The Greatest 5-0 Ever?

Remember Faustino Asprilla? Argentina can’t forget him…

Every Argentina-Colombia game is a special one and their meeting in Maracaibo on Monday night promises fireworks. But there is one encounter that is unforgettable – and it is getting special attention because of Colombia’s 5-0 defeat at the hands of Paraguay last Thursday.

In 1993, Colombia went to Argentina and hammered them by the same scoreline and in doing so immortalised a team that went on to become one of the most talked about – and underachieving – in World Cup history.

Colombia visited the Monumental in Buenos Aires needing a draw to confirm their place in the 1994 World Cup Finals in the United States. They had in their ranks Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla, Freddy Rincon and Ivan Valenciano and they tore Argentina apart in a stunning second half display of counter attacking football.

However, the win was perhaps a classic example of a side that peaked too early. Colombia lost to both Romania and the US and were dumped out of the World Cup in the first round. But that 5-0 has never been forgotten.

“I have bitter memories of the match,” Argentina’s Javier Zanetti said on the eve of the game, “but it’s in the past now. In that game nothing went right for us and everything went right for Colombia.”

Mexico beat Ecuador and top Group B

Mexico cemented their place as the form team of the cup so far with a 2-1 win over Ecuador in a thrilling match that took them to the top of Group B and gave them the distinction of becoming the only one of the eight teams to have played twice to boast a 100% record.

Mexico took the lead with another goal from young striker Nery Castillo and scored a second from Omar Bravo in the 80^th minute. Edilso Mendez scored a consolation goal for Ecuador six minutes later with a long range shot that took a deflection past goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

The game was an end-to-end affair and just as they did in losing to Chile on their debut four days ago Ecuador can feel slightly aggrieved to walk away empty handed. Mexican keeper Sanchez pulled off three great saves and the Ecuadorans came away with nothing to show for their swashbuckling display.

The win gives Mexico six points from six and put them ahead of Brazil and Chile at the top of Group B.

Robinho gives Brazil three points

Brazil briefly moved to the top of Group B on Sunday with a 3-0 win over an unlucky Chile.

Dunga’s men won comfortably in the end but the result was hardly a fair reflection of a game they only secured in the dying minutes thanks to Robinho’s brilliance.

The Real Madrid forward scored twice in the last six minutes, the last of which was a superb solo goal. He had already put way a dubious first half penalty after being bundled over in the box.

Robinho was Brazil’s lone star, threatening every time he got the ball. But his teammates failed miserably to produce even a fraction of his creativity, with the midfield unable to find the space or imagination to break down a resolute Chilean side.

After an even first half, Chile came out looking for a winner and rugged centre forward Humberto Suazo had a shot saved off the line after beating four men in the box. Suazo was always dangerous and his link up play with Liverpool reject Mark Gonzalez frequently caused Brazil problems.

However, Chile too often pumped high balls into the box that were meat and drink to giant centre backs Juan and Alex and they paid the price for their profligacy.

An ad too far

Maracaibo is not unlike Texas or Arizona. It’s an oil town, the roads are packed with huge gas guzzling cars and SUVs and it’s searingly hot, a roasting 108 degrees on Friday. But one of the funniest comparisons is the advertising. It’s everywhere, even during the games.

And it’s not just the odd logo on screen when the ball goes out of play. Even the commentators play up the sponsors’ role during the action “And here’s a corner from the Banco de Venezuela, part of the Santander Group, the bank that breathes life into your ideas,” commentators crowed at least a dozen times during yesterday’s matches.

Or this: “If you’re the kind of fan who buys tickets and strips and flags then always remember to purchase using your Banesco credit card!

And my particular favourite: “Fifteen minutes of the game gone in the name of Meridian, Venezuela’s premier sports newspaper.”

The 514 million dollar men

How much are the combined talents of the Argentine squad worth on today’s transfer market? 514.6 million dollars, according to Olé, Argentina’s sports newspaper.

The paper gave individual values for each of the 22 players, with Lionel Messi by far the most valuable at 150 million, the amount on his buyout clause at Barcelona.  The next most expensive was Carlos Tevez, whose 60 million dollar rating was more than twice that of the next players on the list, Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago and Zaragoza’s Diego Milito.

Gago and Milito were rated at 24 million, just ahead of Juan Roman Riquelme (23.5 million), Esteban Cambiasso (22.5 million), Pablo Aimar (22 million), Rodrigo Palacio (22 million), and Hernan Crespo (21.5 million).

The overall total is 6 million more than the combined worth of the Italy squad that won the World Cup last year, the paper said.

Blanco set for Mexico return

Mexico’s controversial striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco is set to return to Hugo Sanchez’s side for the match against Ecuador tonight amid reports he had threatened to abandon the squad if he didn’t get a game.

Blanco, the 34-year old Chicago Fire forward who has produced trouble and memorable moments in equal measure, is set to replace Juan Carlos Cacho up front. Sanchez is also reported to be replacing goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa with Oswaldo Sanchez and Fernando Arce with Omar Bravo.

The demotion of Ochoa, who had an excellent game in the 2-0 win over Brazil is not surprising, as Sanchez is the recognised first choice. But Blanco’s recall will raise eyebrows. The talented forward had previously denied he was threatening to quit the squad but he was clearly not happy at his bit part role.

Blanco came to attention at the World Cup in France in 1998 with a bit of skill like this that soon became his trademark and he cemented his reputation with goals like these.

Goals and Highlights from Last Night’s Games

Alejandro Cichero’s goal for Venezuela against Peru: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0APvqt_-K4&NR=1 

Daniel Arismendi for Venezuela against Peru: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2e4zdDgz5Q

More complete highlights of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEL15bXxy9s

Highlights from Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Bolivia:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwE71VGlhlA