Colombia (National Football)

Tipped for greatness at the World Cup in Brazil before the big kick-off, Colombia have more than lived up to their billing with a solid group-stage campaign.

Having already qualified for the round of 16 thanks to victories over Greece and Ivory Coast, Colombia are now looking for three wins out of three to outline their credentials as potential World Cup victors come next month.

Standing in Colombia’s way of maintaining their 100 per cent start to the tournament is Japan, who have a mission of their own on their hands with knockout-stage progression still within the realms of possibility.

Venue: Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

Date: Tuesday, June 24

Time: 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET

TV Info: BBC (TBC)/ESPN (U.S.)

Live Stream: BBC iPlayer/ESPN Player

Japan Needing Miracle to Qualify

Whatever happens in Cuiaba on Tuesday, Colombia will be through to the last 16 at the end of the match, but which team will join them is still very much up in the air.

If the Ivory Coast beat Greece in Group C’s other match, then the African nation will go through, but if they don’t, then Japan still have a chance.

A draw or a Greek victory would open the door for Japan to go through, but they’d need a hefty victory against the Colombians to do so.

However, as Colombia have proved in their opening matches, that’s no easy feat, and Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni said that his side need a drastic improvement on Tuesday to stand a chance—per FIFA.com:

"We're not satisfied with our performances so far. This team has given lots of joy and satisfaction in previous matches over the past four years so I'm hoping we can show that good part of our football against Colombia."

Colombia, though, have been showing the “good part” of their football throughout the tournament and have won worldwide plaudits for their style of play—including from Gary Lineker:

Their counter-attacking style combined with their impeccable fitness makes them a real force at the World Cup, and the fact that they’re accustomed to the humid climate helps, too.

Though the Colombians have stars all over the pitch, one man who has stood out is playmaker James Rodriguez. He has scored in both of the South Americans’ matches so far.

He demonstrates a, sort of, telepathy whenever he takes to the pitch, with his vision and awareness causing the Ivory Coast's and Greece’s defences endless problems.

The Monaco star also has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and has a superb, recent, international scoring record, per Opta Joe:

Filling the void left by his domestic teammate Radamel Falcao for Colombia, Rodriguez says that he’s aware of the pressure on his shoulders but believes that his side can enjoy a fruitful campaign—per FIFA.com’s report:

“The responsibility weighs more on me, but I am not alone. I hope to have a good World Cup. Why can't we be the revelation of the tournament? I hope we will be.”

Not quite a revelation, yet, but Colombia have all the makings of a team that are destined to really make a mark in Brazil.

Though Japan will be hopeful of springing an upset and somehow finding a way through to the knockout stage, Colombia’s performances suggest that nothing but a routine victory will be on the way for Jose Pekerman’s side.

If that’s the case, they’ll head through Group C as champions and will face either Costa Rica, Italy or Uruguay in the last 16. Where, if they maintain their form, they’ll be booking a place in the quarter-finals.

Prediction: Japan 1-3 Colombia

In a year speckled with deflating withdrawals from the 2014 World Cup due to injury, Radamel's Falcao's was perhaps the most disappointing.

When he was inadvertently hurt in a challenge with part-time footballer and teacher Soner Ertek in Monaco’s Coupe de France match with fourth-tier Chasselay back in January, football fans across the globe sighed at the injustice.

Seeing El Tigre in full flight is one of the game’s greatest pleasures at present.

Despite his motivation and faith to recover from his cruciate knee ligament injury in time for the tournament, it was little surprise when it was finally announced on June 9 that Colombia’s—and perhaps the world’s—greatest No. 9 wouldn’t make it.

It stung.

Not only is Falcao a titan on the pitch—and he has been ever since he arrived in Europe with Porto in 2009—he is a class act off it.

When a bemused Ertek began to receive threats and abusive messages, Falcao took to his popular Twitter account to defend him.

Colombia, however, have already proved in this tournament of surprises that they are far more than their star striker plus 10 more. The thousands of Colombians who have followed their team across South America to cheer them on have another figure on whom to focus their adoration: James Rodriguez.

However much of a shame it might be that Falcao isn’t here—and actions such as the aforementioned tweet remind us what an asset he is to football on and off the pitch—the presence of James is beginning to tell us where the real epicentre of this team is.

Anybody who has followed his progress since he arrived in Europe as a teenager, a touch under four years ago, would not be surprised.

James took his time to become a Porto regular after arriving from Banfield, a fact at least partly due to the stellar quality of the Dragons’ squad at the time.

It quickly became clear he was indispensable, though. A hat-trick in the 2011 Taca de Portugal Final against Guimaraes—which rounded off Andre Villas-Boas’ treble-winning season—offered a window into just how important he would become.

In the wake of Hulk’s departure, that’s exactly what happened.

James operated on the right, but Porto’s traditional 4-3-3 system demanded that he develop his qualities as a No. 10 too—their wide attackers are always expected to drop inside and score goals. He did so increasingly in key encounters with Benfica and an eye-catching Champions League triumph against Paris Saint-Germain in October 2012.

When James made a €45 million move to Monaco last summer, his ability to handle the pressure was rarely in doubt.

Given the No. 10 role at the tip of Claudio Ranieri’s midfield diamond, he finished his debut campaign in a physical league as the leading assist provider. Defenders' attempts to intimidate him proved fruitless.

Having developed further under Ranieri, Colombia are feeling the benefit of James’ growth.

While we know plenty of players with wingers’ attributes employed in central areas—Spain and Manchester City's David Silva, for example—James can do both, employing speed and dribbling or picking passes and scoring goals. He covers all bases.

There is plenty to marvel over in Jose Pekerman’s side, with James’ nominal successor at the Estadio do Dragao, Juan Fernando Quintero, also getting on the scoresheet against the Ivorians with what turned out to be the winner.

However, it is their playmaker who knits it all together with the personality to win games and shoulder the responsibility of being the team’s go-to figure.

South American No. 10s have always been a huge part of World Cup history. Here and now, in the backyard of perhaps the greatest of them all, Neymar has a rival to the crown of this tournament’s central figure.

Long may James continue to thrill his country and neutrals alike.

With a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Thursday, Colombia have claimed two wins in a single World Cup for the first time ever, per ESPN FC.

Colombia, eighth in the FIFA World Rankings, defeated Greece 3-0 last Saturday thanks to goals from Pablo Armero, Teofilo Gutierrez and James Rodriguez. The win put them in the driver's seat atop Group C, and they successfully advanced to the knockout stage after defeating the Ivorians.

Rodriguez was back at it Thursday, scoring the opener in the 64th minute to mark his fourth goal in as many international games.

Colombia have made it out of the group stage just once in their four previous trips to the World Cup, doing so in Italy back in 1990. In the three trips where they failed to reach the knockout stage, Colombia won two matches, drew one and lost six.

Despite the high ranking, there was a major question regarding their chances in the tournament, as top striker Radamel Falcao failed to make the 23-man roster after tearing his ACL back in January. There was plenty of speculation that he may make it back in time, but he ultimately was left off due to a lack of match fitness after rehabbing the injury for six months.

Colombia will try to make it 3-of-3 in the group stage when they take on Japan Tuesday. If they can win the group, they will face the second-place finisher out of Group D, which will be either Italy or Uruguay.

Radamel Falcao Garcia is an icon in Colombia. His image adorns billboards for banks, soft drinks and government tourism campaigns, and he is considered an excellent role model for the country’s youth. Media outlets gave hourly updates on his unsuccessful attempt to recover from knee surgery in time for the World Cup.

Yet say it quietly, find an isolated corner and whisper it: Maybe Colombia are a better team without him.

That is not to say that there won't be moments during this World Cup when Colombia will wish they had Falcao at their disposal. Or, indeed, that the fear factor he inspires in opponents would not have proved useful. In pure talent terms, he is Colombia's best striker.

But on Saturday, in their 3-0 victory over Greece, Colombia attacked with sufficient fluidity and vibrancy to suggest that he will not be overly missed.

FT: #COL 3 #GRE 0. No surprise that the South American teams have started so strongly. Played 3, won 3 so far. #BRA #CHI #COL

— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) June 14, 2014

Coach Jose Pekerman normally employed a 4-2-2-2 formation during the qualifiers, aware that Falcao performs best with an attacking partner in close quarters—be that Hulk drifting in off the right at Porto or Diego Costa or Adrian at Atletico Madrid.

The need to provide Falcao with a nearby associate did somewhat limit Pekerman's tactical options, and the absence of the Monaco marksman has allowed him to experiment with a lone striker—a role that Carlos Bacca, Jackson Martinez and Teofilo Gutierrez are all comfortable fulfilling.

It was Gutierrez, Falcao’s regular strike partner during qualifying, who was fielded up front by himself in the 3-0 victory over Jordan in Colombia's final pre-tournament friendly, and the River Plate striker was again given the nod on Saturday, starting at the head of a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Gutierrez performed superbly, moving well across the line and linking adroitly with his teammates with quick one- and two-touch layoffs. He can sometimes be too unselfish, seeking a pass when a shot on goal would be more appropriate, but he is otherwise a prototypical lone striker who excels at bringing others into the game.

His display got the goal he deserved when he stretched out a leg to divert Abel Aguilar's near-post flick-on into the back of the net for 2-0 just before the hour mark.

Behind Gutierrez, the strong and direct running of Victor Ibarbo, trickery of Juan Cuadrado and silky touch and creative passing of James Rodriguez consistently troubled the Greek defence. In front of a partisan crowd in Belo Horizonte, Colombia’s front four dazzled with their inventive play and varied movement.

Cuadrado was released down the right by Rodriguez in the buildup to Pablo Armero’s early opener, Rodriguez twice had efforts on target saved by Orestis Karnezis and Cuadrado also fired wide from long range.

Rodriguez then capped off an excellent personal performance by collecting Cuadrado's back heel and placing a nice shot low into the corner of the net for 3-0 in second-half stoppage time.

"I’m happy because we’ve won the game and because I scored, and that was a dream come true for me," said a delighted Rodriguez.

This was only one match. Greece did not offer a great deal going forward, and one would imagine that other teams will compete more ferociously in midfield. But as opening performances go, it was highly impressive and augured well for Colombia’s chances of both progressing from the group and performing at a good level in the knockout rounds.

There will certainly be few teams looking forward to facing their bright, quick and exciting front four.

Follow @chewingthecoca

Colombia, so widely tipped to be "dark horses" at the World Cup in Brazil that the term is hardly applicable any more, are stuttering as they approach the tournament.

Injuries to first-choice players have been debilitating, but the team is struggling to gel and unable to find the X-factor that made them so strong in 2012 and 2013. 

The loss of Radamel Falcao Garcia to injury is an enormous blow to Colombia, but the effect will not be so much on the team's finishing but on their approach play.

Although Falcao is an excellent No. 9, his movement, neat touches and links with players such as James Rodriguez and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado will be most missed.

Carlos Bacca and Teofilo Gutierrez, who are likely to start against Greece, are both capable strikers but rely much more on service from midfield for their goals. Bacca in particular often has a heavy touch.

Aside from Falcao, Colombia have been unfortunate to lose vice-captain and defender Luis Amaranto Perea as well as midfielder Edwin Valencia to injuries. Perea will be missed for his leadership qualities, but Fluminense's Valencia is a crucial link between defence and attack, able to kick-start counter-attacks with good passing.

Furthermore, a knock to Aldo Leao Ramirez has left Colombia very short of passing midfielders in front of the back four. For a side who also rely on two of these centrocampistas to cover for the rampaging runs of their fullbacks, this is a severe blow to the team's chemistry.

Such is the scale of the problem that coach Jose Nestor Pekerman opted to start with River Plate's rising star Eder Alvarez Balanta, usually a defender, as a holding midfielder against Jordan.

There are also concerns over the form and fitness of the two first-choice fullbacks. Napoli's Camilo Zuniga, out since October with a "mystery" injury, has looked adept going forward but slow going back.

Similarly, Pablo Armero, on loan at West Ham from Napoli, was starved of game time after making the switch in January.

With these problems, more pressure is placed on the young shoulders of starlet James Rodriguez. His level-headed approach, combined with a natural flair, should be the blueprint for Colombia at the World Cup.

Indeed, writing in the Daily Mail, Rio Ferdinand correctly assessed Rodriguez's skills but also the void left by Falcao and how this will affect Rodriguez's game:

He’s that rare talent — someone who gets you off your seat. The only downside is that clubmate and Colombia co-star Radamel Falcao is out injured. Falcao would have created the space for Rodriguez to thrive. But then the absence of Falcao is perhaps Rodriguez’s chance to take centre stage.

All is not well then, for Los Cafeteros, but they are hardly the only team struggling as they prepare for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

They are talented, but Colombia are a confidence team and need to win their first match at the tournament to avoid coming under significant pressure.

As a result, it is imperative that Pekerman has ironed out the team's problems before they take on Greece in Belo Horizonte on Saturday.