Is Colombia ready for the stage?

Colombia, the favorite in Group C, is without its best player, striker Radamel Falcao, due to a knee injury. The last time the nation entered a World Cup with such high hopes, in 1994, Colombia crashed out of the group stage and defender Andres Escobar, who committed a costly own goal against the US, was murdered upon his return to Medellin. Better to dispense with the warnings about this ascendant Colombia team that is clearly the class of this foursome and has been widely projected as a quarterfinalist. Because there is a wave of talent to fill Falcao’s attacking cleats, and the Cafeteros have the benefit of playing on their home continent. If a knockout-stage spot is conceded to Colombia — again, you’ve been warned — that leaves an entertaining three-for-all for the remaining bid. Ivory Coast is looking for a going-away run from its golden generation of talent. Japan presents a youthful, high-flying squad that cruised through qualifying in Asia. And Greece, stingy on defense, has proved its mettle in Europe.
Returns to main draw for first time since 1998. Best finish: Round of 16 (1990). Worst finish: Group-stage disaster in 1994, punctuated by the infamous Andres Escobar own goal vs. the US. Player to watch for :-  this is where everyone would tipped for Radmel Falcao,  but the 28-year-old was dropped from the roster, unable to recover in time from an ACL injury. That shifts focus to James Rodriguez, an attacking midfielder, and winger Juan Cuadrado to provide the creative impetus. The £50m Colombian striker, who crumpled to a heap under the challenge of little-known fourth tier side Monts Or Azergues’ Soner Ertek in a Coupe de France game with Monaco in January, had his absence from the tournament confirmed earlier this week, citing his lack of fitness as reason enough for him to stay at home. There is no questioning his ability and the undoubted quality he would have added to the Colombia team in Brazil; his goals in qualifying fired them to the tournament in the first place. However, there is still a wealth of attacking talent in their squad who will arguably provide sufficient ammunition to replace their talismanic frontman.
Colombia head coach José Pékerman has named 5 forwards in his final 23-man squad, with Adrián Ramos, Carlos Bacca, Jackson Martinez and Victor Ibarbo set to deputise for Teofilo Gutierrez up front. Gutierrez is expected to remain Pékerman’s first choice for the number 9 shirt, and with 6 goals in qualifying despite having to share the striker spot with Falcao, he will still carry a great threat this summer. Having recently scored the goals to win River Plate the title in Argentina, Gutierrez is the most experienced of the available forward options and he is likely provide the firepower in Brazil. However, Pékerman’s decision arguably shouldn’t be that simple. Ramos has just completed an exemplary season at Hertha Berlin, for which his reward was a move to Borussia Dortmund as Robert Lewandowski’s replacement. He was the fourth highest goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 16 goals, while the 6.2 aerial duels he won average per game was the 5th most in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
Pekerman, who coached Argentina at the 2006 World Cup, has imparted a go-go-go attack mentality to a talented squad that will be a hipster pick to win it all. The biggest question may revolve around 38-year-old captain and center back Mario Yepes and how well he holds up anchoring a defense that can be vulnerable to the counter.