Long blonde tresses, a chiselled body, innocent grey eyes and a sculpted face that would be perfectly in place on most fashion ramps. Diego Forlan doesn’t seem like someone who can strike fear into he heart of anyone, but looks can be very deceiving.
The Uruguayan captain has terrorised defenders in La Liga for years now, and finally the 31-year-old has made his presence felt on the biggest stage. The Atletico Madrid frontman curled home a freekick of breathtaking pace and accuracy to bring the Latin American nation back in their quarterfinal against Ghana on Friday.
Forlan has shouldered more of a burden than he normally does at club level. He has volunteered to take all of Uruguay’s corner kicks and freekicks, and it has been his unmistakable class that has been at the forefront of the two-time world champions return to the elite of world football.
Forlan, often dubbed a selfish striker while he was at Manchester United early in his career, has helped the team not just with his goals but has also been crucial in setting up teamamtes Luis Suarez and Edison Caveni. “We suffered so much but we are among the best four in the world,” a delighted Forlan said after the match.
The intelligent striker also emulated his father Pablo, who was a member of the 1970 Uruguay team — the last time the tiny nation of just 3.4 million progressed to the last four of the World Cup.
“It’s unbelievable what you have to feel. You have a lot of feelings and then we won. It’s unbelievable the team, the way we work together and the way we’re doing everything and now we’re into the last four,” he said modestly, praising the collective effort even when it was all too evident who was the fulcrum of the team.
Forlan is not intent on resting on his laurels. Holland await in the semifinals, and for Forlan this is another chance to set his name in stone. “It’s amazing. This goes on and now we can rest. Let the people celebrate all they have to do is celebrate and we will try to be ready for Tuesday,” he said.
After a horror run at Old Trafford, many doubted his goal-scoring credentials. But, Forlan has hit back at his critics the best way possible — by banging in the goals, first with Villarreal, and then Atletico. So much so that after his latest match-winning performances even the bosses at Manchester United are having a re-think.
A member of United’s backroom staff — Rene Meulensteen — has even said the club would welcome him back with open arms.