Carlos Valderrama: Colombia
Round reached: Last 16 / Appearances: 4 / Goals: 1
Excited intrigue ensued as much of the watching world gazed upon Carlos Valderrama for the very first time in Italia ’90. For here was the epitome of a classic South American playmaker brought before their very eyes: untucked No.10 shirt with necklace flapping about; unique hairstyle; captain’s armband supplemented by colourful wristbands…but could he play?
He certainly could. Dictating the tempo with both short and long passing, the silky midfielder scored in Colombia’s first match against the UAE, finishing off a counter-attack with a swerving right-foot drive from outside the box to make it 2-0.
After narrowly losing to Yugoslavia, he suffered a brutal foul against West Germany, but retaliated in the right way by providing a defence-splitting pass to allow his side to score the injury-time equaliser which sent Colombia through to the Last 16.
Unfortunately for Valderrama, they ran into a rampant Roger Milla who made Colombia’s reckless goalkeeper, Rene Higuita, pay for his questionable antics. Valderrama again created Colombia’s only goal of the match with another splitting pass, but it came too late as Cameroon ran out 2-1 winners in extra-time.
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