If there is Villa, there is a way
David Villa is the man for Spain. The new Barcelona signing is in the form of his life. He cannot stop scoring. Villa’s match-winner against Portugal on Tuesday took his tally to four at the World Cup. He is now the joint top-scorer with Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina and Slovakian Robert Vittek.
The battle for the Golden Boot is on between Villa and Higuain, as Vittek’s team are already out of the competition. Thomas Mueller, on three goals, may throw his hat into the ring if Germany extend their stay in South Africa.
Villa was the top scorer at the 2008 European Championship with four goals. But he missed the final with an injury. Fernando Torres did finish the job against Germany but Villa’s absence transformed the final into a graduation ceremony without the gold medallist.
Even though Villa took that excruciating disappointment in his stride, watching the big match from the dugout would have hurt him inside. He knows the cure for the Euro pain: winning Spain their maiden World Cup.
Villa’s value to Spain here can be gauged from his contribution in two rounds. He has scored four of his team’s five goals. The much-vaunted Spanish midfield has not taken South Africa by storm, forcing Villa to drop deep or pull wide to create his own chances.
The persistent poor form of Torres has increased the burden on Villa’s shoulder up front, but the explosive forward hasn’t complained.
Portugal’s dogged defence and goalkeeper Eduardo’s majestic form on Tuesday would have made Spanish fans fear yet another early exit from the World Cup. But Villa rose to the occasion magnificently to calm their nerves.
When the tight game was crying for inspiration, Spain’s No. 7 put his hand up and delivered. Villa’s intelligent movement to beat the Portuguese off-side trap stood out. He used his left foot for the initial shot and the right to bury the rebound. Right or left, the versatile and mobile Villa is seldom off target.
He can be a fox inside the box and fire a bullet from distance. Lack of height (he is only 1.75m) may not give Villa an edge in aerial battles, but the guy knows where the goal is. In essence, the Spanish talisman with oodles of common sense is the most complete striker at the 19th World Cup.
Villa will have Ronaldo and Zidane for company if he carries Spain all the way here.
Villa is also blessed with some virtues that are rare for an out-and-out goal scorer. Strikers need to be selfish in their single-minded pursuit of goals. That is why you often find them not passing the ball to a teammate who may be in a better position to shoot. But Villa is different.
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