Exclusive: Guti Selección?

Real Madrid arrives back to the capital late Saturday night from their first win at Deportivo La Coruna's Estadio Riazor in 19 years. As the players emerge from the bus, they are met by a swarm of supporters, all of whom sing proudly "¡Guti Selección!" Real Madrid's bad boy has done it again. A sublime performance and an assist that will always be remembered elevate the veteran to the status of sainthood for the week in the capital city. It's been bumpy road for Guti this season. The spat with new boss Pellegrini, the sending off at Sevilla, the Alcorcon misery, the transfer out speculation, and the nagging injuries have all put the number 14 into hot water amongst supporters. Guti has always lurked in the shadows at Madrid, often times scapegoated for his temper and questionable off field activities, falling in and out of favor as the world's best players and coaches arrive and depart from the club he has been at all his life. He rarely ever sees the credit but remains as faithful and as passionate as any player I've seen. Some wanted him gone this season, never to don the shirt again, choosing to ignore his footballing genius in favor of new talent and short goodbyes. Others saw past the media frenzy that has surrounded the footballer's life and kept the faith even when his establishment in the first team was optimistic at best. Real Madrid - The Offside writer, Corey, published an article called Guti: The Disgraced Son a little over a month ago. It was a very good piece that took an inside look at the man and if he would be called upon again in a crucial time of player absences to rescue los blancos in their time of need. Many hated the idea but just a month later the new cry is for Guti to be called up to Spanish National Team for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Los-merengues.com has quotes from all major media sources in Spain hailing the former Madrid Academy player's performance this past weekend and tipping him for La Furia Roja. Deportivo manager, Lotina, who stated that Madrid would struggle without Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the week, was mesmerized by a different kind of footballer on Saturday, an artist rather than assassin. He said "...he (Guti) must take part in the World Cup." Guti has not played for the national team since 2005. We are talking five years here. He has also never played in a major competition internationally. No one will be able to creep into Spanish National Team coach, Vincente Del Bosque's head to unearth if he is considering calling up the Real Madrid playmaker unless he comes out and mentions the subject to the press but let's take a look at the pros and cons of the call up.

Vincente del Bosque is a Madrid man. He served at the club since 1964. He coached los blancos briefly in 1994 and then again in 1999-2003, winning two European Cups, both of which Guti was a part of. So Del Bosque knows of the talent Guti possesses. Statistically, Del Bosque fancied Guti. In those 4 seasons (excluding 1994) Guti made 124 league appearances, scoring 24 goals as a creative midfield player. Guti possesses and unhuman-like passing talent and vision that prove to be a lethal combination that can cut up defenses at any given time. In a previous article, I mentioned the 2007-2008 season home match against Valladolid in which Guti had 4 assists and 2 goals in a 7-0 win (the remaining goal was also set up by Guti with a long through ball from within his own half). At 33 years old, Guti has the experience at a top level. Though he lacks international call ups, he has played at a premier level his entire career, being part of Madrid's senior team since 1995. Guti would also relish the chance to be given the opportunity to play in a World Cup. Anyone who watches him play knows the intensity and passion he brings to the game. His veins bulge from his neck while he screams during a goal scoring celebration. He has gotten into his fair share of scuffles do to his aggressive nature. If you watched closely to the Deportivo game on Saturday, Guti collapsed to his knees yelling into the leaking Galician night sky, both arms raised with joy, seconds after Karim Benzema scored in the 90th minute to make the score 3-1, quite the theatrics for an insurance goal that he played no significant part in. He has an unmatched desire to succeed. Guti is also notably good from a dead ball situation. He can deliver corners, various set pieces and has an eye for top corners on free kicks. What makes him even more unique from set a play is that he is left footed which can add an extra element to free kick situations.

We all know that Spain has arguably the best center midfield in the world. The amount of options in the center of the park is an embarassment of riches. It boasts players like Xavi, Iniesta, Marcos Senna, Xabi Alonso, Fabregas, ect. Is there room for Guti? Guti is Madrid's Xavi. It is said that Guti is not a great starter but an excellent super sub. Perhaps he could act as a primary relief for Xavi or whoever else and still add the cutting edge passing to the squad. If Spain does well in their group and feel comfortable, why drain vital players with the knockout stages ahead? Guti can do just as good of a job as anyone, still get time, and relieve those who are tipped to be established starters in the National team. Also take a look at some the Spanish midfield players I listed. Apart from Xabi Alonso, none are very sizely. Guti stands at 6'1 and would add height to a short midfield.

Well I've certainly described the pros but what about the cons? It would certainly be a last minute call up to a team that doesn't really need any major help. Matter of fact, they are one of the two heavy favorites, the other being Brazil, to win the tournament. Spain has a core group of players who won Euro 2008 and really haven't lost anybody since. Not only would the team have to mold with Guti but visa-versa. Guti has been at Madrid all his life and playing alongside Barcelona's Xavi and Iniesta, who are mortal enemies to Real Madrid in the club footballing world, might be hard to adapt to. What makes you think bringing in Guti would be beneficial to the team's already established chemistry? He is a character after all. Guti is a strong personality. He has been seen engaging in a couple on-field disputes with his teammates at Madrid. The Madrid man lets his temper get a hold of him at times and has a history of being sent off. Not to mention he can be bothered by outside sources. Guti is hated amongst many crowds outside the safety of Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu and has been seen blowing kisses and sticking out his tongue at opposition supporters while walking to the tunnel. Fans at the World Cup won't be any kinder. The playmaker, as I mentioned is 33 years old, not exactly in his prime. This makes him more prone to injury and less likely to play a complete 90 minutes in midfield. How useful can an injured player really be?

This debate raises a lot of interesting questions I'm sure del Bosque is turning over and over in his head. Can Guti's Madrid performances put on a strong enough campaign to seal him a place in his country's national team? Is this Guti's last chance to cement himself amongst Spanish footballing folklore? Could he finally emerge the hero after being the victim of so much negativity throughout his career? Will he go out on a bang or will this idea of Guti Haz, Spanish National Team player, fade into the forgotten history of "what ifs?" I for one am amongst those singing "¡Guti Selección!" I want nothing more than to see another Real Madrid player in the Spanish team that has perhaps the greatest chance to win of any Spanish team to ever entered the World Cup. I want one of our own to succeed. Let's see if del Bosque will inject anymore blanco into La Furia Roja.

Let's hear what you all think.

Bobby