Dreadlocked and deadly on the ball, Gervinho and Juan Cuadrado, the ‘Pasta Rockets’ of Serie A go head to head Thursday as Ivory Coast and Colombia tussle for World Cup Group C supremacy.
Gervinho, who features for Roma, and Cuadrado of Fiorentina are distinctive figures with their standout hairstyles and cut a stylish dash on the pitch where they are regarded as two of the best dribblers in the Italian top flight.
Former Arsenal striker Gervinho is “irreplaceable” according to Roma coach, Rudi Garcia.
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However, Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi is more demanding.
“He creates a lot of opportunities for himself but misses a lot. If only he could put more in the back of the net ... ” Lamouchi told AFP.
Gervinho scored nine times and made 10 assists in Serie A last season and hit three goals and two assists in the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup).
He also scored his first World Cup goal in the 2-1 win over Japan, an off-balance header which would have been applauded by the likes of fellow poachers Gerd Muller or Pippo Inzaghi.
He would not look out of place in a Brazilian team where one-word names are common currency.
Born Gervais Yao Kouassi, he shortened it to Gervinho in an act of self-confidence to reflect his liking for the Brazilian style of play.
Alongside the likes of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure, the Roma player is growing into his role with Ivory Coast.
“He has confidence in himself and, little by little, he is becoming an important part of the team,” said Lamouchi.
Gervinho grew up playing on the wings, a position that has become more and more crucial to his development.
“The dribble, it’s something I have always done,” he told AFP.
Cuadrado plays the same explosive role with Fiorentina and with Colombia.
He scored 11 club goals in the Italian season just completed and with Spain’s Borja Valero formed a crucial partnership as the Florence club were deprived for long periods of the services of Mario Gomez and Giuseppe Rossi.
His lone setback was being suspended for the Italian Cup final which Fiorentina lost 2-1 to Napoli.
The 26-year-old is being courted by other clubs with champions Juventus reportedly showing interest.
Before hitting the big time in Italy, he started at Independiente Medellin in Colombia before switching to Serie A where he played for Udinese and Lecce.
He scored on his international debut against Venezuela in 2010 and achieved the dream of many South American players – to get on the scoresheet against Brazil which he did in a 1-1 friendly draw in Miami in 2012.
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