to the camera when I scored and that's why I'm repeating this now – this win is for them all."