Colombia 3-0 Greec - Colombia use fervent following to inflict comfortable defeat on Greece
The World Cup will miss Radamel Falcao but Colombia have started
just fine without him. Confident, composed and in control against
ineffective Greece, José Pékerman’s team reaffirmed their dark-horse
credentials in emphatic style as they recorded the biggest victory in
Colombia’s turbulent World Cup history in the absence of their leading
striker.
Pékerman had insisted life would go on without Falcao and was thoroughly vindicated. Fernando Santos, the Greece coach, had claimed there was far more to the 2004 European champions than a defensive strategy but his team were found wanting. Greece had half-chances but no coherent strategy to falling behind to the former West Ham defender Pablo Armero’s fifth minute goal. Santos had the temerity to insist it was a close-fought game separated only by Colombia’s precision in front of goal. The divide was deeper than that.
Teófilo Gutiérrez prodded home a second from close range before the influential James Rodríguez, the gifted playmaker on who so much depends in the absence of his Monaco team-mate, produced a polished finish in added time to record a handsome win. “Colombia proved today that we have many positive assets,” Pékerman said. “We can play, we can create good opportunities and we can take them. When Greece were really strong we kept to our strategy and our objectives. We kept calm. All the players did what they were expected to do and that makes us very confident. It means we have the right conditions to play very well.”
The wonderful Estádio Mineirão was a bowl of yellow. It was all Colombia, save for two small pockets of Greece supporters, and the noise that greeted the “home” team was extraordinary. That was just for the warm-up. When the Colombian national anthem ended a verse too soon the crowd took it upon itself to finish the song with patriotic fervour, then fell silent for their opponents’ anthem. It was the only respite Greece would get on and off the field all afternoon.
“Colombia were more competitive in the opening 10 minutes and we did not concentrate enough,” Santos admitted. “We knew exactly what Colombia were going to do. I told the players what to expect and there was no surprise in their strategy but we still had problems. But then we had some control until the end of the first half and it was unfortunate we didn’t take our chances to draw level. I think the result is exaggerated given what the teams did on the pitch.”
Reservations over Colombia’s potency without Falcao were erased swiftly. They may well return another day and against more formidable opposition but with the first flowing attacking move of the game Pékerman’s team had a vital lead and changed the dynamics of the contest.
Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado was instrumental in Los Cafeteros’ dominant start. Having toyed with José Holebas on the right, Cuadrado threaded the ball across the Greece area, Rodríguez dummied beautifully and there was the left-back Armero to scuff a shot into the bottom corner via a deflection off Kostas Manolas. The ball took an eternity to trickle over the line, longer than the Napoli defender spent playing for West Ham on loan last season anyhow, to leave Armero in a state of shock and Colombia in ecstasy. The neutral no doubt felt the same, as Greece were now obliged to abandon their cautious gameplan and take the game to Colombia.
Santos had bridled at suggestions before the game that Greece’s tactics have not developed since winning the European Championship in 2004 with a water-tight defence and set-piece prowess. He was on thin ground but his team delivered a spirited response, albeit while still heavily reliant on a corner or free-kick to haul themselves back on level terms. Their best opportunity arrived on the stroke of half-time when Carlos Sánchez executed a superb tackle on Theofanis Gekas only for the ball to break to Panagiotis Kone 25 yards out. Kone caught it cleanly but the previously unemployed Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina turned the ball away from the top corner.
Going on the back foot did not trouble Colombia unduly. So much attention had been placed on their attack in the buildup to the World Cup that their impressive defensive record in qualifying second to Argentina was overlooked. Pékerman’s team conceded only 13 goals in 16 matches in the group phase, the fewest in the South American qualifying section, and were always in control against a Greece team lacking the necessary guile or precision in the final third. They were led at the back by Mario Yepes, making his 99th international appearance at the age of 38.
It was not until the 58th minute that Colombia could indulge in olés when, with a touch of irony, Gutiérrez punished Greece at a set piece. Santos’s side should have dealt with Rodríguez’s in-swinging corner to the near post but Abel Aguilar got there first and flicked the ball beyond the goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. The unmarked Gutiérrez could not miss an open goal from two yards out. The Mineirão erupted.
Colombia should have been quietened moments later when the substitute Giannis Fetfatzidis turned a deep cross back from the byline but, with the keeper stranded, Gekas steered his diving header against the bar. Greece stared in disbelief. Colombia began to party once Rodríguez accepted Cuadrado’s flick and stroked a fine finish into the far corner. Both got what they deserved.
Pékerman had insisted life would go on without Falcao and was thoroughly vindicated. Fernando Santos, the Greece coach, had claimed there was far more to the 2004 European champions than a defensive strategy but his team were found wanting. Greece had half-chances but no coherent strategy to falling behind to the former West Ham defender Pablo Armero’s fifth minute goal. Santos had the temerity to insist it was a close-fought game separated only by Colombia’s precision in front of goal. The divide was deeper than that.
Teófilo Gutiérrez prodded home a second from close range before the influential James Rodríguez, the gifted playmaker on who so much depends in the absence of his Monaco team-mate, produced a polished finish in added time to record a handsome win. “Colombia proved today that we have many positive assets,” Pékerman said. “We can play, we can create good opportunities and we can take them. When Greece were really strong we kept to our strategy and our objectives. We kept calm. All the players did what they were expected to do and that makes us very confident. It means we have the right conditions to play very well.”
The wonderful Estádio Mineirão was a bowl of yellow. It was all Colombia, save for two small pockets of Greece supporters, and the noise that greeted the “home” team was extraordinary. That was just for the warm-up. When the Colombian national anthem ended a verse too soon the crowd took it upon itself to finish the song with patriotic fervour, then fell silent for their opponents’ anthem. It was the only respite Greece would get on and off the field all afternoon.
“Colombia were more competitive in the opening 10 minutes and we did not concentrate enough,” Santos admitted. “We knew exactly what Colombia were going to do. I told the players what to expect and there was no surprise in their strategy but we still had problems. But then we had some control until the end of the first half and it was unfortunate we didn’t take our chances to draw level. I think the result is exaggerated given what the teams did on the pitch.”
Reservations over Colombia’s potency without Falcao were erased swiftly. They may well return another day and against more formidable opposition but with the first flowing attacking move of the game Pékerman’s team had a vital lead and changed the dynamics of the contest.
Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado was instrumental in Los Cafeteros’ dominant start. Having toyed with José Holebas on the right, Cuadrado threaded the ball across the Greece area, Rodríguez dummied beautifully and there was the left-back Armero to scuff a shot into the bottom corner via a deflection off Kostas Manolas. The ball took an eternity to trickle over the line, longer than the Napoli defender spent playing for West Ham on loan last season anyhow, to leave Armero in a state of shock and Colombia in ecstasy. The neutral no doubt felt the same, as Greece were now obliged to abandon their cautious gameplan and take the game to Colombia.
Santos had bridled at suggestions before the game that Greece’s tactics have not developed since winning the European Championship in 2004 with a water-tight defence and set-piece prowess. He was on thin ground but his team delivered a spirited response, albeit while still heavily reliant on a corner or free-kick to haul themselves back on level terms. Their best opportunity arrived on the stroke of half-time when Carlos Sánchez executed a superb tackle on Theofanis Gekas only for the ball to break to Panagiotis Kone 25 yards out. Kone caught it cleanly but the previously unemployed Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina turned the ball away from the top corner.
Going on the back foot did not trouble Colombia unduly. So much attention had been placed on their attack in the buildup to the World Cup that their impressive defensive record in qualifying second to Argentina was overlooked. Pékerman’s team conceded only 13 goals in 16 matches in the group phase, the fewest in the South American qualifying section, and were always in control against a Greece team lacking the necessary guile or precision in the final third. They were led at the back by Mario Yepes, making his 99th international appearance at the age of 38.
It was not until the 58th minute that Colombia could indulge in olés when, with a touch of irony, Gutiérrez punished Greece at a set piece. Santos’s side should have dealt with Rodríguez’s in-swinging corner to the near post but Abel Aguilar got there first and flicked the ball beyond the goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis. The unmarked Gutiérrez could not miss an open goal from two yards out. The Mineirão erupted.
Colombia should have been quietened moments later when the substitute Giannis Fetfatzidis turned a deep cross back from the byline but, with the keeper stranded, Gekas steered his diving header against the bar. Greece stared in disbelief. Colombia began to party once Rodríguez accepted Cuadrado’s flick and stroked a fine finish into the far corner. Both got what they deserved.
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