Colombia will be looking to James Rodriguez to inspire their attacking talent to help guide them to World Cup glory this summer in Russia.
Colombia Factfile
- FIFA World Ranking: 16
- Sky Bet outright winner odds:
- Best Bet:
- World Cup appearances: 5
- Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2014)
- Nickname: Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers)
Coach - Jose Pekerman: Ex-Argentina manager Pekerman took charge at the start of 2012 and led his side to a creditable quarter-final performance in Brazil 2014. He led Argentina in the 2006 World Cup in Germany so has experience of a tournament in Europe as he bids to at least match the last eight finish last time around.
Legend - Carlos Valdarrama: He of the astonishing hair style, but Colombia's all-time top appearance maker was more than just an outrageous haircut. He scored 11 goals in 111 games but it was his control, technique and play-making ability in midfield that made him one of the most gifted players of his generation. He was a major reason for Colombia qualifying for three straight World Cups from 1990-1998.
Star man - James Rodriguez: Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has flourished on loan at Bayern Munich. His technical ability was on show for all to see in Brazil, when he grabbed the Golden Boot with six goals in six games. James was top scorer for Colombia in the 2018 qualifiers.
Did you know? Colombia is in an interestingly named ‘Ring of Fire’, which constitutes a group of countries that is located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean that is particularly susceptible to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tremors.
Fun Fact: ‘Colombia’ as a name comes from the famous explorer Christopher Columbus, who was said to have helped in the discovery of the United States of America.
Qualifying: Colombia finished fourth in the South American qualification stages, behind Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. They won seven, drew six and lost five.
Fixtures: Japan (1pm, June 19, Saransk), Poland (7pm, June 24, Kazan), Senegal (3pm, June 28, Samara)
Colombia squad
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas).
Defenders: Cristian Zapata (Milan), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors), Johan Mojica (Girona), Yerry Mina (Barcelona).
Midfielders: Wílmar Barrios (Boca Juniors), Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol), Jefferson Lerma (Levante), Jose Izquierdo (Brighton), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Abel Aguilar (Deportivo Cali), Mateus Uribe (America), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus).
Forwards: Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras), Carlos Bacca (Villarreal), Luis Fernando Muriel (Sevilla).
Colombia Profile
It's a second consecutive World Cup for Colombia, who have their most talented group since the Carlos Valdarrama era of the 1990s when they went to three straight finals.