The Dutch have a long and proud history of producing some of the most skilful players in the history of world football: Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Ryan Babel.
On the evidence of Monday’s World Cup opener against Denmark, they could just have unearthed another.
Eljero Elia saw just over 20 minutes of the action at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, but his quality shone through every time he got on the ball and the Danes, who had defended so comfortably for much of the game (Simon Busk Poulsen’s comical own goal apart) were quaking in their boots long before the full-time whistle.
At 23, Elia may not be the youngest kid on the block and Europe’s top clubs weren’t exactly knocking each other over in the rush to sign him from FC Twente 12 months ago.
But a move to Hamburg has seen him progress smartly and having been marked out as one to watch for the tournament before his stellar cameo against the Danes, he now looks certain to be a go-to guy for Holland for the remainder of this tournament.
So what exactly does Elia bring to the table? Well, obscene skill is the thing that really marks him out but he also has the speed to make the most of it. Think of the pace of Thierry Henry with the touch of Ronaldinho, and you’re somewhere close. It’s a scary combo for most right backs, particularly those of Cameroon and Japan who are likely to stare him down over the next few days.
With his first two possessions against Denmark Elia skinned his marker with tricks that had the lads in the JOE office lunging for the Sky+ control. He also provided the indirect assist for Holland’s second goal, getting on the end of Wesley Sneijder’s perceptive through-ball and beating Thomas Sorensen with a carefully dinked shot, which came back off the post and into the lap of the poaching Dirk Kuyt.
Potential suitors: Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid
This is one kid who won’t find himself pitching up at half-full Premier League grounds any time soon, unless he’s in the away dressing-room. Elia cost Hamburg around €8million a year ago and it’s not understating things that his value will have multiplied at least three-fold since then.
There has been talk of Liverpool interest in the past but he’s almost certain to be outside the Anfield club’s budget at this stage, which leaves just a few realistic suitors.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be keeping his eyes peeled for lads who may be capable of filling the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo, the off-the-scale riches of Chelsea and Manchester City mean they are sure to be looking at any player who makes a star of himself at this World Cup while Jose Mourinho will be looking for the x-factor to revitalise Real Madrid’s flagging fortunes. Elia could fit the bill for all four, provided he can build on his brief run-out against the Danes by becoming a headline star over the next few weeks.
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