The World Cup in Italy 90 was a sad World Cup for Peruvians because the red and white team could not qualify and the country was devastated by terrorism and hyperinflation. In addition, it was a tournament that could not be followed on television due to the constant power outages as a result of the terrorist acts of Sendero Luminoso. By the way Peru’s World Cup fans were very frustrated. Hopefully you could chop the live stream and morning of a party if one was in an area of the city blessed with light or in a place supplied by a generator. But there was no need to get high hopes. Stretched out in a chair in front of the television, fueling soccer illusions, at the least expected moment, the image could disappear and the television would turn off for long hours. Taking millions of souls and football consciences to limbo.
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It was a time when you had to resign yourself to watching the games on a delayed basis, at night, or catch a summary of goals on the news. Meanwhile, life had to flow soulless and gray, aware that somewhere in Italy the ball painted life in colors.
But the love of soccer and the feeling of Latin American brotherhood made many of us from Lima follow the campaign of the South American teams, glued to a radio. Mentally and soccer-wise we were with Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina. But, above all, with Colombia. Columbia, Columbia, Columbia!as in soccer broadcasts in the country of cumbia, we Limeños wanted the triumph of team led by Francisco ‘Pacho’ Maturanawho had already put the fans and the sports press in South America in his pocket for his great play in the qualifiers.
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The World Cup debut against the United Arab Emirates arrived. Colombia triumphed 2-0. I stumbled against Yugoslavia 0-1. And in the last match of Group D, the real match, at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, the Colombian National Team faced none other than West Germany, the great Germany coached by Franz Beckenbauer which, in the end, was crowned world champion.
It was a very even match. Colombia stood up, played at a high level and gave the tournament a shock, putting a powerful Germany in trouble from start to finish, which found itself with a solvent and very tough rival. Minute by minute, the coffee team justified its presence and showed what it was made of. Let’s say that it was the starting point of a long chain of triumphs that would last for two more World Cups.
Memories crowd at this hour. Italy 90 must have been the lowest World Cup in quality, emotion, figures and good play. With electricity and prosperity restored, one could review the matches. And sum it all up in the following extreme: a remarkable Germany; some plays by Maradona; a splendid goalscorer like Lineker; the goals and dances of Roger Milla; the category of Skhuravy, the great player from Czechoslovakia; the formidable Costa Rican goalkeeper Gabelo Conejo, the beautiful theme song by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini; and Freddy Rincón’s goal, ‘The Colossus of the Pacific’ as the injundious Colombian announcers shouted.
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The emotional cry of Freddy Rincón, scoring against Germany, at the end of the match, was the cry of Colombia and its regions. And the cry of Peru. That he listened to the radio and watched the games on a delayed basis. In that time of lean cows, Peru experienced the world interposition person. And he watched with emotion and satisfaction how the good football of the Cuetos, the Uribes, the Cubillas, the Sotils, the Barbadillos, etc. he had found identity and followers in Colombia.
Today, on the eve of Holy Saturday, we say goodbye to Freddy Rincón, the remarkable offensive midfielder and the entire field, adopted by Colombian football. Tall, powerful, highly dynamic, skilful and fast; Freddy has shot with his deadly shot to oblivion. The goal against Germany was the prologue to his brilliant career. Whose semblance we found reviewed in all the newspapers of the world this morning. From Lima, where Freddy gave a lecture wearing the shirt of the Colombian National Team and América de Cali, the fans give him a standing ovation that will turn into prayers. Because as long as he lives in memory he won’t die forever.
You may also be interested in:
– Freddy Rincón: the sad message that his son Sebastián wrote him
– Freddy Rincón: premonitory message he sent when Maradona died
– Freddy Rincón: why hasn’t James Rodríguez said anything about his death?
OSCAR CONTRERAS
Peruvian citizen
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