Uruguay: Alvaro Recoba

Alvaro Recoba returned with a vengeance from a year of torment and goes to the World Cup living up to his status as the world’s best-paid footballer.

When Inter Milan brought in the striker from Nacional in Uruguay five years ago, they were buying raw potential.

Nurtured by coaches of Hector Cuper, Marcello Lippi and Roy Hodgson’s credibility, he is now the complete footballer.

A half-season spent with Venezia in 1999 marked him out as a player of rich talent and earned him a bumper pay rise on his return to the Nerazzurri ranks.

But a 12-month ban from Italian football, over a falsified passport claim, cast a shadow over his career with the Italians.

Eventually reduced to five months, the scandal was dragged out over a year ﷓ rocking Inter and appalling Recoba, who protested his innocence.

Back last autumn, and with a flurry of goals in late-season, Recoba developed a deadly partnership with Christian Vieri at Inter. Ronaldo was hardly missed.

If Uruguay are to have a chance of reaching the knockout stages at the World Cup, Recoba’s contribution will be decisive.

Nicknamed ‘Chino’ by the Inter support for his oriental looks, he is famed for explosive long-range shooting and curled in a terrific free-kick as Inter beat title rivals Juventus in a crucial March match.

But there is a lot more to Recoba’s game than goalscoring.

To boost the Uruguayans’ midfield, and provide a cog for the team to work around, he could feature in an advanced midfield role rather than as a distant striker.

It is a position he grew to enjoy during the winter, when playing for Inter, and he is confident enough to play there in the summer.

‘‘I like the idea of playing like (Ryan) Giggs from Manchester United or Kily Gonzalez from Valencia,’’ he said. ‘‘I think I’m able to play in that position.

‘‘I’m learning to play football with more maturity and I have to thank Cuper for that.’’

Recoba, however, is under no illusions about the size of the task facing the South Americans this summer.

‘‘It’s a difficult group for my country,’’ he said. ‘‘The key will be to make a good start.’’

Cuper gradually reintroduced Recoba, as a substitute initially, following the expiration of his ban.

And he has to be credited with expert handling of the 26-year-old.

‘‘Recoba has been important. He has to be motivated and I can’t leave him alone,’’ said the Argentinian coach. ‘‘He is a great player.’’

The last great Uruguayan was Enzo Francescoli, an inspirational midfielder who featured at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.

Having failed to qualify for USA ’94 and France ’98, Uruguay needed a play-off to reach South Korea and Japan.

In the second leg against Australia, trailing by a single goal after the first leg in Melbourne, Recoba played in a deep role and created two of Uruguay’s three goals which secured their passage.

France, Senegal and South Africa lie in wait in the first round and Uruguay should have no fear of the latter two.

The experience of a difficult 2001 has strengthened Recoba, forced him to re-assess his footballing priorities and strengthened his hunger.

He will certainly fear no-one.