The Stars of the Confed Cup First Round
June 23, 2005
Riquelme is the engine of the Argentina team which has looked in top form 12 months ahead of the 2006 World Cup finals back here in Germany. He has been at the origin of most attacks, feeding the livewire forward Luciano Figueroa, and his free kicks have wreaked havoc in opposing defenses.
The man who turns 27 on Friday -- bizarrely, the same birthday and same age as Nakamura -- believes he is playing the best football of his life. "I think I am at the height of my career," said the Villarreal player.
Riquelme has made nonsense of the assessment of former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa who said he was "too slow" to star at international level. He is just grateful to have been given a new start under coach Jose Pekerman.
"It is just a joy to play in this team and we believe we are heading in the right direction," Riquelme said after the 2-2 draw with Germany in the Argentines' final group game. If there is one player Mexico must be wary of in Sunday's semi-final in Hanover it is Riquelme.
Like Bielsa, Barcelona also considered Riquelme surplus to requirements and he turned his loan move from the Catalans to Villarreal into a permanent deal this week. Having helped Villarreal to a surprising third in the Spanish league last season with 15 goals, Riquelme can look forward to the Champions League in 2005-2006.
Japan's hero
Nakamura came to Germany looking for a switch from Italian Serie A side Reggina, and he has surely caused agents' phone around the world to ring with his performances in Japan's campaign here.
In combination with super-sub Masashi Oguro, Nakamura helped Japan to defy expectations and they only narrowly lost out to Brazil for qualification by virtue of goal difference. Nakamura's free kick allowed Oguro to pull Japan level against the Brazilians, who will now be wary of meeting them next year.
Twice elected man of the match -- he got the accolade in the 1-0 win over Greece as well -- Nakamura has outshone Japan's best-known player, Hidetoshi Nakata, and will be a strong contender to be named in the best eleven players of this eight-nation tournament.
Despite some rocky first-round performances, some Brazilians are sure to also be nominated to that exclusive group. Everyone already knew about World Footballer of the Year Ronaldinho, but European audiences will have been impressed by their first view of his young protege Robinho.
Although both players faded as Brazil lost to Mexico, they were sparkling in the first half against Japan and scored a goal apiece. Unlike the robust Riquelme and Nakamura though, 23-year-old Robinho looks physically a little slight for the World Cup.