{"id":28296,"date":"2014-06-29T15:58:11","date_gmt":"2014-06-29T15:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=28296"},"modified":"2014-06-29T15:58:11","modified_gmt":"2014-06-29T15:58:11","slug":"world-cup-2014-james-rodriguez-joins-the-perfect-10s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/06\/world-cup-2014-james-rodriguez-joins-the-perfect-10s\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup 2014: James Rodriguez joins the perfect 10s"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Maracana’s iconic sweep of concrete stands may have been replaced by an identikit modern arena – but Colombia’s James Rodriguez produced a moment to stir all of the old place’s ghosts.<\/p>\n
If there is one stadium in this sport that is the natural home to great goals by number 10s in yellow, it is the Maracana, arguably more soulless now but still the scene of glorious memories provided by Pele, Zico and now Brazil’s great hope of this World Cup,\u00a0Neymar.<\/a><\/p>\n And 28 minutes into the\u00a0last-16 game between Colombia and Uruguay,<\/a>\u00a0the new poster boy of South American football – and this tournament – put himself alongside Neymar and Argentina’s Lionel Messi with a goal to treasure, and one fit for the Maracana.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old showed great awareness to glance over his shoulder to check the positioning of both himself and Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera even before Abel Aguilar’s header came in his direction.<\/p>\n Then came the technique, cushioning the header on his chest while twisting to set up a glorious 25-yard left-foot volley that lost nothing aesthetically by crashing down into the net off the bar.<\/p>\n If Rodriguez had hinted at his potential greatness with goals against\u00a0Greece,<\/a>\u00a0Ivory Coast<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Japan<\/a>\u00a0in the group stage, this was the moment he joined those other perfect 10s in the World Cup –Messi<\/a>\u00a0and Neymar.<\/p>\n He had a Colombian legend to live up to when he took on the mantle of the number 10 – the flamboyant Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama, he of the wild hair and glorious talent.<\/p>\n No matter. ‘El Nueve Pibe’ – ‘The New Kid’ – had arrived.<\/p>\n And his arrival made the Maracana forget the man who was not here –Uruguay’s Luis Suarez<\/a>\u00a0– and his lamentable explanation of\u00a0how he came to bite Giorgio Chiellini,<\/a>\u00a0with both him and his teeth apparently stumbling accidentally into the Italian’s shoulder after a loss of balance.<\/p>\n Suarez was present in spirit as Uruguay’s fans rose to the siege mentality created by coach Oscar Tabarez with masks, flags and a noisy show of support. The bottom line, however, is after their questionable defence of Suarez in recent days, Uruguay’s departure may not be mourned by too many in Brazil outside their own camp.<\/p>\n In some ways, the evidence presented here showed why they were prepared to erect such a dubious apologist shield around Suarez. Without him, they are a shadow of the side they are with him.<\/p>\n