Forgotten goalscorer to take the spotlight for Uruguay
Diego Forlan played in the best football leagues in the world, put Uruguay back in the top four at a World Cup – then he left to wound down his career in Japan with Cerezo Osaka, far away from global football's elite.
But now he is back on the big stage, leading Uruguay into another World Cup. He is Uruguay's all-time top scorer at the World Cup, and almost single-handedly took his country to a surprising fourth-place finish in 2010. He flew into Brazil this week without much media attention, but is now obliged to step out under the spotlight because of the fitness question mark over Luis Suarez Saturday in Uruguay's debut against Costa Rica in Fortaleza.
"We ask Diego to be the leader, the same as he was in 2010. That was four years ago and time passes for everyone," Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. "But now the door is open for him again because of the injury to Suarez. He looked very good in the preparation matches," he added. Forlan, who was 35 in May, did not train Wednesday because of a stomach upset. However, he was back in training Thursday at the Arena do Jacare stadium in Sete Lagoas, which is 70 kilometres from Belo Horizonte. Tabarez has still not announced his team for the Costa Rica match, but it seems that Forlan will be up front with Edinson Cavani, with Suarez waiting for his debut in the second game, against England on June 19. Four years ago,
Forlan arrived in South Africa aged 31 años after a special preparation regime which helped him to become one of the figures of the World Cup. Apparently he is repeating that special preparation this year.
"Nobody should underestimate Forlan just because he is playing in Japan. Four years have passed, but Diego is preparing himself in the same way as he did in 2010," a spokesman for the Uruguayan football federation told German press agency dpa. Forlan is the most capped player in Uruguayan history, with 110 appearances, and this will be his third World Cup.
In 2002 he only played 45 minutes and scored one goal, while in 2010 he put away five. One of these goals, against Germany in the third place match, was chosen as the best of the tournament. These six goals have made him Uruguay's top World Cup scorer. He has put away 36 goals for his country in total, which makes him the second highest scorer behind Suarez, who has scored 39. But Forlan's goals have dried up recently.
In the qualifying matches for Brazil, he scored only two goals in 16 games. And after disappointing spells at Inter Milan and Brazilian club Internacional, he moved on to Japan. He has sparked off something of a revolution in Japan since arriving in January. The fans are grateful to the efforts he has made to learn the local culture, in contrast to other international stars who have passed through Japan without showing much interest. But while Forlan's goal statistics are acceptable, his team has flattered to deceive. Forlan – the highest ever paid player in Japan – is in fifth place in then J-League scorers' chart, after putting away six goals in 13 games. However, Cerezo Osaka are just one point above the relegation zone.
"I am very pleased with this challenge, and with this handsome town," he said upon his arrival. Forlan has arrived in Brazil somewhat in the shadow of Suarez after the latter's exceptional season at Liverpool. But Suarez is not in the best of conditions after a recent knee cartliage operation, which has pushed Forlan back onto centre stage. There is a historical precedent which will encourage him. In 1998, Brazilian midfielders Dunga and Cesar Sampaio went to the World Cup after playing in Japan – and helped Brazil to reach the final. Forlan, the forgotten goalscorer, is now hoping to emulate their achievement.
Source : Sapa-dpa /ge