Colombia (National Football)

Welcome to the latest in a new series where we will take a tactical dive and explore each and every one of the 32 qualified World Cup teams.

Next up is Colombia, who qualified in second place in the CONMEBOL standings with an impressive 30 points. The group is usually a two-horse race at the top between Argentina and Brazil, but Los Cafeteros took advantage of the Selecao's absence and came oh so close to topping the table.

Qualifying

Colombia won nine of their 16 games en route to finishing snugly between Argentina and Chile in the standings. At home in Barranquilla they were close to unstoppable, with a 2-1 loss to Argentina the only blemish on an impressive record.

Jose Pekerman's men were 3-0 down to Chile in the final home game at half-time, but managed to mount a comeback in the second period and draw 3-3, thus sealing qualification for the tournament proper.

They conceded a league-low 13 goals throughout the 16 games and kept six clean sheets in total. After beating Uruguay 4-0 on September 7, 2012, Los Cafeteros didn't concede a single home goal until they played Chile 13 months later.

Radamel Falcao was the the side's top scorer with nine goals in qualifying.

Formation & Style

Pekerman took a little time to work out what his best formation was, and his experiments using the 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 explains some questionable early form during the qualification period.

He finally settled on the 4-2-2-2, which represented the best way to get all of his key peripherals in their correct positions and unlock their attack verve.

Colombia will arrive at the World Cup as one of the most technically talented, physically overbearing and tactically flexible sides in the competition, and their ability to switch speeds at which they play is a killer.

The 4-2-2-2 employs two traditional-looking defensive midfielders on paper, but Pekerman doesn't restrict their duties to guarding holes left by the marauding full-backs and blocking zones in the midfield.

Their vertical passes out of the defensive third are vital to the quick springing of attacks, and that unlocks the true physical nature of Pekerman's stacked side. They also have the opportunity to move forward with the ball themselves, though that's more likely with Fredy Guarin in the side than anyone else.

Ahead of them, James Rodriguez will play as a No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 or in a 4-2-2-2; if it's the latter it seems he will be paired with Macnelly Torres behind a striking pair.

During qualifying Falcao stole the show as an aerial target man and linkup player, but his injury will see someone else step in. Teofilo Gutierrez's good running (and favoured position by the coach) makes him the favourite to partner up.

The full-backs add to the variety of Los Cafeteros' play and make them extremely difficult to predict. Good movement from the central players is usually enough to fashion a scoring chance—in particular the darting runs from Gutierrez—but both Pablo Armero and Juan Cuadrado play key roles in the final third.

Their ability to either hit the byline or cross from deep is important as it gives this side an extra edge. Pekerman will always favour a striker with a strong aerial presence as a result, so expect to see Jackson Martinez start the opening game of the World Cup.

Reasons for Hope

Los Cafeteros are an odd hybrid team that few can replicate. They have pace, power, technical skill, height and drive in abundance; rarely are such diverse qualities harnessed in a single XI.

That means they can use whichever method of playing they wish. They're at their best attacking directly, passing vertically and running with the ball, but are also adept in the slow possession game many will seek to utilise in Brazil this summer.

Depth is a key factor for Pekerman heading into the finals, and while Falcao is a big loss for the forward line, his presence and goals are actually very, very replaceable.

Jackson Martinez has been astonishingly good for FC Porto this season, and it's his performances that are making the Dragons look far better than they are. He's an aerial monster, great in holdup play and can fulfill his compatriots' role.

Beyond him Colombia have Luis Muriel, but he's a worse fit for the system given that he's all pace and no height.

Depth in defensive midfield is also very strong, but losing James Rodriguez would be an unmitigated disaster for this side. We talk about Colombia switching speeds and changing approaches, and he is key to all of the transitions.

Pekerman is a clever, logical coach who adapts his formation succinctly for each opponent. He can juggle the 4-2-3-1 and the 4-2-2-2 and has the peripherals to pull off each system, though 3-5-2 likely isn't an option for the finals.

Reasons for Concern

Colombia are yet to play a game since Falcao's injury, and although Martinez is an ideal replacement on paper, they need to clock some game-time with him leading the line. Fast.

Central defence is also something of a concern despite the team posting the best defensive record in the CONMELBOL qualifiers. Recent games have exposed Mario Yepes, Cristian Zapata and Luis Perea both in the air (defending balls into the box) and on the ground (pace, agility).

Young Colombian super defender Eder Alvarez Balanta will not be groomed well enough for this year's edition, and Pekerman will have to soldier on with a suspect group.

Carlos Sanchez stands an ideal, natural fit for deep in Los Cafeteros' midfield, but his recent form in a yellow shirt has been a little suspect. With Fredy Guarin not playing for Internazionale and failing to transfer away from the club this winter, selection questions reign supreme here too.

Conclusion

Colombia were tipped two years ago as dark horses to win the World Cup, but the buzz has worn off just a little as we enter the home straight.

They have immense strength in depth, quality in James Rodriguez and a clever, tactically astute coach in Jose Pekerman. They've not been without their minor struggles, but they are primed to navigate their group with ease.

All eyes will be on Los Cafeteros this summer, and they best impress.

Prediction: Quarterfinals (knocked out by eventual winners Brazil)

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Now that the CONMEBOL qualifiers are done (Colombia finished second) and the FIFA ranking that will determine World Cup seeding is a logarithm away from being finalized, it is up to manager Jose Pekerman to focus now on coming up with a Colombian team of 23 potential starters and finding out who the best 11 players are to handle three group stage games in 10 days plus the knockout rounds. 

In mid-November Colombia will face Belgium and the Netherlands in pre-World Cup friendly action.  Belgium, like Colombia, has not been in a World Cup in some time, with 2002 as their last appearance.  Holland, on the other hand, is no stranger to the international stage. 

One of the key differences between this Colombia team and the ones that did not qualify for 2002, 2006 and 2010 is regularity.  Out of 16 qualifiers, Colombia had 11 players play in 10 or more games averaging 80 minutes per game.  Only Uruguay came close to matching this level of chemistry.  The only drawback to having this much chemistry could be inexperienced depth. 

This lack of depth made Colombia’s most recent qualifier quite the roller coaster ride (RB Juan Zuniga of Napoli was missing).  At home against Chile, Colombia came back from a 3-0 deficit and drew with the Chileans in a Jeckyl and Hyde like performance.  Looking at the Chile game with a “glass half empty” approach would indicate there are several areas of improvement that Pekerman must address before the World Cup. 

Goalkeeping

David Ospina has emerged as a no-brainer as Colombia’s No. 1.  His energy and experience will make him a sure thing for many years to come.  Unfortunately, there is no plan B in the event Ospina goes down (remember 2011 Copa America?). 

Usual backups Faryd Mondragon and Camilo Vargas would benefit from a few caps pre-World Cup.  Neither played a single minute during the qualifiers, so it would be wise for Colombia to give Vargas or Mondragon a half or two of playing time (Trivia: 42-year old Mondragon will be the only player on the roster that was part of the 1998 World Cup roster if selected).

Central Defense

Seven years ago, the thought of going up against Luis Perea and Mario Yepes would have rattled any striker.  While both players bring leadership and experience to the team, Pekerman and even his predecessors have continuously relied upon on this aging duo, 34 and 37 years old respectively, to lead the back line.

The lack of pace and positioning was evident in the 2-0 loss to Uruguay and the three goals Chile scored during the first half of last Friday’s game.  Perhaps the other options at center-back have not materialized on the training ground, but opposing strikers' mouths will be watering upon viewing the first half of the Chile game.

Center-backs such as Cristian Zapata, Carlos Valdes and Aquivaldo Mosquera have simply not played enough during the qualifying campaign.  The three players have played a combined 10 games during the qualifiers.  

Prior to the Paraguay match, Zapata’s only other opportunity lasted a whole 27 minutes before receiving a red card against Argentina.  Valdes, on the other hand, was starting to become a regular in the starting 11 before returning back to the bench in favor of the Perea/Yepes duo. 

One player that should be taken into consideration for the future is Eder Balanta, a young defender reportedly being monitored by FC Barcelona, which he discussed with Sport (via Sky Sports).  Incorporating Balanta into the rotation would be a great strategic move for the long term and could be a viable option having featured regularly for River Plate recently.

Full-Backs

Napoli’s Juan Zuniga and Pablo Armero are probably two players that are must-starts for every game.  Their pace, ability to defend and playmaking ability is crucial to the success of Colombia.  Unfortunately, the depth chart starts and ends with these two. 

21-year old Stefan Medina was given a chance to provide cover for Armero and Zuniga during the Uruguay and Chile games and learned the hard way about how grueling South American qualifiers can be.  Medina could be a part of the long-term plan, but right now, he needs minutes in games where the stakes are not as high.   

Currently the best option after Zuniga and Armero comes at the risk of weakening the attack in Juan Cuadrado.  While Cuadrado best serves as an attacker midfielder, he did start his career as a defender.  Additional depth in the future may come from 21-year old Santiago Arias, who made his debut against Paraguay in the absence of Zuniga. 

Midfield

Throughout the qualifiers, the core of the midfield included Carlos Sanchez, Abel Aguilar, James Rodriguez, Cuadrado and Macnelly Torres.  The deeper portion of the midfield regularly had Aguilar and Sanchez with a handful of appearances from Edwin Valencia.  The disastrous first half against Chile showed a Colombian side that could not win the ball back or maintain any sort of possession and one which lacked any kind of cohesion.

One player who has been absent from the qualifiers for no specific reason has been Fredy Guarin.  The box-to-box midfielder is probably the best midfielder on paper but has made few appearances under Pekerman. 

At the start of the second half against Chile, both Guarin and Torres entered the game, and Colombia’s midfield looked more organized.  While the results without Guarin have been there for Colombia, Pekerman is going to need the Inter man more frequently if the team wants to be a true contender. 

Unfortunately, Guarin was not able to capitalize on his opportunity against Paraguay after receiving two yellow cards in the first half from boneheaded tackles.  While he has displayed world-class form at Porto and Inter Milan in years past, Guarin has not had similar success under Pekerman.  

Creatively, Pekerman has been able to find a solution with Rodriguez and Torres.  While Rodriguez can be considered the playmaker from the wing, Torres has the attributes of a classic No. 10.  The big question with Torres is his ability to remain consistent and hold his own against the top teams in the world.  One player who will eventually be Rodriguez’s partner in the midfield is Porto’s Juan Quintero. 

One of the top players from the U-20 World Cup in Turkey this past summer, Quintero is quickly becoming an integral part of Porto’s success.  His partnership with Colombian striker Jackson Martinez at club level gives Pekerman an option at international level, as their club chemistry may be useful for the World Cup.  Similar to how Germany incorporated Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller to the international scene pre-2010 World Cup, look for Pekerman to hopefully do the same with Quintero.

Strikers

Pekerman’s go-to strikers have consistently been Falcao and Gutierrez.  Both strikers have put up the stats and earned the confidence of the fans.  While the depth chart includes Carlos Bacca, Luis Muriel and Jackson Martinez, one striker who could yet make a claim for a call-up is Fredy Montero.

Since heading to Sporting Lisbon on loan from Seattle Sounders, Montero has hit the back of the net nine times in seven games.  If the Portuguese League could make a name out of Falcao and Martinez, then Montero could be next. Unfortunately, when it comes to strikers, Pekerman can only go with two, maybe three during a game.  For now, it is important for Pekerman to rotate strikers more frequently. 

What's Next?

At this point, now that Colombia’s core team has been established, it is important to get the other players such as Zapata, Valdes, Quintero, Guarin, Muriel, Bacca and Martinez up to speed for when they are called upon to play when it matters. 

World Cup history has clearly shown that injuries and suspensions over the one-month tournament can have a huge impact.  Preparation and playing time across the depth chart is essential to any good World Cup performance.

Possible World Cup Starting 11

Goalkeeper: David Ospina
Defense: Juan Zuniga, Cristian Zapata, Mario Yepes, Pablo Armero
Midfield: Juan Quintero, Fredy Guarin, Abel Aguilar, James Rodriguez
Strikers: Teo Gutierrez, Radamel Falcao  

Follow me on Twitter @Furnaccio

September 5, 1993 is a day etched into the memory of every single Colombian football fan. That evening the Cafeteros booked their place in the following year's US World Cup with an astonishing 5-0 demolition of continental powerhouses Argentina. 

The pacific nation, fired by a golden generation that included stars like Carlos Valderrama, Freddy Rincon, Adolfo 'El Tren' Valencia and Faustino Asprilla had arrived on the global stage. 

Fast forward 20 years and one day and a new formidable Colombia team is desperate to make amends for the ignominy and failure suffered since the passing of that side. Their victory may not have had the same pizzazz as that one two decades previously in Buenos Aires, but it may prove to be just as important a milestone.

The team directed by Argentine Jose Pekerman had to contend with a drenched pitch, courtesy of Friday's tropical downpour in Barranquilla just before kick-off, but dug deep to secure a 1-0 win over fellow South American qualifying high-flyers Ecuador. A single goal from James Rodriguez, a smartly taken rebound after Radamel Falcao's skidding shot had been deflected by goalkeeper Maximo Banguera, was enough to earn three crucial points.

As a result, qualification lies agonisingly close. Colombia currently share the top spot with Argentina in Conmebol, and if Uruguay fail to win on Friday against Peru, an automatic place is guaranteed. Should the Celeste triumph, a maximum of three points from the Cafetero's last three fixtures are all that would be needed.

The Tricolor had their chances as well, most notably a penalty skewed wide by Walter Ayovi. But in their first competitive clash since the tragic passing of Christian Benitez, the visitors could not quite break down an organised Colombia team and take anything away from the Estadio Metropolitano.

That last point is one of the most crucial for Pekerman's charges. Talent in this new 'golden generation', like in 1994, abounds. For El Pibe Valderrama, read James Rodriguez. Falcao, although he squandered at least two decent chances on Friday, is arguably ahead of former Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid sharpshooter Valencia, considered as he is one of the best strikers on the planet.

With Camilo Zuniga and Pablo Armero bombing down the flanks, meanwhile, the class of 2013 has a potency out wide to rival that given 20 years ago by the virtuoso talents of Rincon and Asprilla.

The key here, though, is discipline. Football has changed immeasurably even from the hyper-commercialised world it was in 1994, more than anywhere for South American teams. In the squad that Francisco Maturana took to the US that year, only five played outside Colombia; just two of those, Asprilla and Victor Aristizabal, representing European clubs. 

The squad called up by Pekerman for the latest round of qualifiers, in comparison, shows a complete turn-around. Five members of the team play in the Liga Postobon, two of whom are the reserve keepers (curiously enough one of whom, 42-year-old Peter Pan Faryd Mondragon, went to the World Cup back in 1994 also as a substitute). 

Without wishing to disparage the Colombian league, which after all has proved itself as a breeding ground for top talent, the football that Falcao, James and the rest of the Cafeteros play week in week out in Europe is at another level both in terms of skill levels and, most importantly, discipline and organisation.

The Colombia side of the 1990s at times represented an exhibition outfit, supremely talented when on the ball and in control, liable to self-destruct when things got tough. The new kids on the block, however, while not playing with the same freedom and joie de vivre as their predecessors, are a well-drilled bunch coached to perfection by Pekerman, one of the greatest tactical minds in South America.

A glance at Rodriguez's lightning-quick flicks, Armero's bombing runs down the left or the laid-back majesty of Macnelly Torres is proof enough that Colombia have not lost the effortless skill that made them so wonderful to watch in their previous glory days. But the addition of tactical and mental discipline to that potent raw material is one of the key reasons why the new golden generation can make a big impact next year at the Brazil World Cup.

The qualifying stages for the 2014 World Cup are gearing up for an epic finale as they're down to the final few matches. Colombia will host Ecuador Friday in a match that will have huge implications for each national team.

Both squads are right on Argentina's heels for the top spot in the CONMEBOL region, as Colombia has a chance to tie the leaders with a win and Ecuador could overtake Colombia for second place if they come out victorious.

Ecuador may be feeling the pressure heading into this contest, as it could fork over its qualifying spot with a tough final slate of Uruguay and Chile to close out the qualifying stage.

Needless to say, a lot is on the line in Friday's match. Let's break down the matchup.

When: Friday, September 6 at 4:30 p.m. ET

Where: Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla, Colombia

Watch: beIN Sport, beIN Sport Play

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying

Here's the latest table from South America's CONMEBOL region (via ESPN).

Note: Top four teams qualify for the World Cup, while the fifth-place team goes to playoff against a nation from Asia

Top Storyline: How Is Radamel Falcao's Health?

It's unclear whether or not Colombia star striker Radamel Falcao will be a go for Friday's match, as FIFA reported he's with the team despite suffering an ankle injury last weekend.

However, Rex Gowar of Reuters (via The Daily Star) said that even though he made the trip with the team, his status is still in doubt for the home match against Ecuador.

If Falcao can't go, the most likely replacement for him would be FC Porto striker Jackson Martinez. The 26-year-old doesn't boast nearly as recognizable of a name as Falcao, but his 26 goals in 30 matches in league play last season prove he's a menace in the penalty area.

But despite Martinez's effectiveness, this just isn't the same team without Falcao up top. If he's going to miss an extended amount of time, or even the final World Cup qualifying matches, Colombia could be in trouble.

Prediction

Falcao or no Falcao, these two teams are simply headed in different directions and Friday's match will bring that to the surface.

Colombia has won four straight matches at home, with a lopsided score of 13-0 in those combined affairs. On top of that, it will be motivated by the fact that a win would tie it up with Argentina at the top of the CONMEBOL standings.

Ecuador, on the other hand, drew against Argentina and lost to Peru in its last two qualifying matches. It scored a combined one goal on those matches.

Colombia 2, Ecuador 1

Colombia's journey to the 2014 World Cup continues, as Los Cafeteros have less than a year to go before going to work against the rest of the world in Brazil.

With a No. 3 world ranking according to FIFA and a firm position in the CONMEBOL rankings, Colombia look to be in the driver's seat as they seek to secure their first World Cup berth since 1998.

On September 6 and 10, respectively, Colombia will face Ecuador and Uruguay in what still remains a tight race to qualify out of the South America pool.  Currently, Colombia (23 points) have a game in hand relative to Argentina, who are on top of the table with 26 points.  Ecuador and Chile are just behind Colombia with 21 points each, while Uruguay have battled through inconsistency during qualifications and are sitting in fifth place with 16 points (tied with Venezuela).

Ecuador, a team that struggles on the road, has their work cut out for them as they travel to Baranquilla, where Colombia has yet to drop any points under manager Jose Pekerman.  Unlike your typical qualifier, Ecuador have more to play for, as this will be their first CONMEBOL qualifier match without recently deceased Christian "Chucho" Benitez.  

In Benitez, the world lost a great player who had been integral to Ecuador's qualifying campaign. Ecuador will be playing their hearts out as they pay respect to a fallen comrade. In a recent friendly, Ecuador fell 2-0 to Spain, so they will be ready to face the firepower that Colombia bring to the table.

On September 10, Colombia will travel to Uruguay to face a team that has had quite a busy summer.  Similar to the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers, Uruguay are looking to sneak into a qualifying position, and every match is do-or-die.  

Things may turn for the better, as Uruguay had an impressive Confederations Cup performance, facing some of the world's best in just a two-week period.  There was no shame in their hard-fought losses to Spain, Brazil and Italy.  With an attack that features Luis Suarez (Liverpool), Edinson Cavani (PSG) and Diego Forlan (Internacional), there is no telling which version of Uruguay shows up—the one that shows up in major tournaments (2010 World Cup and 2011 Copa America) or the one that has dropped points in eight of 12 qualifying matches.

With one club campaign to go before the World Cup, the top priority for most players is finding a team in which playing time and form are critical.  This summer, several of Colombia's key players moved on to new squads, where they will look to grow and gain more experience in anticipation of the World Cup.

Defensively, one of the more talked-about concerns among Colombian supporters has been the fitness and form of captain Mario Yepes (Atalanta).  At 37 years old, he may not be the same defender that we remember him being at the turn of the century, but he does bring experience and leadership to the table.  

In the last two seasons, while at AC Milan, the centre-back played fewer than 20 games per year, which is simply not enough when defenders such as Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Sergio Ramos and other world-class defenders are logging 35- to 50-game seasons.  This season, Yepes will continue to play in the Serie A for a team that will play one game per week.  

Among the midfielders, several players moved to new clubs.  Box-to-box midfielder Abel Aguilar (Toulouse) left La Liga to play in France, while defensive mid Carlos Sanchez (Elche) did the exact opposite.  Playmaker/attacking midfielder James Rodriguez left Porto this summer and joined his old Porto teammate and current national team striker Radamel Falcao in a big move to France.  Having this duo playing together every week will only benefit Colombia in the long-term as they seek to develop a chemistry that is rivaled only by nations such as Spain and Germany.   

The biggest question mark for Colombia this year will be the inclusion of the up-and-coming Juan Fernando Quintero (FC Porto).  One of the stars from this summer's Under-20 World Cup, the deep-lying playmaker joined the Portuguese side that has made players such as Falcao, Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez (Porto) and Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan) into household names.  

After Quintero's strong performance in the U20 World Cup, Porto brought him in to replace the recently departed Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho (Monaco).  Viewed as the future playmaker for Colombia, Quintero played in a recent friendly against Serbia, which Colombia won 1-0.  While he did not feature with many of the first-team players, it will only be a matter of time before he is a mainstay in the midfield along with Rodriguez.  Between Quintero's ability to play in a deep role, a la Andrea Pirlo, and Rodriguez's ability to lead the attack in a more advanced role, Colombia's midfield could be a threat for a long time to come.

Unfortunately, this might mean that Macnelly Torres' (Al-Shabab) days in the midfield are numbered.  At 28 years old, his role in Pekerman's plan has been working quite well.  But with his recent move to the Middle East to play club football, has Torres basically given up his future with the national team?  Usually a move to the Middle East or Asia to play club football does not help a player's chances for playing for a South American national team (remember Mao Molina and Gio Moreno?).

For everything Torres has been able to accomplish, the powers that be likely see Quintero as a key member of Colombia's future and will gradually incorporate him into the starting XI.  For now, expect to see Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina) in that starting right midfield role as Quintero slowly adapts to playing in Portugal and the Champions League and prepares himself for an everyday role with the national team.

Up front, Colombia will continue to use the strike force of Falcao, Jackson Martinez, Carlos Bacca (Sevilla) Teo Gutierrez (River Plate) and Luis Muriel (Udinese).  While Falcao will continue to be an everyday player, who is best suited to partner up with Falcao?  The best results have been seen with Gutierrez due to his ability to drop back into a supporting striker/attacking midfield role at times.  On paper, though, everyone wishes it was Jackson given his form at Porto and chemistry with Rodriguez and now Quintero.  

Pekerman looks to continue to have faith in Gutierrez, but hopefully this spell in Argentina will go better than the last time he was in Argentina when he played for Racing.  Should Gutierrez slip up, Bacca and Muriel have shows flashes of brilliance in their few appearances in the yellow shirt.  Between those two and Jackson, who is a proven world-class striker, the depth chart up top is quite solid.

Look for Colombia to continue their winning ways, though both matches will be hard-fought, as both Ecuador and Uruguay have a lot to play for with their backs to the wall.  While Colombia has a lot less to lose from these two matches, Los Cafeteros will continue to play freely and attack hard as they look to earn a top seed for the upcoming World Cup, which is currently a high probability based on recent results.

Colombia vs Ecuador: Friday, September 6, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. ET

Colombia vs. Uruguay:  Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. ET

See you on the pitch!

Follow me on Twitter @Furnaccio

Full name: Juan Fernando Quintero Paniagua

Position: Attacking midfielder/Left-sided midfielder

Date of birth: 01/18/1993 (Age: 20)

Place of birth: Medellin

Nationality: Colombian

Height: 1.68m (5' 6")

Club: Pescara

Contract situation:

According to Football Italia, Quintero is very close to a move to Porto. Pescara club president Daniele Sebastiani told Radio Mana Sport:

"Quintero appeals to many clubs. But in pole at the moment are Porto.

"The Colombian will cost no less than €10m though."

Manchester United, Juventus and Internazionale had all been linked with the youngster in the past, and Genoa came close to signing him before Porto swooped.

Strengths

The Colombian youngster is endowed with a quality that only a smattering of footballers possess; creativity that is both unpredictable and unteachable. His fluid ball skills allow him to crack opposition defenses with a single pass or dribble.

Quintero is most comfortable in the No. 10 role—in its South American interpretation—roaming between the midfield and attacking lines, linking teammates, probing for weaknesses in the opposing team with incisive passing and making space for himself with quick footwork.

He is also in possession of a wicket left-footed shot, which is a threat from open play and set pieces.

Weaknesses

If there is one trait that makes Quintero easier for defenders to read, it is that he is very left-footed. Rather than attempting a pass or shot with his right foot, he will almost always prefer to move the ball over to his left side, which often over-complicates matters for him.

He wouldn't be a card-carrying, prodigious South American playmaker if he didn't sometimes try to do too much, opting for more spectacular plays when simpler options would serve his team better.

Where to see him in action

The kid they call "El Talentoso" is currently captaining Colombia in the U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Quintero shined in the group stage, scoring goals against the hosts and El Salvador but will be hoping to make an even greater impression on the tournament by leading his side right through to the final stages.

The first hurdle for Colombia in the knockout stages will be Korea Republic Wednesday in the round of 16.

It was the first big transfer coup of the summer window, and by far the biggest deal in Colombian football history. Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez, the Cafeteros' brightest stars, agreed terms to sign with Ligue 1 new boys Monaco within days of each other. The transfer, as estimated by Goal.com, will cost the French side a staggering €105 million—60 shelled out for the former Atletico Madrid man while James earned Porto €45m. 

On Friday night in the Monumental, we had the first chance since confirmation of the transfer to see what the pair could offer Monaco. Based on this first showing, more will be necessary should the club wish to topple Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1. 

First signs were encouraging. Rodriguez slotted into the Colombia side in a traditional No. 10 position as they took on Argentina in an away World Cup qualifier, dictating play in the opening minutes and impressing even Albiceleste fans with his accomplished footwork. He tended to veer towards the left, playing more than one pass in behind Pablo Zabaleta to feed winger Pablo Armero in a move that left Argentina looking narrow and limited at the back. 

Early in the match, the ex-Banfield wonderkid thought he had earned Colombia a dream lead. A wonderful ball released Jackson Martinez down the middle, who finished with class; but the linesman's flag was already up, and his former Porto teammate was deprived of the type of assist he has thrived on all year from the 21-year-old star. 

Falcao, meanwhile, took up his habitual post in the penalty area, trying to feed off the likes of Rodriguez, Armero and Jackson Martinez. There were few clear chances, an early header that shot wide when he really should have hit the target stood out, but the Monaco pair's presence was a key factor nonetheless in making the opening half hour an all-action, gripping game of football. 

Approaching the 30-minute mark, however, all was to change. Gonzalo Higuain went in rather heavy on David Ospina chasing a ball destined to end with the keeper—who upon physical contact threw himself to the ground. Cristian Zapata confronted the Real Madrid man, and a kick on each side meant there was little choice for the referee than to send both players off. With 10 men playing 10, the competitive edge left the game and each team focused more on kicking their opposition than beating them in the traditional manner on a football pitch. 

The final nail in the coffin for Colombia, and indeed Falcao, came just minutes later. Rodriguez went down clutching his left calf and was stretchered off and while the long-term damage for Monaco, according to Inside Futbol, is yet to be determined, the impact for the visitors was almost instant. The spark went out of the Colombia game. Replacement Juan Cuadradro provided plenty of zip down the flanks, but at the expense of Rodriguez's more cerebral, measured passing game. Falcao was the principal victim as he cut an increasingly forlorn figure upfront. 

Further defensive changes from Jose Pekerman added to the now-lone striker's frustration, as the few instances of possession that came his way were squandered on the way to a 0-0 draw. 

Monaco observers, and especially their accountants, will wait with anxiety for the verdict on Rodriguez's injury—while they will not be worried about one of the poorest performances from El Tigre in recent years. When talking about a player who has blasted over 100 goals in the last three seasons alone, an off-day against one of the world's best international teams is hardly cause for concern. 

Even so, it was an inauspicious start to their partnership for the €100 boys.