The transformation from a derided and badgered figure leaving Old Trafford in utter humiliation to one of the most feared strikers in the world. The Metamorphosis of Diego Forlan is Complete.
He went eight months without scoring at Man Utd. In 62 games he scored 10 goals.
Now pundits come up with tactics to stop him from embarrassing clubs. Their advise generally proves useless. Forlan sank Roy Hodgson’s club in the Europa Cup final between Fulham vs Atletico Madrid. A 116th minute strike finished off Fulham’s magical run. Before that the London club had to come up with an equalizer after Forlan put Atletico ahead in the 32nd minute.
He was the Pichichi winner with 32 goals before Messi’s present scintillating season. Whereas the Argentinian maestro did it with the help of the Greatest Midfield Ever Seen In The World, Forlan actually relied on Sergio Aguero, a striker himself hungry for goals.
In the 208 Liga games since he joined Villareal in 2004 and then for Atletico Madrid, he scored 120 goals. In comparative six seasons chunks, his peers amongst them, Leo Messi registers 88 goals in 143 appearance. Cristiano Ronaldo has 196 club appearances and 106 goals off them. So it is safe to say Forlan is favourably placed compared to these new kids on the block.
Diego Forlan represents the new Uruguay, a country with a proud heritage in the World Cup but since the halcyon days of the 1950s, forced to play second fiddle to Brazil, Argentina, and even Paraguay.
They take on France on Friday and if you were ever to find a synonym for lethal try Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, and Diego Forlan. No one understands their threat better than Hugo Lloris, the French goalkeeper.
“They are clever in front of goal, far or near. But it is not just these two players. We must be wary of the whole Uruguay team. For us, the most important thing is to take our game and provide the means to win. We know the importance of this first game.”
This season alone the trio combined for 66 goals. Suarez’s 35 goals top scoring the Eredivisie and almost gifted Ajax with the title. Cavani scored 13 and almost lead Palermo to a Champions League spot. He is mentioned as transfer material between Palermo and Inter. Forlan’s contribution was not enough for the Colchoneros to challenge the upper echelons of the Liga but there was enough to rejoice in the Europa Cup title.
In his father’s view, Diego’s ability to strike the ball with either foot is one of his two greatest assets. “The other is the combination of his speed and explosiveness,” he adds.
Eduardo Galeano in his delightful book, Soccer in Sun and Shadow writes about the last time Uruguay won the World Cup in 1950. They beat Brazil, 2-1 with goals scored by Juan Alberto “Pepe” Schiaffino and Alcides Ghiggia in that crucible of Brazilian football, the Maracana. The result shocked Brazil and set of a national period of mourning.
After the final whistle, Brazilian commentators called the defeat, ” The worst tragedy in Brazil’s history.” Jules Rimet wandered about the field like a lost soul, hugging the cup that bore his name: ” I found myself alone with the cup in my arms and not knowing what to do. I finally found Uruguay’s captain, Obdulio Varela, and I gave it to him practically without anyone else see. I held out my hand without saying a word.”
In his pocket, he had a speech all written up congratulating the victorious Brazilians.
It is difficult to see Uruguay win the World Cup for the third time when one thinks about Spain and Brazil but sometimes that is not the only story.
In Diego Forlan’s case, he is one player who rose from the ashes to the pinnacle. Along with him come some of South America’s best talent – in Suarez, Cavani, and Nicholas Lodeiro. A back four which boasts some intimidatory names like Martin Caceres, Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile, and an outstanding goalkeeper in Fernando Muslera. You begin to think why not?