Jonathan de Guzman Continues Torturing Canadians

By: chris | August 24th, 2009

As Giuseppe Rossi became, officially, Giuseppe Rossi this summer – you know, finally fulfilled that enormous hype on the international scene – Jonathan de Guzman is officially becoming Jonathan de Guzman, man hated by Canadians – though for a better reason than Americans hate Beppe.

For those naive to Dutch and/or Canadian football matters, Jonathan de Guzman is a Canadian-born Feyenoord player who decided to play for Netherlands on the world scene rather than Canada. But unlike Rossi, he’s not of Dutch ethnicity, they’re simply much better at football (well, he says he “feels Dutch”, which I’ve often found to be code for “this football team is better than that one”). It’s only worse in that his brother Julian plays for the Canadian national team.

So really he’s closer to Salomon Kalou than Rossi (what with bro Bonaventure playing for the Ivory Coast), but the North American parallels lump them together. And unlike Kalou, de Guzman can get a passport in time for a World Cup. (Chew on that, Salomon.)

The thing about de Guzman is he’s been a good player and tantalizing talent for some time. But last year, one where he could’ve taken the path to superstardom, was blighted by injury and he only played two games. Feyenoord were well below standards and, with his contract up at the end of the year, a big money move abroad is looking likely.

And with all this his star dimmed slightly last year. But now, like Rossi, he’s back with a bang and torturing Dutch opposition and Canadians alike with some pinpoint placement which often goes underappreciated. Two goals this weekend against Roda and each the mirror reflection of the other, and two which helped take a surprising Feyenoord to top of the Eredivisie table.

Fortunately for some, unfortunately for many, hances are this is just the beginning, as he continues filling highlight reels, and the nightmares of Canadians, for years to come.