Renato Tapia: the omnipresent footballer

Renato Tapia he has accustomed us to the impossible: he always plays well. He is always where the game demands, he always closes what Advíncula left behind and always ends the games as if they lasted two more days. It is a bit his maturity —he is already 26 years old—, the decision you made with your agent —go to Spain to win a position— and the hierarchy that gives a World Cup and a Copa América final —that teaches running no more, but better—. This afternoon against VenezuelaAn emotional triumph of those who applaud psychologists more than coaches, his performance cannot be measured only in statistics: it is difficult for a 10 to qualify his omnipresence today.

Yes. He is no longer a promise in Europe, but a starter in the Spanish League, where one afternoon he marks Benzema and the other Kun Agüero. His precision to top is remarkable, without the need for a fault: this afternoon against Venezuela he won 7 of 12 duels using his body, a virtue that has improved in Spain and that distinguishes him over an Aquino or a Yotún. Mark as if he were going to dance bolero, and that can only be done from a remarkable physical state, another European heritage. Regarding his panorama to deliver a safe pass, or change front even with a mark, his past of 10. Those who knew him at EGB always say —Daniel Peredo (+) was the first— that Renato Tapia was gifted with skills for the medium offensive and although he gave away age, in his promo he was always a starter, up to 38 fever. It would be enough to see their videos on YouTube. Or the matches of this Eliminatory with the national team.

For Peruvians, even those who do not like football, it is easy for us to praise Cueva —one sees him and thinks what Cholo Sotil must have been like—, viralize Lapadula or pray to Paolo. It is the offensive media – closer to the goal, to the zoom of the photographers – who find it easy, and it is through them that we feel represented, basically, because in the neighborhood we all want to score the goal. It’s not normal theoretical The man who goes to the poster marks the medium. Tapia yes and his movements in the field with, a long time ago, a world trend. What in Argentina is De Paul or in Chile, Vidal. Let’s look at where they are at the table, how their game is built, and where their balance lies.

It is not normal for an all-field player like Renato Tapia to be the one who, whatever happens, be it a painful defeat or a precious victory like the one today in Caracas, always plays 8 points. O 9. O 10. Nature, always wise, joined the epic and gave it its share of Peru: Tapia was born on July 28. If he turned out to be a footballer, as his old Luis wanted, he had to run like this, defending. And as it is not normal, it must be said more often: this is also Renato Tapia’s team.

We didn’t have a footballer like that, with that hierarchy, and it shows. Forget for today that Twitter exists. It is Tapia, a footballer to whom you have to compare less, and applaud more.