World Cup 2014 Team Spotlight – Columbia
With one of the World’s best strikers and an impressive qualifying campaign, Colombia is hoping that it’s past World Cup final luck will change in 2014, as they enter this year’s tournament beaming with confidence.
Group C: Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan and Colombia
FIFA Ranking: 5
Jun 14 v Greece, Jun 19 v Ivory Coast, Jun 24 v Japan
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Although they have never been one of the top squads in any World Cup final, this year’s Colombia side is possibly the best assortment of players that the country has ever sent to a World Cup. A side that won nine of their 16 games and finished just two points behind group winners Argentina in a tough South American group in World Cup 2014 qualifying. And a side that also performed well in the most recent Copa America.
All of this will help the Colombian’s World Cup campaign, possibly turning it into their best tournament ever.
Nevertheless, drawing a spot in a tough Group C, which sees them first playing defensive juggernaut Greece in game one of the tournament, could prove to be the Achilles that decides who finishes top of the group.
With additional matches against a very determined Ivory Coast and then sleeper Japan, getting out of the group stage could get a little rough for the Colombians, who although appearing in four previous World Cup finals, have only ever progressed past the group stage once in 1990.
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If it wants to reverse that trend, Colombia will need some solid play from recently returning prolific goalscorer Radamel Falcao, who will add to the already potent tandem of James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez, making this the most dangerous side in the group for any team.
Falcao scores tons of goals whenever and wherever he plays, and registered 70 goals in 91 games with Atletico Madrid before moving to Monaco last summer.
With that type of production Falcao could end up with the Golden Boot in Brazil 2014, and if he is in that kind of form it could be a great summer for Colombia.
It will all however, depend on the strategy set out by former Argentina manager Jose Pekerman, whose experience on the international football stage could help to improve the Colombians change of winning it all come July even more.
Matt’s Free Prediction – Group Stage –
While I expect the Colombians to do very well against Japan, I think they are going to find themselves locked in a shootout with the Ivory Coast, and stymied by a stingy Greece defense.
Had they been drawn into a weaker group, I would have expected them to advance to the round of 16.
However, a third place group finish ahead of Japan is all I expect as they watch from the sidelines as Greece and the Ivory Coast take on the winners from the group of death in the next round.
