Colombia - World Cup Darkhorses

Jammydodger7

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Colombia come into the World Cup after an impressive showing in qualifying, finishing second and just two points behind Argentina. Their most impressive result being a 4-0 win over Uruguay. After being drawn in a seemingly easy group as far as World Cup groups go, added to the fact that they are playing on their home continent I think this summers World Cup will be a big platform for Colombia to showcase their quality, just like their South American rivals Uruguay did four years ago.

Coach Jose Pekerman has named a 30 man provisional squad, which includes injured Radamel Falcao, who'll be given every chance to get fit in time. Even if he's not fit they still have plenty of goals in Teofilo Gutiérrez, Carlos Bacca and Jackson Martínez and also Adrian Ramos who finished the season with 16 goals for Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga. Other notable players include Cristián Zapata, Fredy Guarín and James Rodríguez.

Fixtures:
Colombia v Greece
June 14 Belo Horizonte, 1700 (BBC)
Colombia v Ivory Coast
June 19 Brasilia, 1700 (BBC)
Japan v Colombia
June 24 Cuiaba, 2100 (BBC)

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Independiente Santa Fe)

Defenders: Mario Yepes (Atalanta), Cristián Zapata (Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham United), Camilo Zúñiga (Napoli), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Luis Amaranto Perea (Cruz Azul), Éder Álvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdés (San Lorenzo)

Midfielders: Fredy Guarín (Internazionale), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), James Rodríguez (Monaco), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto), Carlos Sánchez (Elche), Aldo Leão Ramirez (Morelia), Edwin Valencia (Fluminense), Alexander Mejía (Atletico Nacional)

Forwards: Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Luis Fernando Muriel (Udinese), Jackson Martínez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Adrián Ramos (Dortmund), Teofilo Gutiérrez (River Plate)

Likely Line Up:
Colombia-XI1.jpg
 
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If Falcao isn't fit I'd swap him with Gutiérrez.
 
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Regarded as the second strongest in south america; i think they will be a pretty tough match up for anyone!
 
I know it was only a friendly but these guys beat Belgium 2-0 recently in Brussels and as a lot of people believe Belgium could do well this year then you have to give Colombia a chance too!

Notably if they win their group and England finish second in theirs, which I think will happen, then they'll both meet each other in the second round.
 
Power and pace with lots of skill. Really like that side.

Theyre a good team as well. Probably better than the sum of their individual parts. I've not seen that side of things from the current Belgian team as yet.....
 
Jammydodger7 said:
If Falcao isn't fit I'd swap him with Gutiérrez.
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Serious?
Teo might do well when Colombia play home but he cant be ahead of the other striker options they have. He will struggle against the top european based defenders. Ramos, Jackson and Bacca should definitely be ahead of him..
 
Yepes-Zapata on the paper look so crap ,are they solid when they play for colombia? I dont expect a team with those two less than average players able to do anything in a World Cup to be honest , why there is so much hype about them?
 
DannyDash said:
Serious?
Teo might do well when Colombia play home but he cant be ahead of the other striker options they have. He will struggle against the top european based defenders. Ramos, Jackson and Bacca should definitely be ahead of him..
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I already have Jackson Martinez starting?... Ramos yea I would have him ahead of Teo too but I think Pekerman prefers Teo and Bacca doesn't have a great record internationally, only 2 goals.
 
Sean_RedDevil said:
Why isn't Montero in the squad?
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Colombias stong point is their forward so it was always gonna be a tough ask to make it.

Montero started off unbelievably for Sporting but he hasn't been great since January, I don't think he has scored for them since he signed permanently.
 
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SergioRamos4 said:
Yepes-Zapata on the paper look so crap ,are they solid when they play for colombia? I dont expect a team with those two less than average players able to do anything in a World Cup to be honest , why there is so much hype about them?
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Really?? I think they're both decent! Yepes is also captain and is retiring after the world cup.
 
Yepes was always a average player even when he was young so now than he is 38 , i'm not even sure I want to see how he is playing.. and Zapata is probably the worst center back i have EVER seen play in La Liga , no kidding.
 
Jammydodger7 said:
I already have Jackson Martinez starting?... Ramos yea I would have him ahead of Teo too but I think Pekerman prefers Teo and Bacca doesn't have a great record internationally, only 2 goals.
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Yeah coach seems to love Teo, hes done well in qualifiers but playing at River Plate compared to Bacca who had a great season on all fronts for Sevilla and Ramos who was great at Hertha and consequently got a move to Dortmund, regardless of their international goals they come into the tournament in real form
 
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DannyDash said:
Yeah coach seems to love Teo, hes done well in qualifiers but playing at River Plate compared to Bacca who had a great season on all fronts for Sevilla and Ramos who was great at Hertha and consequently got a move to Dortmund, regardless of their international goals they come into the tournament in real form
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To be honest whoever is picked, I won't have a problem with it. To be honest I don't think theres much between River Plate and Sevilla.
 
SergioRamos4 said:
Yepes-Zapata on the paper look so crap ,are they solid when they play for colombia? I dont expect a team with those two less than average players able to do anything in a World Cup to be honest ,
why there is so much hype about them?
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Thats the danger especially with Yepes moving so slow hes terrible. It has to be Zapata and Perea (who is pretty quick at his age) or Eder Balanta but hes hugely inexperienced maybe a risk. The hype is justified with their recent track record, they've held Brazil, Argentina, Holland and beaten Belgium, Uruguay, Chile.
 
Jammydodger7 said:
To be honest whoever is picked, I won't have a problem with it. To be honest I don't think theres much between River Plate and Sevilla.
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Serious ?? If River Plate were in La Liga they would struggle to avoid relegation where as Sevilla are europa league champs
 
South American teams often give european teams good games in the world club championship and thats the cream of the crop in Europe, Sevilla are far from that! they might be Europa league champions but they were outclassed in the final and very lucky to get through with one of the worst decisions ever made by an official in the semi
 
DannyDash said:
Serious?
Teo might do well when Colombia play home but he cant be ahead of the other striker options they have. He will struggle against the top european based defenders. Ramos, Jackson and Bacca should definitely be ahead of him..
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what?

Gutierrez did fine in mexico.

Jackson Martinez played in mexico for several seasons.. went to europe and still smashed.
 
I'm looking forward to potentially seeing Eder Alvarez Balanta play in real life. If he's anything like he is on fm14 Colombia will be winning the world cup.
 
justboy68 said:
I'm looking forward to potentially seeing Eder Alvarez Balanta play in real life. If he's anything like he is on fm14 Colombia will be winning the world cup.
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Haha I bought him with United in my first season to be a back up, ended up becoming first choice and the rock of my defence for many a season.
 
Yeah I think Colombia should have a great shout for a good tourney. They're a great team of course. However their route through the tournament is also very favourable (unlike Chile, who are also very good but have a dog of a draw).

They're favourites to win their group in my eyes. Ivory Coast and Japan are both good, but Colombia are better and have the advantage of being on their own continent.

First knockout round they'd face the runner up in group D (England's group). They'll have no worries facing Uruguay, Italy or England. A win there and they're at the QFs, which is already a great world cup for them.

Most likely QF opponent is Brazil, which is not as bad as it could be. Brazil would be favourites, but Brazil haven't beaten Colombia in the last 4 attempts I think (all draws) going back to the early 2000s and for Colombia Brazil are something of a known quantity. I suspect a gallant defeat would be the most likely outcome, but its hardly outlandish to imagine them narrowly getting past Brazil.

Don't see them getting past the semis though, where Germany are the most likely opponents.

If they finish second in the group they face no harder Ro16 opponents, but then Spain at the QFs. The friendly between them a couple of years ago was close, but I'd still make Spain huge favourites there.

Bearing in mind that they haven't been at a WC for so long, QF appearance would be a superb achievement.
 
Cantonarightboot said:
Chile or Colombia for me, hoping Falcao can make it through his injury and play a part!
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Chile have a nightmare draw though. In a group with Spain and Holland, and the runners up from that group will probably face Brazil at the Ro16 stage.
 
Adrian Ramos is the player to watch for Colombia! I think they will get to the Quarter Finals and lose to Brazil.
 
bishblaize said:
Chile have a nightmare draw though. In a group with Spain and Holland, and the runners up from that group will probably face Brazil at the Ro16 stage.
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It wouldn't surprise me at all if they got out of that group at the expense of Holland. Brazil v Chile should be an exciting game as well, don't think it'll be straight forward for Brazil. Very much looking forward to seeing how Chile get on in this WC.
 
Cantonarightboot said:
Chile or Colombia for me, hoping Falcao can make it through his injury and play a part!
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Yeah its a tough group, but I've a feeling Holland will be a flop (see the WC Flop thread), Hollands defence is pretty weak! They had an awful 2012, probably the worst team in the tournament... very hit n miss still!

Chile could get 2nd place in Group B, Who knows Brazil might struggle at the start and finish 2nd themselves then Chile could end up with either Mexico or Croatia! Probably the former of those two though!
 
Always been a fan of Jackson Martinez and he is (best price) of 80/1 to be top scorer (E/W 1/4 for 4), does he start if both Falcao and Gutiérrez are fit? For a guy that has scored over 50 goals in 2 years, seems good value to me...
 
SammyUnited_83 said:
Always been a fan of Jackson Martinez and he is (best price) of 80/1 to be top scorer (E/W 1/4 for 4), does he start if both Falcao and Gutiérrez are fit? For a guy that has scored over 50 goals in 2 years, seems good value to me...
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I was thinking same but the coach may end up playing his lovechild Guiterrez..
wait till right up to the tourny itself before putting anything on
 
DannyDash said:
Hard to judge for that matter, time will tell
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Agreed.

I think Teo's worst enemy is his attitude.. He has a tendency to lose his head. He has the skill to easily play in europe.. its just that sometimes i dont think he is all there lol.

I remember reports of him pulling out a gun in a locker room when he played for Racing in argetina.. so crazy.
 
margarito86 said:
Agreed.

I think Teo's worst enemy is his attitude.. He has a tendency to lose his head. He has the skill to easily play in europe.. its just that sometimes i dont think he is all there lol.

I remember reports of him pulling out a gun in a locker room when he played for Racing in argetina.. so crazy.
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A bit like Paul Ince... Is Falcao fit for the world cup ?
 
Midnight1811 said:
A bit like Paul Ince... Is Falcao fit for the world cup ?
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He started back training yesterday apparently but has said himself that he wont be 100% fit in time. I think it will be a mistake to bring him if he is not 100%, a bit like when England brought Rooney in 2006, its nearly impossible to be match fit after so long out.
 
Jammydodger7 said:
He started back training yesterday apparently but has said himself that he wont be 100% fit in time. I think it will be a mistake to bring him if he is not 100%, a bit like when England brought Rooney in 2006, its nearly impossible to be match fit after so long out.
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Although he is your talisman, it's not as if you don't have other attacking options, like Martinez
 
I've barely heard of any of their players, but they're still considered one of the best teams in South America, so obviously I've been missing out!

Are the players "hidden" diamonds, or do they just work out really well as a team?
 
DannyDash said:
I was thinking same but the coach may end up playing his lovechild Guiterrez..
wait till right up to the tourny itself before putting anything on
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Gutierrez complements Falcao better. I can understand him playing ahead of Martinez. Highly doubt Falcao will be fit for the WC, so my money is on Martinez + Gutierrez.
 
Ospina - plays for Nice (or played, going on free transfer) since Lloris went to Lyon. Did great job in replacing him.
Mondragon - 42 years old, played for Galatasaray and Koln.
Yepes - mainly known for his PSG career, later played for Milan (wrong in OP)
Zuniga and Armero - Napoli players, latter better known from Udinese
Zapata - now at Milan, big career at Udinese
Mosquera - former Sevilla player
Arias - Sporting CP and PSV, young, unproven, linked to Manchester United
Perea - former Atletico Madrid player, one of the quickest CBs in the world
Balanta - young, sensational for River Plate, FM 2014 legend.
Guarin - former FC Porto, now Internazionale Milano
Cuadrado - Fiorentina star, linked to Barcelona
Soto - quite a good career at Mainz
James Rodriguez - from Porto to Monaco for 45 mln €
Quintero - young Porto star
Falcao - no need to explain
Martinez - at Porto even better than Falcao. Same can be said about national team
Ramos - signed by BVB, will be Lewandowski successor
Bacca - Sevilla star, second only to Rakitić
Muriel - Udinese star, linked to United

Others play or played for smaller clubs in Europe (Cagliari, Valenciennes etc.) or are stars at Mexican and Argentinian leagues.
I can say that I recognize them more than some of the Argentinians.
 
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MTR said:
Ospina - plays for Nice (or played, going on free transfer) since Lloris went to Lyon. Did great job in replacing him.
Mondragon - 42 years old, played for Galatasaray and Koln.
Yepes - mainly known for his PSG career, later played for Milan (wrong in OP)
Zuniga and Armero - Napoli players, latter better known from Udinese
Zapata - now at Milan, big career at Udinese
Mosquera - former Sevilla player
Arias - Sporting CP and PSV, young, unproven, linked to Manchester United
Perea - former Atletico Madrid player, one of the quickest CBs in the world
Balanta - young, sensational for River Plate, FM 2014 legend.
Guarin - former FC Porto, now Internazionale Milano
Cuadrado - Fiorentina star, linked to Barcelona
Soto - quite a good career at Mainz
James Rodriguez - from Porto to Monaco for 45 mln €
Quintero - young Porto star
Falcao - no need to explain
Martinez - at Porto even better than Falcao. Same can be said about national team
Ramos - signed by BVB, will be Lewandowski successor
Bacca - Sevilla star, second only to Rakitić
Muriel - Udinese star, linked to United

Others play or played for smaller clubs in Europe (Cagliari, Valenciennes etc.) or are stars at Mexican and Argentinian leagues.
I can say that I recognize them more than some of the Argentinians.
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Oops didn't even realise, I just copied and pasted the squad in. Thanks for the heads up :)
 
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