Road to Rio: Colombia making up for lost time

Radamel Falcao, second right, scored nine goals for Colombia in World Cup qualifying. (Fernando Vergara/AP)

Dignitaries from all over the world will gather in Brazil in early December for the FIFA World Cup draw as the field of teams is divided into groups for next summer’s festivities. As part of its “32 teams in 32 days” series, SPORTSNET.CA will profile each of the nations set to compete at Brazil, leading up to the draw on Dec. 6.

Sixteen years spent in the wilderness will come to an end next summer when Colombia makes its long-overdue return to the World Cup. Who could have known that the nation that showed so much promise in the early 1990s—tipped by Pele to win the 1994 World Cup—would sit out three consecutive tournaments after last qualifying for France ’98? Buoyed by the electric Radamel Falcao and an exciting crop of attacking players, Los Cafeteros look poised to make some noise in Brazil—and make up for lost time. Manager José Pekerman likes to experiment with his lineup, though. He’ll have to figure out his best starting 11 by the time the tournament rolls around if Colombia is to avoid yet another early exit.


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How they got here: South American qualifying is a long and tiring slog. An ability to grind out results is paramount. You also have to be able to bounce back and adapt, especially when you’re competing within such a crowded field of teams. Colombia did all of these things after stumbling out of the gate. A loss to Argentina led to a coaching change, and Jose Pékerman took over after three games in early 2012. The Argentine manager experimented with his lineup and tactics, but the players responded as the team went on a five-game winning streak that lifted them towards the top of the table. Chile and Ecuador continued to nip at their heels, but the Colombians held steady to finish second in the group, just behind Argentina.

Key result: Mired in a dogfight at the top of the table with Ecuador and Chile hot on their trail, Colombia hosted the Chileans on the second-last matchday on Oct. 11, 2013, in a game that ended up sealing their fate. Down 3-0 after 29 minute at home, Colombia appeared down and out, their World Cup dreams set to come down to the last day. But an incredible comeback, spurred by two Falcao penalties, saw the Colombians earn a dramatic 3-3 draw, good enough to secure an automatic World Cup berth.

Star player: Radamel Falcao lived up to his nickname —El Tigre—in qualifying, his veracious bloodlust leading the Monaco striker to score nine goals, third-most in South America. Considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, Falcao combines speed and technical skill with an ability to conjure goals out of nothing. Just get him the ball around the box – chances are good he’ll score.

Player on the bubble: Eder Alvarez Balanta is a 20-year-old centre back who has shown great form this season with River Plate in Argentina’s top division — so much so that he’s routinely touted as one of the brightest prospects in South American soccer. But Balanta has yet to feature for the national team, and only earned his first call-up for a pair of friendlies later this month when captain Mario Yepes was ruled out through injury.

Team strengths: Colombia’s 27 goals in qualifying (only Chile and Argentina were more prolific in South America) underlines the nation’s offensive prowess. But what was most impressive was the way that so many chipped in; it wasn’t just Falcao (nine goals) who scored for the Colombia. Balanced scoring was the order of the day, as Teófilo Gutiérrez (six), James Rodríguez (three) and Dorlan Pabón (two) also contributed. Even defender Mario Yepes scored twice.

What they have to work on: Colombia lacks depth. The starting 11 is pretty solid, but quality reinforcements on the bench are few and far between. Pékerman would be well advised to start giving playing time to Eder Alvarez Balanta, and other young prospects, so that they’ll be better prepared and have more options come the World Cup.

World Cup history

  • 1930 to 1950 – Did not enter
  • 1954 – Banned
  • 1958 – Did not qualify
  • 1962 – First round
  • 1966 to 1986 – Did not qualify
  • 1990 – Second round
  • 1994 – First round
  • 1998 – First round
  • 2002 to 2010 – Did not qualify


    Team profiles: Algeria | Argentina | Australia | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Cameroon | Chile | Costa Rica | Colombia | Croatia | Ecuador | England| Germany | Ghana | Greece | Honduras | Iran | Italy | Ivory Coast | Japan | Mexico | The Netherlands | Nigeria | Portugal | Russia | South Korea | Spain | Switzerland | United States | Uruguay


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