ISAAC HEATH – Nearly every national team has at least one player that frustrates the nation it represents by playing a Jekyll and Hyde routine. For the US that player has often been Clint Dempsey, while the entire Catalan contingent was oft criticized for its supposed desire to excel more with Barcelona than with the Spanish national team (that theory has clearly been squashed though).
Of course, Lionel Messi has been incredibly scrutinized for not leading Argentina to a major title and for not scoring goals at the rate he does for his club. However, another South American has worn the mediocrity hat with the national team far more than anyone has and that is Peruvian Claudio Pizarro.
To understand how disappointing Pizarro’s international resume is you have to understand Peru. Having lived in Peru at various times in my life, I can attest to a nation that has so much, yet simultaneously has little.
