Colombia
Joyful, unpredictable, fun to watch
Chaotic, joyful football held together by magic — James chasing one more act, Diaz tearing up the Bundesliga.
Watchability5/5
Drama4/5
Star power4/5
Title shot2/5
Team rating
81TEAM
- Attack84
- Midfield80
- Defense78
Next matches
- Next upvs DR CongoEstadio Akron, ZapopanJun 23
- vs PortugalHard Rock Stadium, Miami GardensJun 27
The read
Colombia play chaotic, joyful, creative football, and right now the magic flows through two very different men: James Rodríguez, the 34-year-old who once won the World Cup's Golden Boot as its top scorer, chasing one last iconic act; and Luis Díaz, a winger from a remote border town who just lit up the German league with Bayern Munich. They open against debutants Uzbekistan — the kind of game a top-two seed is simply expected to win.
The fan’s readChaotic, joyful, creative football held together by magic — James chasing one more iconic act and Diaz tearing up the Bundesliga at Bayern. When the magic flows, nobody is more fun to ride.
The cast
- Néstor LorenzoArgentine coach who steered Colombia through a long unbeaten qualifying runmanager
- James RodriguezThe 2014 Golden Boot winner, now 34 in MLS, still refusing to fade.ClubMinnesota United FC
- Luis Diaz ★A winger from a remote border town just lit up his World Cup debut with a goal and an assist.ClubBayern Munich
- Richard RiosA box-to-box midfielder having his global coming-out party — remember the name.ClubBenfica
- Daniel MunozAn attacking full-back as likely to create a goal as stop one — and an FA Cup winner.ClubCrystal Palace
- Davinson SanchezPowerful, quick to read the game — the reason Colombia stay solid when they push.ClubGalatasaray
- Jhon DuránA striker who scores from absurd distances and angles — wildly talented, occasionally wild, the kind of player who wins a game out of nothing.ClubAl-Nassr
Key moments
- 19941994 — the Escobar tragedyDefender Andrés Escobar scored an own goal at the World Cup that helped eliminate Colombia; days after the team came home he was shot and killed, a murder bound up with gambling and the drug cartels. It remains one of football's darkest moments.
- 20142014 — James's breakoutJames Rodríguez announced himself to the world by winning the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer with six goals, including a stunning chest-and-volley strike against Uruguay that was voted goal of the tournament.