Sergio out to fulfill his father’s dream

POTCHEFSTROOM - The Busquets family in Barcelona is planning a big celebration Sunday as their son Sergio is hours away from fulfilling his father Carles’ dream of representing Spain in a World Cup football final.

Carles, a goalkeeper with Barcelona in the 1990s, never got a chance to play for Spain. But his 21-year-old son has gone far ahead and is a confirmed starter against the Netherlands in Sunday’s final at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium.

In 2009, Sergio, followed his father’s footsteps and featured in Barcelona’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final. In the process, Carles and Sergio became only the third father and son duo to have represented the same team in winning Europe’s top club competition, Carles having won the title in 1992.

They joined the select father-son league of Manuel Sanchís Martínez and Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo (Real Madrid) and Cesare and Paolo Maldini (A.C. Milan).

In South Africa, Sergio, who anchors the midfield, is not a bit player for Spain. He has played all but 27 minutes of the competition for La Furia Roja.

Sergio knows that expectations are high from him. After all, he was picked ahead of Marcos Senna who played a crucial role as a holding midfielder during Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph.

Sergio has vowed not to let his coach Vincent del Bosque and his father down.

“It feels good to know that people are expecting something for me. Expectations create a sense of responsibility and I am ready for that. I have to fulfill my father’s dream and end up on the winning side Sunday,” Busquets told IANS at the team’s training base in Potchefstroom University.

But Sergio knows it would be a tall task for Spain to beat the Netherlands.

“We are worried about (Wesley) Sneijder. He is an excellent player, we are studying how we can stop him,” he said.

At the club level, Sergio is being compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez.

“I am glad that people compare me with such great players. But it is of no use, until and unless I play well. I know the challenges I have to face and it is going to be the biggest moment of my career,” he said.

A great deal of criticism was hurled at Sergio when he was playing for Barcelona.

But here in South Africa, del Bosque has shown faith in the youngster and he was proved right as Sergio excelled in the semi-final against Germany. Of the players who have featured in more than three World Cup matches, only four have a better pass completion rate than Sergio.

Against the Netherlands, one should not expect Sergio to be a match-winner, but his workman like approach can make a difference for the Spaniards.

(Abhishek Roy can be contacted at abhishek.roy@ians.in)