Fernando Muslera: Making a Name for Himself
When the 2010 FIFA World Cup started, Uruguay’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was not one of the most talked about goalkeepers that would be playing in the biggest event in the world of football. But his impressive performances and commanding presence in the goal helped his team reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, and as a result, he has made a name for himself in the football circuit.
The 24 year-old Muslera kicked off his football career in 2004 when he was named to the youth system of Montevido Wanderers. He had a great stint with the team which earned him a spot in the roster of Nacional in 2006. However, this stint was cut short after he received a lot of offers from European Giant Teams like Juventus, Arsenal, Benfica, and Lazio.
Muslera turned down offers from other teams and decided to transfer in 2007 to Lazio where he immediately became their starting goalkeeper, replacing the retired Angelo Peruzzi. He had an impressive debut with Lazio, leading his team to a 3-1 win against Cagliari, but was relegated to the bench in his sixth game after conceding four goals in their embarrassing 1-5 loss against Milan. Muslera regained the starting duty in the 2009-2010 Season after having an outstanding performance in the previous season.
With his solid showing with Lazio, he was named to the National Football Team of Uruguay in 2009. He earned his first international cap when he played as the first-choice goalkeeper in their 2-1 win against Ecuador in the qualifying rounds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His performance in this game made head coach Oscar Tabarez decide to name him as their National Team’s first-choice goalkeeper in the World Cup.
Muslera lived up to the expectations of Tabarez and his countrymen when he displayed his imposing defence in their preliminary round matches. Playing for the first time in the World Cup stage, Muslera helped his team stand toe-to-toe against the much-favored France in their match that ended in a scoreless draw. The Lazio goalkeeper also made his presence felt in their next two matches when he kept his clean sheet after winning their games against South Africa 3-0 and Mexico 1-0.
The most highlighted game of Muslera’s first World Cup stint came in Uruguay’s quarter-finals match against Ghana. This match went into a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw after the 90-minute and extra time action. He pulled off a crucial stop in Ghana’s John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah’s shot in the penalty shoot-out giving them a 4-2 win. After that game, he admitted that he was very nervous before the penalty round but he tried to stay calm and just trust his instincts.
This impressive performance earned him a lot of accolades and praises from several football experts and coaches. Muslera has already made 15 vital saves in his World Cup debut and much more stops are expected from him this year and the future World Cups.
Tabarez and his teammates believe that Muslera has a bright future ahead of him. Tabarez said the he is very satisfied with Muslera’s performance, especially with the mental strength he displayed in their breathtaking match against Ghana. Muslera’s teammate Sebastian Abreu also expressed his admiration for his talent, which he said is very rare to a player as young as he is.
Fernando Muslera and the rest of the Uruguay National Football Team will be facing Netherlands in the semi-finals and it’s expected to be a grueling encounter. Muslera should impose his will at the defensive end to the field to help his team reach the penultimate stage of the World Cup. His contribution to his team will be very vital in their bid to reach the finals and eventually hoist the World Cup trophy for the first time since the inaugural edition of the tournament in their country in 1930.
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