Christian Ramos: a defender to go to war

I was there, at home. Training in a club without press and with WhatsApp online every time the secret chat of the national team was activated. He was there, at home, overshadowed by news that did not occur even when Chumpitaz and Meléndez were a duo in that founding Peru of the seventies: Abram in Spain, Santamaría in Mexico and Zambrano in Argentina. Opaque but not hidden: the night that Gareca played the Eliminatory and the selection needed, more than it is played to defend it, Peru made use of Christian Ramos, the back of César Vallejo from League 1, the simple game defender who has lived —history will judge— as your alias says. In the shadow.

For less than what he has done in his career, others are compared to Reynoso.

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At least, within the margins that one expects for a center-back who plays a war-match: he did not lose any of the 7 aerial heads-up, he cleared up to three times and with absolute coldness the ball to the rostrum, even with affection would say; as if instead of rejecting it with violence it were that baptismal moment in which viniball tribune by tribune; and he never lost concentration, not when he had to mark the Chilean-English big man Brerenson or when the dwarf Meléndez appeared to contracture him. In the broadcast they said that he had a “party face” and yes, that is a simple definition that sums up Ramos against Chile, this final. Face of wanting to win the game.

From 8 to 10 at night this Thursday at the Nacional, that was the only thing Peru needs. A footballer who defends, not who shows off.

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Ten years and 83 games with the Peruvian shirt later, and a number of irreproducible epithets that have not done justice – never – to the level shown every time he played with the national team – huge starter heading to Russia, author of the final goal, cited by all the coaches since 2005— Christian Ramos was, once again, the national team player that every coach needs on deadline nights. No doubts. Moreover, it will be doubted when it is not there. And if Corzo ever won the position to Advíncula or Trauco made Vargas forget, Christian Ramos leads this group that does not start adjectives, that plays more than it speaks, that has learned to live with extreme criticism rather than with praise . Many power plants have passed since Chemo del Solar a la Videna called it. Even some with a better career abroad than him. Ramos only surpassed Ramos, with all that that means.

So this note, a brief reminder. It was with a Ramos that we qualified for the World Cup. Do not forget.

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