Colombia’s James Rodríguez sizzles to end Uruguay World Cup saga
Uruguay have followed Luis Suárez in departing the World Cup though,
unlike their talismanic striker, they had no cause for shame at this
exit. This nation’s outrage at the sanction handed to the Liverpool
forward will pursue them back to Montevideo but, if the sense of fury
ever subsides, they might concede it was a Colombian genius, rather than
the actions of a flawed one of their own, who jettisoned them from the
tournament.
James Rodriguez was afforded a deafening reception upon his departure five minutes from time here, the tournament’s leading scorer having registered the brace which eased his wonderfully impressive side into a quarter-final against Brazil next week. If Chile scared the hosts in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, what awaits them in Fortaleza is potentially terrifying so slick and at ease are this Colombia team.
It is remarkable to consider this nation has never progressed this far before, their only previous knockout game having been lost at Italia 90. Yet Los Cafeteros are now unbeaten in 11 games, their fourth win in Brazil secured by one moment of individual brilliance and a group goal which summed up their work ethic and potential. On this evidence, Luiz Felipe Scolari has work to be done. The Colombians are coming.
Óscar Tabárez’s side had arrived in Rio driven by a smouldering sense of injustice, the manager duly tapping into the resentment – whether aimed at Fifa for meting out the four-month punishment on their talisman, or the “English speaking media” for reporting the issue and, therefore, apparently encouraging a witch hunt – in an attempt to motivate his squad. The banned player’s No9 shirt hung in its place in the dressing room, his boots and flip-flops beneath the bench. Luisito may have been back in Solymar with his feet up watching on television but his presence was felt inside the arena with his name bellowed from the stands and cardboard masks held aloft. Yet, inevitably, he was missed on the pitch.
Suárez offers this Uruguay team pace and creativity as well as a threat. Without him, and with the veteran Diego Forlán operating alongside Edinson Cavani, their industry lacked a focal point for long periods. Not until Álvaro González belted a cross shot towards David Ospina’s far post six minutes before the interval did Tabárez’s team truly threaten, Cavani marginally mistiming his attempt to connect in the centre and the goalkeeper pushing the effort away. Yet, by then, Uruguay were playing catch-up against a team who have learned to live without their own stellar forward.
While Radamel Falcao holidays in Florida, completing his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury, it is James Rodríguez who is propelling José Pékerman’s team through this tournament. The 22-year-old is already a £40m player at Monaco but his performances in Brazil are making a mockery even of that fee. This game had ambled along cagily for almost half an hour when Abel Aguilar nodded the ball forward to James, loitering with his back to goal just outside the Uruguay penalty area. The playmaker flashed a quick glance at goal to make sure of his bearings and, as Diego Godín and Maximiliano Pereira edged forward half-heartedly in anticipation of snuffing out any threat, collected the ball on his chest and dispatched his shot left-footed on the volley.
The attempt dipped gloriously, a startled Fernando Muslera leaping to his right only for the ball to graze his fingertips and kiss the underside of the crossbar before careering into the net. The youngster dubbed El Nuevo Pibe (The New Kid) tore off to the corner flat to conduct another of this choreographed celebrations, his hips snapping in familiar style with this a sixth game in succession for his country in which he has scored. He had not finished there.
There is so much attacking flair to this Colombian lineup, their potential mouth-watering whenever they are permitted to muster an upbeat rhythm. The hosts, waiting in next week’s quarter-final, will be wary given this team’s apparent ability to cut through all-comers. Where Tabárez had been seeking a swift riposte after the interval, here were Pékerman’s charges revelling in patient possession, transporting the ball from one flank to the other and resisting the temptation to over-elaborate. Eventually Pablo Armero marauded forward in support to accept possession on the charge and cross to the far post where Juan Cuadrado carefully headed back and across and an unmarked James tapped in. Cuadrado’s fourth assist of the tournament had provided the No10’s fifth goal. This team felt irrepressible.
Álvaro González and Cristian Rodríguez both spat a shot at goal from distance for Ospina to save, Uruguay casting substitutes into the fray to try and muster a riposte, but their chances of recovery felt despite their frantic attempts to recover.
The goalkeeper did better to deny Maxi Pereira and Cavani, but Christian Stuani’s poorly directed far-post header from the Paris Saint-Germain striker’s centre rather summed up Uruguay’s evening. It might have been different had Suárez led their line, though taming this Colombian team would probably still have been beyond them.
James Rodriguez was afforded a deafening reception upon his departure five minutes from time here, the tournament’s leading scorer having registered the brace which eased his wonderfully impressive side into a quarter-final against Brazil next week. If Chile scared the hosts in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, what awaits them in Fortaleza is potentially terrifying so slick and at ease are this Colombia team.
It is remarkable to consider this nation has never progressed this far before, their only previous knockout game having been lost at Italia 90. Yet Los Cafeteros are now unbeaten in 11 games, their fourth win in Brazil secured by one moment of individual brilliance and a group goal which summed up their work ethic and potential. On this evidence, Luiz Felipe Scolari has work to be done. The Colombians are coming.
Óscar Tabárez’s side had arrived in Rio driven by a smouldering sense of injustice, the manager duly tapping into the resentment – whether aimed at Fifa for meting out the four-month punishment on their talisman, or the “English speaking media” for reporting the issue and, therefore, apparently encouraging a witch hunt – in an attempt to motivate his squad. The banned player’s No9 shirt hung in its place in the dressing room, his boots and flip-flops beneath the bench. Luisito may have been back in Solymar with his feet up watching on television but his presence was felt inside the arena with his name bellowed from the stands and cardboard masks held aloft. Yet, inevitably, he was missed on the pitch.
Suárez offers this Uruguay team pace and creativity as well as a threat. Without him, and with the veteran Diego Forlán operating alongside Edinson Cavani, their industry lacked a focal point for long periods. Not until Álvaro González belted a cross shot towards David Ospina’s far post six minutes before the interval did Tabárez’s team truly threaten, Cavani marginally mistiming his attempt to connect in the centre and the goalkeeper pushing the effort away. Yet, by then, Uruguay were playing catch-up against a team who have learned to live without their own stellar forward.
While Radamel Falcao holidays in Florida, completing his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury, it is James Rodríguez who is propelling José Pékerman’s team through this tournament. The 22-year-old is already a £40m player at Monaco but his performances in Brazil are making a mockery even of that fee. This game had ambled along cagily for almost half an hour when Abel Aguilar nodded the ball forward to James, loitering with his back to goal just outside the Uruguay penalty area. The playmaker flashed a quick glance at goal to make sure of his bearings and, as Diego Godín and Maximiliano Pereira edged forward half-heartedly in anticipation of snuffing out any threat, collected the ball on his chest and dispatched his shot left-footed on the volley.
The attempt dipped gloriously, a startled Fernando Muslera leaping to his right only for the ball to graze his fingertips and kiss the underside of the crossbar before careering into the net. The youngster dubbed El Nuevo Pibe (The New Kid) tore off to the corner flat to conduct another of this choreographed celebrations, his hips snapping in familiar style with this a sixth game in succession for his country in which he has scored. He had not finished there.
There is so much attacking flair to this Colombian lineup, their potential mouth-watering whenever they are permitted to muster an upbeat rhythm. The hosts, waiting in next week’s quarter-final, will be wary given this team’s apparent ability to cut through all-comers. Where Tabárez had been seeking a swift riposte after the interval, here were Pékerman’s charges revelling in patient possession, transporting the ball from one flank to the other and resisting the temptation to over-elaborate. Eventually Pablo Armero marauded forward in support to accept possession on the charge and cross to the far post where Juan Cuadrado carefully headed back and across and an unmarked James tapped in. Cuadrado’s fourth assist of the tournament had provided the No10’s fifth goal. This team felt irrepressible.
Álvaro González and Cristian Rodríguez both spat a shot at goal from distance for Ospina to save, Uruguay casting substitutes into the fray to try and muster a riposte, but their chances of recovery felt despite their frantic attempts to recover.
The goalkeeper did better to deny Maxi Pereira and Cavani, but Christian Stuani’s poorly directed far-post header from the Paris Saint-Germain striker’s centre rather summed up Uruguay’s evening. It might have been different had Suárez led their line, though taming this Colombian team would probably still have been beyond them.
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