Budweiser Man of the Match: Juan RIQUELME (ARG)

16 June 2006

Juan Riquelme was the centrepiece of an Argentine attack that put the ball in the net six times against Serbia and Montenegro on Friday, earning himself recognition as the Budweiser Man of the Match.

By half-time, Argentina were already in control thanks to two goals by Maxi Rodriguez in the sixth and 41st minutes, and another by Esteban Cambiasso in the 31st. After Serbia and Montenegro were reduced to ten men thanks the 65th-minute expulsion of Mateja Kezman, the floodgates really opened, as Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi each followed with goals in the last quarter-hour.

The honour could easily have been awarded to any number of Argentine players, as there was clearly no shortage of impressive performances, but Riquelme was recognised for being at the centre of it all.

"It was not easy to choose the Budweiser Man of the Match because there were several very good players,” said FIFA Technical Study Group member Roy Hodgson, “but we thought that Riquelme had a tremendous influence for Argentina. In an Argentine team that played very well, he always asked for the ball. His ability and passing vision were fundamental factors in the great attacking performance that we were presented with here today.”