A tall player stands out in a recent match in Samara
A player almost two meters tall stood out for his technical quality during a recent match on a beach in the Russian city of Samara.
He started and stopped. He eluded kids and adults who chased him. And at one point, when he was discovered, he shot with power, raising sand and scoring a goal. It was then that a local resident approached him and asked for a selfie.
It was not for nothing. After all, he was the captain of a historic Uruguayan national team that reached the semifinals in the 2010 World Cup and won the Copa America the following year. Now, Diego Lugano is enjoying it like any other fan, supporting La Celeste in Russia before the match against Portugal in the round of 16.
"I am here, with my children and Uruguayan friends, enjoying the World Cup, which I had not experienced before, which is the festival outside: meeting people, exchanging through football with other cultures," Lugano told The Associated Press during the halftime of a match in which his 10-year-old son, Thiago, also played.
Lugano led a Uruguayan national team that achieved a remarkable fourth place in the 2010 World Cup and reached the round of 16 in Brazil-2014.
His last touches with the ball were at São Paulo FC, where Ecuadorian defender Robert Arboleda had the opportunity to meet him in training and matches.
As usual, the case of the small South American country with 3.3 million inhabitants, a footballing giant, caught attention: they won the World Cup in 1930 at home and in 1950 in the so-called Maracanazo in Brazil. La Celeste has competed in 12 World Cups and is ranked 14th by FIFA.
"Uruguay has had a very good selection process in the last 12 years. It hasn't changed much," he said.
"What has changed is the presence of one or another player, but the commitment, the values, the desire, the sense of identity remain the same. That's why those of us who are not there feel very identified and represented by the guys."
In Russia, Lugano was supporting the team in the stands of the Samara Arena stadium this week, in the match in which Uruguay beat the host by 3-0 to secure first place in Group A.
Observing another Celeste victory with Mr. Wilmar Valdez and Gianni Infantino !!
9 points, 0 goals against! Intact identity. Competing again among the best, as history dictates. pic.twitter.com/EtAlBSL83g— Diego Lugano (@DiegoLugano) June 25, 2018
"We are solid, we are strong. We have very strong competitive points and that makes us protagonists of the Cup, we can beat anyone," said Lugano.
"Obviously, another cup begins now, anyone can beat us in 90 minutes, but Uruguay is really solid for people to be hopeful for the top." (D)