There was something special about Carlos Vela’s two-goal performance for Mexico in their 3-2 defeat of the Netherlands in Amsterdam last week, and not just because of the quality of his superbly taken brace. Perhaps recognising the fact, the Mexican striker celebrated his goals by touching the badge on his shirt and raising his arms in triumph, before being mobbed by his jubilant team-mates.
The reason for his delight and theirs was the fact that Vela was back in the green of Mexico after an absence of over three years from the national side, an extended estrangement that rocked the foundations of the Mexican game and pitched his supporters and detractors in the stands and the media against each other.
Having brought Vela back into the fold, El Tri coach Miguel Herrera was understandably delighted with his stunning performance, later commenting: “He showed his quality. He’s a very important player and he’s going to help us win the titles we’re looking for.”
The rise and fall of a prodigy
Vela’s on-off love affair with the national team began nearly a decade ago, when Mexico defied the odds to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2005. They did so in some style too, inspired by the livewire strike partnership Vela formed with his inseparable friend Giovani dos Santos. Making stellar contributions, the pair walked away with the adidas Golden Boot and the adidas Silver Ball respectively.
Vela’s on-off love affair with the national team began nearly a decade ago, when Mexico defied the odds to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2005. They did so in some style too, inspired by the livewire strike partnership Vela formed with his inseparable friend Giovani dos Santos. Making stellar contributions, the pair walked away with the adidas Golden Boot and the adidas Silver Ball respectively.
Europe’s big guns took note of their talents, with Gio joining Barcelona and Carlitos signing for Arsenal. While they took some time to settle at their new clubs, they continued to ride the wave at international level, making their full Mexico debuts in 2007 and earning starting places at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ at the tender age of 21.
Their futures seemed secure, with both looking ahead to Brazil 2014 as the stage for them to cement their places as genuine world stars. But in Vela’s case, his plans went awry just a few weeks after returning from South Africa.
On 7 September 2010 Mexico defeated Colombia 1-0 in a friendly in Monterrey. Hours after the game, the players organised a party in the team hotel, and though the details surrounding the festivities never became fully clear, the upshot was that Vela and Efrain Juarez – another member of the so-called “golden generation” of 2005 – were suspended from the national side for six months.
SOURCE: Fifa.com
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