For a long time in Colombia they have been looking for the next Carlos Valderrama and they ve now finally found who that player is was the modest assessment of Valderrama himself. What is most enticing though is not just the quality of Rodr guez but the sense that this Colombia team whose supporters are among the most entertaining and numerous in Brazil have a squad with a genuine chance of upsetting the usual order.
Colombia remember previously had not qualified for a World Cup since 1998 and their best performance is still only a last 16 place when Valderrama was running their midfield at Italia 90.
Yet as Martinez could testify their performances in Brazil are not some happy accident. They have gradually risen to fifth in the Fifa rankings under the astute leadership of Jose Pekerman who is their first non Colombian manager for more than three decades.
Pekerman has the experience of previously guiding Argentina to within a penalty shoot out of the semi final in 2006 and while Colombia itself will come to a standstill for Saturday night s match there is absolutely no danger of the manager getting carried away. He was even unmoved yesterday by numerous invitations to offer his opinion on Suarez s indiscipline and his absence for Uruguay.
This is a very sensible very delicate issue said Pekerman. I understand it but our concern is Uruguay as a team. They have continuity and all their players know each other. It hasn t had a lot of changes in almost eight years. They will never lose their essence. They have winners. They have the personality to play. This is a great team.
Developing a similar winning mentality has been fundamental to Pekerman s strategy with Colombia a nation whose results have historically been short of their individual talent. Pekerman has also engrained what he calls balance to the team and a definite playing style.
Rodriguez might now be their star in the No 10 position but there is plenty of quality around him. Their most celebrated player Radamel Falcao is missing through injury but there was still enough depth for Pekerman to rest eight players earlier this week and see his team beat Japan 4 1.
Porto s Jackson Martinez a striker who is of serious interest to Arsenal scored twice but is still unlikely to usurp River Plate s Teofil Gutierrez as the main central striker on Saturday night.
The Colombian style has been counter attacking and with Victor Ibarbo and Juan Cuadrado in the wide positions they have no particular fear at conceding possession. They have been simply content to let the opposition have the ball place faith in a rugged and experienced defence provoke mistakes and then break with pace.
Some caveats of course are necessary. Colombia s group was arguably the weakest of the tournament and although they have lost only once in 15 matches that was a 2 0 reverse in World Cup qualifying against Uruguay last September. Pekerman does not expect it to have any influence on Saturday night but is happy to direct all the pressure onto opponents who reached the semi final four years ago and won the only previous World Cup to be staged in Brazil. Lots of different things are happening in this World Cup that haven t happened in previous tournaments he said. Unexpected things. Strange things can happen.
At this stage the big teams must prove why they have that reputation.
Countries like ourselves who have not competed at this level for a long time have to show we are capable. We had not been able to make it to a World Cup for a long time but we have the right mind set.
We re calm and will keep our cool. We re eager for this match.
Colombia vs Uruguay live
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