Colombia
Appearances at World Cups
The first appearance of the national team of Colombia at the world cup was in 1962. Then the South Americans showed spectacular football but limited to only one point and the fourth place in the group went home empty-handed. The period from 1990 and 1998 is considered the most successful time when the Colombians visited the final part of the WC three times in a row. However, the quarterfinals, which was at the last World Cup in Brazil, is the biggest achievement in the tournament.
In the qualification, Colombia earned 27 points in 18 games but, at the same time, it could bypass Russia. The thing is that before the final qualification tour, four teams were candidates for three tickets – Chile, Peru, Argentina and Colombia itself. As a result of the crazy tension of the round, Colombia qualified from the fourth position. But the taste left from their performance wasn't very pleasant. One expects something bigger from the last WC quarterfinalist a priori.
year | G | w | D | L | М | total |
1962 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5-11 | 4 th place in group |
1990 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3-2 | 1/8 |
1994 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4-5 | 4 th place in group |
1998 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1-3 | 3 rd place in group |
2014 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12-4 | 1/4 |
Total | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 25-25 | — |
Head coach and best player
Argentinian José Pékerman is the head coach of Colombia. The coach with Jewish roots is rather famous in the world for his achievements at the youth level where Argentina became a world champion in three out of four times (1995, 1997 and 2001). After such a success, the chair of the senior team was entrusted to Pékerman but he couldn't show off. In 2012, José headed the team of Colombia. Two years later, making up a very capable collective, he reached the Champions League quarterfinals with it. In Russia, Colombia will also be among the dark horses of the tournament, which can also be considered as a merit of coach Pékerman.
''Falcao won't come to Russia!'' Valery Karpin said in an interview once. The coach was mistaken. And if all is fine, Radamel will certainly come with the national team of Colombia to the Russian WC. And not as a spectator but a full-fledged player who will pull the team forward. Bayern midfielder James Rodríguez, Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and other several players with well-known surnames will help him.
- Preliminary squad: Ospina – Mina, Sánchez, Murillo, Arias – James, Sánchez, Aguilar, Cuadrado – Falcao, Bacca.
Base camp and cities
The Colombians chose Kazan as a location. Moreover, the base was chosen outside the city, on Sviyaga hills, Kazan citizens' favourite holiday resort. Such a choice was made due to the Volga scenario of the group because all three group stage matches for Colombia will be in Tatarstan's close districts. The South Americans will open the tournament for themselves at the stadium in Saransk where they will meet with Japan. Then they will meet with Poland at Kazan Arena and go to Samara for a match against Senegal to close the group stage.