Copa America 2015 Preview: Colombia
Overview
Colombia won the collective hearts of the football world with their scintillating attacking style at last summer's World Cup, and after heading into that tournament as something of a dark horse, they go into the 2015 Copa America as one of four teams with legitimate hopes of capturing the title.
Comprised largely of the same players who stole the show in Brazil with a mixture of free-flowing play and exuberant celebrations, this Colombian squad remains one of the most enjoyable on the planet to watch.
Can they parlay that into silverware?
The talent is certainly there, with the likes of (the disparaged) Radamel Falcao, Juan Cuadrado, Carlos Bacca and Jackson Martinez forming the atom that has a nucleus in James Rodriguez.
Brazil has long been viewed as the most exhilarating yellow-clad show football has to offer, but recent evidence suggests Colombia has ripped that title away - and celebrated their new crown with a choreographed Cumbia at the corner flag.
Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Matc | h Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - 06 - 14 | Colombia vs. Venezuela | 16:00 | Estadio El Teniente |
| 2015 - 06 - 17 | Brazil vs. Colombia | 21:00 | Estadio Monumental David Arellano |
| 2015 - 06 - 21 | Colombia vs. Peru | 16:00 | Estadio Municipal Bicentenario Germán Becker |
All times are listed in local time
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-2-2): David Ospina; Juan Zuniga, Jeison Murillo, Cristian Zapata, Pablo Armero; Edwin Valencia, Carlos Sanchez; James Rodríguez, Juan Cuadrado; Carlos Bacca, Radamel Falcao.
Colombia has been rocked by injuries ahead of the tournament.
The list is lengthy as it is noteworthy. Young star Juan Fernando Quintero, defender Daniel Bocanegra, midfielders Fredy Guarin and Abel Aguilar, and striker Adrian Ramos will all watch the competition from the sidelines, leaving Jose Pekerman with some interesting decisions - particularly in the center of midfield where only Carlos Sanchez is a solidified starter.
That said, this team will play in the manner we have all grown accustomed to, with lightning-quick counter attacks down the wing and Rodriguez pulling the strings in the middle.
El Capitan
Now is your time for redemption, Radamel.
The Colombian skipper is coming off an atrocious loan spell at Manchester United, where he struggled to get back up to speed after recovering from a shredded ACL. He often looked lethargic, lacking the necessary quickness to react inside the penalty area - a staple of his game that, at one point, made him one of the world's most feared strikers.
The 29-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea of late, looked sharp in Colombia's only pre-tournament friendly, but if he cannot carry that form into this tournament, there's no reason to believe that Pekerman won't turn to Bacca and Martinez up front. Both are coming off incredible seasons with Sevilla and Porto, respectively.
Creeping towards the ominous 30-year-old plateau, this could well be Falcao's final chance to star for his country on a significant stage.
The Star
Along with Lionel Messi for Argentina and Neymar for Brazil, this one is glaringly obvious. James Rodriguez, who won hearts with his stunning goals and perfect smile at last summer's World Cup, is the undisputed star of the Colombian side, and will be relied upon to be the focal point of Los Cafeteros' attack.
Coming off a brilliant debut season with Real Madrid - in which he scored 13 goals and added as many assists, despite missing two months with a broken foot - the photogenic midfielder will take up his usual position on the left wing of Pekerman's 4-2-2-2 formation and drift inside, at which point he is capable of either unleashing a vicious left-footed strike or slotting a pass through for one of his strikers.
Either way, the 23-year-old will be one of the men to watch over the next month in Chile.
The Young Gun
With Porto's Juan Fernando Quintero on the shelf due to a right knee injury, we'll shift our focus back to the defense, where there are some questions about Pekerman's side given the absence of longtime stalwart Mario Yepes.
Jeison Murillo will attempt to put those concerns to rest.
The 23-year-old center-back, who completed a hushed move from Granada to Inter Milan with almost no fanfare earlier this year, finished the campaign with the Spanish side, and will no doubt be looking to put in a strong performance ahead of his first season in Serie A.
The 23-year-old, who cost the Italian side €8 million, is somewhat rough around the edges and prone to the occasional lapse in concentration, but his raw quickness, strength, and ability to dominate in the air make him an ideal successor to Yepes, and could soon see him develop into one of Colombia's finest defenders.
Burning Questions
- When not marveling at the talent of James, most will be intently following, and scrutinizing, the performance of Falcao. After a frankly disastrous season with United, will El Tigre be able to recapture his scoring form?
- How will the defense hold up without retired veteran Mario Yepes, who, despite his age, was a machine at last summer's World Cup
- Who of Martinez and Bacca will get the nod in the opening match to start alongside Falcao - and how often will Pekerman tinker with his duo up front?
Odds and Ends
Nickname: Los Cafeteros
Most caps: Carlos Valderrama (111)
Top scorer: Radamel Falcao (25)
Best Copa America result: Champions (2001)