WORLD CUP SIDELIGHTS: Number 10’s return

CEBU, Philippines - Think football of year’s past and names like Pele of Brazil, Diego Maradona of  Argentina and Carlos Valderrama of Colombia resurrect.  Football then was played differently where stars handled the ball longer and do their magic, thus, tempo was dictated by them.  They have two things in common – they were adored by their respective nations and they wear the same number – 10.

These three football legends have long retired from the game but in their stead, young prodigies, also coming from their respective countries and yes, wearing the same iconic and mystical numbers on their national team jerseys have made today’s football more enjoyable and exciting to watch.  And surely, their fans adore them to god-like proportions.

Brazil’s one-named wonder Neymar, Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi and Colombia’s rising star James Rodriguez are giving justice to the fabled number 10.  This new generation made football evolve into a creative and attacking kind of game where unpredictability is the norm.

These three stars have carried their teams to the Round of 16.  Between them, through nine games, they scored 11 goals.  Neymar and Messi, along with Germany’s Thomas Mueller are on the World Cup’s leader board with most goals scored at 4 each.  They should be adding to that tally in this round.  Rodriguez has 3 goals to his credit.

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Luis Suarez was unceremoniously sent back to Uruguay.  FIFA has suspended the rabid footballer for the next 9 matches of the Uruguayan national football team aside from the 4-month ban from any football-related activity.  Suarez is also fined the equivalent of $112,000.  Well, if you can’t beat them, bite them. (FREEMAN)