Shirts #19 to 23 in World Cups
From
=?UTF-8?B?TGzDqW8=?=@21:1/5 to
All on Wed Nov 2 20:15:44 2022
Continuing the theme of my previous post, about squad numbers and how long we have to wait until WC kickoff, here's a quick rundown about the previous numbers
(19 to 23), from highest to lowest.
23 is the youngest number of the lot, used only from 2002 onwards. It's often a
not very interesting one, as it tends to end up with a reserve goalkeeper, who is not likely to see much action. This is the case of its most frequent user, Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who carried it from 2006 to 2018, though he only
played one game (a meaningless first round game against Australia in 2014, when
both sides were out of contention). Uruguayan goalkeeper Martín Silva also fits
this bill, having featured three WC's as his country's #23, but never playing a minute. From those who took up the field, there are Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri (2010 to 2018, also the number's top goalscorer, with 4 goals) and Australia's Mark Bresciano (2006 to 2014) with three WC's with #23 in their backs.
Other notable users: Italy's Marco Materazzi (2006), who beyond winning that WC
also got Zidane sent off in that final; the Netherlands' Tim Krul, who came from
the subs bench at the end of extra time to stop Costa Rica on the penalty shootout
in the 2014 quarterfinals; and rss old favorite "Super" Mario Gomez, who used it
in 2010 and 2018, having missed 2014 after an injury-plagued season (as well as carrying it in Euros 2012 and 2016).
22, like 23, usually ended up in the back of reserve keepers. But in that capacity,
it lays claim to fame as it was worn by Faryd Mondragón in his three games for
Colombia in 1998 and, 16 years later, for five minutes of Colombia's first round
clash with Japan, as Pekerman subbed him in to become the oldest player to ever feature in a WC (a record broken four years later by another goalie, Egyptian Essam
El Hadary). Other than that, little to write home about what is basically a list of
backup keepers, some of which would feature for their countries in future WC's.
Most frequent user is Uruguayan defender Martín Cáceres (2010 to 2018), and other
honourable mentions go to Alexi Lalas (1994 and 1998), Franck Ribery (2002), and
the top goalscorer using number 22, Russia's Artem Dzyuba (3 goals in 2018).
21 is a more interesting one. You get all kinds of players here: forwards, such as
Christian Vieri (the number's top goalscorer, with 9 goals), Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola, Edinson Cavani and David Silva; midfielders, such as Luis Enrique,
Michel, Andrea Pirlo and Jose Daniel Valencia ; defenders, such as Christoph Metzelder and Mauro Galvão; and even goalkeepers, such as Ramón Quiroga (once
booked in the opponent's half of the pitch in Peru's 1-0 loss to Poland in 1978)
and Stere Adamache (Romanian, first goalkeeper to be substituted during open play
in a World Cup match, Romania's 3-2 loss to Brasil in 1970). There are four players
who used it for three WC's: Jesus Arellano (Mexico, 1998 to 2006), David Silva (Spain, 2010 to 2018), Luis Enrique (Spain, 1994 to 2002) and Andrea Pirlo (Italy,
2006 to 2014). Of course, we should make an honourable mention to another rss favorite, Marko Marin, who used it for Germany in 2010.
20 gets a lot of action with forwards. Most famous example of course is Paolo Rossi, whose 6 goals in the decisive rounds of WC'82 carried Italy to the trophy
and his name to the top of goalscorer list with this number. Brasil brings Vavá
(1958), Roberto Dinamite (1978 and 1982), Bebeto (1998) and Firmino (2018), and
maybe may claim Ronaldo too, even though he didn't get to play in 1994. Other than
that, there's France's David Trezeguet, Germany's Oliver Bierhoff, Poland's Zbigniew Boniek, Italy's Roberto Boninsegna and England's Michael Owen (in his first WC) as honourable mentions. The player who carried it for most WC's was South
Korea's Hong Myung-bo, from 1990 to 2002.
And finally 19. This was Lionel Messi's first ever squad number in a WC, in 2006,
and also Daniel Passarella's number as he captained Argentina in their 1978 victory. I'd also like to mention Juninho Pernambucano (Brasil, 2006), because he
was one of my favorite players. The number's top goalscorer is Salvatore Schillaci,
due to his 6 goals in WC'90, and four players wore it in three World Cups: Julio
Salinas (Spain, 1986 to 1994), Freddy Rincón (Colombia, 1990 to 1998), Gianluca
Zambrotta (Italy, 2002 to 2010) and Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, 2006 to 2014).
That should cover the "late" numbers but, as always, feel free to contribute to
the above or correct any eventual inaccuracies.
Best regards,
Lléo
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)