Colombia

The Road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Colombia were some way sort of their best during much of the qualifying campaign. They claimed just three points in their last four games, but that proved to be just enough to put them in fourth place and clinch the last automatic qualifying spot in South America.

Their final qualifier against Peru provoked something of a scandal. Both teams were set to benefit from a draw, and having scored a goal each appeared to be simply killing time in the latter stages of the game. After the match, several players from both sides reportedly said that they had discussed the mutually beneficial scoreline. It looked like both teams would suffer punishment, but FIFA declined to take action.

Stars

AS Monaco striker and national team captain Radamel Falcao is a big star, even though injuries prevented him from playing in half of Colombia’s qualifying games, meaning he scored just two goals in the campaign.

The team’s top goalscorer in securing a spot in Russia was James Rodriguez, Falcao’s former teammate at FC Porto and AS Monaco, and who is currently on loan at German giants Bayern Munich from Real Madrid. His qualification stats were an impressive 10 goals and four assists. Rodriguez’s stellar performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil secured him a transfer to Real Madrid, although he has suffered with injuries at the Spanish club. In summer 2017, he was loaned to Bayern Munich on a two-year deal.

While Rodriguez often favors the left wing, the right flank is usually occupied by another main man, Juan Cuadrado. Premier League club Chelsea signed him in 2015 but eventually agreed to his transfer to Juventus, where he has fitted in much better.

Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina made his debut in 2007, and while he isn’t a regular at club team Arsenal, he’s indispensable between the national team’s goalposts. Ospina played all 18 qualifying games, conceding 19 goals.

Colombia’s rising star is Davinson Sanchez. Many believe that he could marshal the team’s defense for years to come. Last summer, the 21-year-old left Ajax for Tottenham Hotspur, where he is highly rated. Head coach Jose Pekerman called up Sanchez for a training session with the national team in February 2016, and moved him to the full squad by the end of the qualification games.

Coach

Argentina’s Jose Pekerman, 68, took over the Colombian national team in 2012 and has made some serious breakthroughs since then. Under his guidance, the team returned to the World Cup finals in 2014 after a 16-year absence and even progressed to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. The Colombians also claimed third place at the Copa America in 2016.

Before moving to Colombia, Pekerman had worked at home, in Mexico, and even led Argentina to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2006. He was most successful as head coach of Argentina’s junior teams. With him at the helm, the ‘Albiceleste’ won the FIFA U20 World Cup three times.

A curious fact is that Pekerman’s grandparents used to live much closer to Russia. They emigrated from Ukraine and settled in the Jewish colonies in central Argentina.

Past Achievements

Colombia’s biggest World Cup success to date was reaching the quarter-finals at Brazil 2014. Prior to that, they had competed at the tournament a total of four times. In 1990, they progressed to the round of 16, where they lost to Cameroon, led at the time by Russian coach Valery Nepomnyashchy.

In 1994, Colombia failed to make it to the finals, which is believed to have led to the tragic death of national team defender Andres Escobar, who scored an own goal in the deciding match against the United States. Ten days after the match, Escobar was shot six times by drug cartel-associated bodyguard Humberto Munoz. According to the available evidence, Munoz exclaimed “Goal!” every time he fired a shot. The killer was sentenced to 43 years in prison but was released as early as in 2005 for good conduct.

Russia 2018 will be the Colombians’ sixth appearance at a World Cup Finals.