If there’s a team that is prepared to surprise one and all, it has to be Colombia. The Cafeteros still have that bittersweet savoir for their elimination in 2014 against Brazil in the quarter-final.
This time will be as tough as it was four years ago, but might be different because of the presence of the Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, who missed the Brazil World Cup due to an injury. He has been in fantastic form for Monaco in the last two seasons, scoring over 40 goals.
They also have a player in James Rodriguez, top scorer and breakout star of the last World Cup. The playmaker’s career has not gone entirely to plan since 2014, but there have been enough flashes on loan at Bayern Munich this season to suggest that he could once again shine on the stage that first made him. He will be the main attraction, and will have to carry his country’s hopes and expectations.
Squad
Goalkeepers
David Ospina, Camilo Vargas, Jose Fernando Cuadrado.
Defenders
Cristian Zapata, Davinson Sanchez, Santiago Arias, Oscar Murillo, Frank Fabra, Johan Mojica, Yerry Mina.
Midfielders
Wílmar Barrios, Carlos Sanchez, Jefferson Lerma, Jose Izquierdo, James Rodriguez, Abel Aguilar, Mateus Uribe, Juan Fernando Quintero, Juan Cuadrado.
Forwards
Radamel Falcao, Miguel Borja, Carlos Bacca, Luis Fernando Muriel.
Key players
James Rodriguez, Bayern Munich
Colombia’s leading scorer in qualifying with six goals, James remains the creative hub and a central figure to Colombia’s run at the tournament. Seven goals and 11 assists in 23 Bundesliga appearances at Bayern this season also indicate that he heads into this tournament in sublime form and with great confidence. How well he links up with Falcao and Cuadrado in particular will be vital.
CHECK OUT | 2018 FIFA World Cup fixtures | Complete match schedule, venues, time
Radamel Falcao, Monaco
No one in the Colombia squad will be more motivated to shine in Russia than Falcao, who was cruelly deprived of the chance to make his mark on a World Cup in 2014. He has revived his career in Monaco after two disastrous loan spells with Manchester United and Chelsea. He will lead the line and will be a key figure.
Davinson Sanchez, Tottenham Hotspur
Sánchez combines imperious physicality with impeccable pace, but most striking is his composure. For someone so young, though the defender’s single previous season in European football was a marquee one at Ajax, he never seems ruffled. He is able to read a defensive situation effectively and choose the appropriate means to deal with it. His role model is Franco Baresi. You can understand why.
If Colombia are to progress further than the round of 16, he will be an important player. A mountain of a man, he will hold key and will be tasked to keep the opposition quiet.
One to watch
Yerry Mina, Barcelona
A talented centre-back has found it tough to adapt at Barcelona, and has been regularly kept out of the starting 11 by the first choice pair of Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti. But the talent is there for all to see, and he might be one of the breakout players in Russia.
Schedule
Colombia vs Japan , Tuesday 19 June
Colombia vs Poland, Sunday 24 June
Colombia vs Senegal, Thursday 28 June
Prediction
Make it to the round of 16 and lose out to England. But you never know with England, The Cafeteros might sneak in.