Best World Cup Performance: Reached the Round of 16 (the only such occurrence of the feat) in Italia ’90.

 

Most memorable World Cup moment:  Qualifying from their group (Group D) for the first time in a World Cup, after a win against UAE and a draw with West Germany.

                                                                                                                                                                                

Most forgettable World Cup moment: The own goal scored by Andrés Escobar that saw Colombia lose to hosts USA and lead to their elimination from the 1994 World Cup. Two weeks later, Escobar was sadly killed – rumours stating it was ‘retribution’ from drug cartel bosses who had large bets on the game and the tournament.

 

In Group C with: Greece, Japan and Ivory Coast.

 

Tactics/Playing style: José Pékerman’s tactic is what resembles a 4-2-2-2 – a front pair that has one out-and-out striker (a number 9) and one dropping off to help with creating space and build-up play. They then have 4 wide players (two wingers and two wing-backs) who press high and hard to cut out opposition build up and stretch the play, giving space for more creativity in the middle. Defensively, they have one of their central midfielders drop deep to make a ‘three-back’ formation temporarily to provide solidity and prevent being countered when pressing high, forcing teams wide if they want to have any chance of cutting them apart. Overall, it is a cohesive and open system that is incredibly vertical and dynamic, whilst making best use of the quality the squad possess. No wonder they’ve been heralded as one of the ‘dark horses’ of the tournament.

 

Strengths: High energy, high pressing team that can stretch the game and open it up for players such as Rodriguez, Martinez and Gutiérrez to make use of. Wing-backs that have the stamina and work rate to support well both offensively and defensively, and overlap the wingers to stretch the game out even more. Used to the heat of Brazil and the humidity too, will be able to last much longer than European teams naturally could and their energy could overwhelm European teams at times, if given the chance.

 

Weaknesses: The wingbacks pressing high which can lead to them being open on the counter and attacks from out wide, their two-man central midfield could be overrun by a three-man midfield, but most importantly – they are without their main striker Radamel Falcao. He was the number 9 for Colombia and provided the majority of the attacking threat, but without him, they wil certainly be lacking a tad up top.

 

Key Player: James Rodriguez. Starting out on the left-wing for Colombia, him and his wide partner Guillermo Cuadrado will be looking to press high from the flank, backed by their respective wing-backs. However, James Rodriguez is definitely the more creative and technically gifted of the two and when drifting inside, will be the man to play in the final pass or cross to either of the two frontmen up top and be the one with the creative spark that can turn games around – something much needed in tournaments like these.

 

One to Watch: Jackson Martinez. With Radamel Falcao leaving the squad due to injuries, there’s now a slot up top left vacant – and the FC Porto striker is almost definitely the man to fill it. Boasting 63 goals in all comps for both club and country in the last 2 years, the 6’1” striker is by no means an outsider when it comes to who should replace the on-fire Falcao. With incredibly physique and two lethal feet at his disposal, the Porto man will be looking to form a strong partnership with whosoever starts alongside him (presumable Teófilo Gutiérrez) and give the nation something to hope for in both this tournament and the future.

 

Main Objective: Having it prove difficult to get past so far in their previous 5 World Cup campaigns (only one have they done so far), their main goal would be to get out of the group stages and proceed to the Round of 16. Once they get past that, anything else they achieve would be a bonus.

 

Prediction: They have a group that, of course, poses its own challenges, but they also have the ability to beat the teams in it. This side (despite lacking a certain Radamel Falcao due to injury) has quality in it in a lot of areas and would surely be able to win at least 2 of their 3 group games, seeing them move on to the next round. However, I think that is where they would finish (Round of 16), as they face one of presumably England, Italy or Uruguay – three very tough opponents, who all have the ability and quality within their own sides to break them down and beat them comfortably.

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