Fastgoal.com <World Cup 2018> - Group H - Colombia Team Review

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Colombia

FIFA World Ranking: 16
Qualifying Average Goals Per Match: 1.17
Qualifying Average Goals Against Per Match: 1.06
Qualifying Top Scorer: James Rodriguez (6)
World Cup Best Performance: Quarter Finals (2014)

Group H Opponents: Japan, Poland and Senegal


The Manager: José Pékerman
José Pékerman’s playing career as a midfielder was a fairly undistinguished one. He has however already made a far greater impact as a coach.

Spending the majority of his managerial career in and around national sides, he won the World Youth Cup a remarkable three times when in charge of Argentina’s youngsters. Having later become just the latest in a long line of managers to fail to win anything with the Argentina senior side when in charge between 2004 and 2006, Pékerman’s next international calling came when handed the reins at Colombia in 2012.

Having led Los Cafeteros to their best ever World Cup finish in 2014, he can already be qualified as a success but will be keen to do at least as well here. The good news for the neutral is that Pékerman sides are usually very easy on the eye.


The Squad:
In terms of individual quality, Colombia probably boast the best squad in this section.

Whilst there are three players hailing from the relatively weak Colombian league, two of those are back up goalkeepers. The bulk of the 23 on their way to the finals play their club football in the top South American or European Leagues.

David Ospina hasn’t been great for Arsenal but frequently is for his country and is the automatic first choice in goal.

Davinson Sanchez lacks a little in experience but will likely be one of the most athletically gifted centre backs in the competition. With Barcelona’s Yerry Mina filling the other centre back spot, Colombia at least have the potential to be very good at the back.

Rodriguez is the key creative influence and pulls the strings either from the left-hand side or playing in the hole behind the striker. Juan Cuadrado has been excellent at times for Juventus this season and provides pace and an end product down the right.

Up front it’s a rejuvenated Radamel Falcao who has rediscovered his goal scoring touch since moving back to Monaco. This will surprisingly be the 32 year olds first World Cup and he will no doubt be keen to impress.


Star Man: James Rodriguez
One of the standout performers at the last World Cup in Brazil, with that sensational strike against Uruguay – a goal which was crowned the best in the tournament – still lingering long in the memory, things haven’t gone entirely to plan for James since. An up and down spell at Real Madrid, where he was in and out of the side didn’t help his overall form, but things have been much better since his loan switch to Bayern Munich. He now seems to be playing himself into something like his best form at just the right time for this tournament. Despite perhaps not being quite at his best in qualifying, he was nevertheless Colombia’s most productive player, topping both the goals and the assists charts.


Outlook:
Other than Japan who do look up against it, any two from Colombia, Senegal and Poland could escape this group. The ace in Colombia’s pack may well be their manager. Pékerman has already shown he has what it takes at this level, and his influence, along with that of the excellent Rodriguez, should see them through.


Group H Prediction: http://fastgoal.com/forum/index.php?topic=2484.0

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