Every now and again you see a player for the very first time and are instantly convinced he'll become a superstar. That moment last happened for me when i saw a dashing Dutch wideman rip Pablo Zabaleta to bits during a splendid UEFA Cup game which ended 3-2 to Manchester City against FC Twente late in 2008.Since making an impression on the English watching public for the first time that night, Elia, who claims to have been named after American musician Al Jarreau, has left De Grolsch Veste for pastures new, joining Hamburg for around £7m last summer.
An overall disappointing season for the Red Shorts has seen them recently appoint their third manager since Martin Jol left for Ajax, with former Wolfsburg boss Armin Veh recently given the position. Elia, and defender Jerome Boateng - just left for the Premier League, have proved the main plus points.
Elia was handed his full international debut last Autumn, assisting two goals before bagging himself one during his second cap. Yesterday, he came off the bench to boost a comfortable but flagging Dutch side in their opening World Cup game against Denmark, one of several mazy runs ending up in Liverpool's king scuffer Dirk Kuyt bagging a screamer from three yards to put the game beyond doubt.
Hardly short of competition, Elia mightn't start regularly just yet, but the injury to Arjen Robben leaves him as the most pacy and direct asset they have. His man competition should come from wantaway Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, though he's more at home from a central position. Also in the squad is Ryan Babel. Not sure Elia needs to worry about that one.
Like Babel, Elia has pace to burn. That's about where the similarities end. The Hamburg man doesn't struggle to control a football, actually possesses some end product, and should go into his first major international tournament full of confidence after a season which couldn't have ended far different from his former under-21 colleague. The Voorburg-born youngster could prove important to L'Orange, and have a few English clubs regretting not taking a chance on him earlier.
Paul Juanjo
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