On September 6, 1995, in London, a luxury, if useless, friendly was scheduled. Facing them were England and Colombia, with the Cafeteros still frustrated by their elimination from the World Cup in the United States – which also resulted in the killing of Andres Escobar, who was held responsible for their elimination in the group stage with his own goal – but emboldened by their third place in the last Copa América, won by Francescoli’s Uruguay.
The game was flowing calmly until a cross from Redknapp, who was offside, ended up in Higuita’s area. The Colombian goalkeeper decides to show off his uniqueness, to use a political term, and repels the ball with a scorpion gesture. Face forward, studs that relaunch in a decidedly unusual pose. “It was a luxury play. It was spectacular. It was wonderful in the eyes of the world,” said Higuita a few months ago, who then went on to give advice on the goalkeepers of the future. “Someone who plays as a number 10 with the advantage of being able to make saves with his hands.”
For Higuita no one else will try the scorpion again. “It’s unlikely in today’s game,” although his was done practically when the game was stopped, as the referee had whistled offside. However, it does not detract from the beauty of the gesture.