Many tipped Colombia before the World Cup to be the tournament’s surprise package, but changed their minds when it was confirmed that Radamel Falcao would not recover in time to play in Brazil. Nine goals and three games later, that change of heart now seems completely unnecessary.
The 28-year-old Monaco forward, who scored nine goals in 13 matches as Colombia finished second to Argentina in the South American qualifying group, damaged knee ligaments in a French Cup tie last January.
A nation held its breath as he fought to recover in time, but the news everyone dreaded came on June 2 when it was confirmed he had not made it into the final 23-man squad.
“The reaction in Colombia to my recuperation really made an impact on me. It hasn’t been the best of situations but it has served to remind me how important I am for the country,” said Falcao before he was finally ruled out of the tournament. But the team have more than coped without him.
The signs were good before the tournament. With five goals coming in warm-up friendly matches against Senegal (on May 31) and Jordan (on June 6), there was ample proof that goals would not be hard to come by.
The team looked to have been given a tough group with Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan, but they’ve made light work of each opponent to set up a meeting with Uruguay on Saturday in Rio.
Defensive capabilities were never in doubt under Argentine coach Jose Pekerman. The team has also been helped by the absence of any distracting “Will he? Won’t he?” sideshows regarding when Falcao might be back fit enough to play some part in the tournament.
A similar soap opera that accompanied Portugal in Campinas might also have cast a shadow over Colombia had they taken a half-fit Falcao.
Every press conference at the Portuguese training base-camp focussed on Cristiano Ronaldo’s fitness and Helder Postiga admitted the players — including Ronaldo himself — were sick of the questions.
Falcao scored 52 goals in 67 games for Atletico Madrid before his $93.6 million move to Monaco, a testament to the striker’s quality, which would’ve been sorely missed by the Colombians in his absence. But the likes of James Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez, Teofilo Gutierrez and Adrian Ramos have more than filled that chasm.
Some players have even improved in Falcao’s absence, with Rodriguez and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado getting a license to get forward from midfield. The former has emerged as one of the players of the tournament.
“We have a chance this time. We’ve got a very good group of players and we play well as a team.” Falcao said ahead of Brazil 2014. “We are a country of 47 million so it is about time we made an impact at a tournament.”
He also spoke about how his religious beliefs helped him during his battle to get back to full fitness. “My faith has helped me,” he said. “I believe in God and in miracles. I have suffered from big injuries before in my career and I have come through them.”
The nation was not blessed with the recovery of their most famous player in time for the tournament, but they seem to have been blessed with a wealth of alternatives instead.
