World cup 2014 Today march news:
Colombia 2 Uruguay 0
World Cup 2014Colombia
Uruguay
Colombia's James Rodríguez celebrates after the first of his two goals against Uruguay at the Maracanã.
Uruguay have followed Luis Suárez in departing the World Cup, though unlike their talismanic striker they need not be consumed by shame at this exit. The nation’s outrage at the sanction handed to the Liverpool forward will still be smouldering upon arrival in Montevideo but, if the sense of fury ever subsides, they may concede it was a Colombian genius rather than the actions of a flawed one of their own who dispatched them from the tournament.
James Rodríguez was afforded a deafening reception upon his departure five minutes from time here, the tournament’s leading scorer having scored the goals that eased his wonderfully impressive side into a quarter-final against Brazil on Friday. The 22-year-old had arrived at the tournament with his reputation established at Porto and after a year at Monaco, where he had cost the French club £40m, yet his effervescent displays at these finals are already making that fee seem a bargain. No opponent to date has found a way of stopping Colombia’s principal playmaker. Brazil do not have long to come up with a plan.
He glides with such menace, his touch sublime and awareness almost unnatural for one gracing these finals for the first time. This team purred when Rodríguez found space and time on the ball at the Maracanã, his movement clever as he interchanged with a fluid and potent front line. Juan Cuadrado is flourishing at his side. Jackson Martínez is aggressive, eager and clever in positioning and delivery. Teófilo Gutiérrez appears willing to offer up selfless industry as the furthest forward of an impressive front-line. And to think their number might have been complemented by Radamel Falcao, Rodríguez’s team-mate at the Stade Louis II and himself a £60m striker recently considered this team’s stellar talent. While the team’s nine-goal inspiration from qualification continues his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury on holiday in Florida, his compatriots are running riot.
This game had ambled along cagily for almost half an hour, Uruguay tigerishly setting about stifling any hint of Colombian ascendancy, when Abel Aguilar nodded the ball forward to Rodríguez, loitering with his back to goal in a pocket of space just outside the Uruguay penalty area. There was no obvious threat developing, no reason for the experienced Diego Godín to sense danger. Yet El Nuevo Pibe (The New Kid) flashed a quick glance at goal to make certain of his bearings before, as Godín and Maxi Pereira edged forward half-heartedly in anticipation of a block if required, collecting the ball on his chest and dispatching his shot left-footed on the volley. The attempt dipped gloriously, a startled Fernando Muslera leaping to his right only for the ball to graze the fingertips of his right hand and kiss the underside of the crossbar before careering into the net.
The youngster tore off to the corner flag to conduct another of those choreographed celebrations, his hips snapping in familiar style with this a sixth game in succession for his country in which he has scored. “It was one of the greatest goals the World Cup has ever seen,” said Óscar Tabárez in the aftermath, the Uruguay manager going on to compare James Rodríguez to Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and, pointedly, Suárez. “He’s the best player in the World Cup, I don’t think I’m exaggerating.” Unfortunately for Uruguay, heRodríguez had not finished there.
Where that first had been reward conjured from thin air, a goal to defy belief, his second was constructed with the kind of slick precision that truly drains the hope from opponents. The kind of goal that renders them helpless. José Pékerman’s players revelled in patient possession, transporting the ball from one flank to the other and resisting the temptation to overelaborate, forever probing in search of an opening. Uruguay were powerless to steal it from them and, eventually Pablo Armero marauded forward in support to accept possession on the charge and cross to the far post where Cuadrado carefully headed back and across and an unmarked Rodríguez tapped in.
Cuadrado’s fourth assist of the tournament had provided the No10’s fifth goal, this contest settled thereafter with Colombia – in stark contrast to Brazil earlier in the day – able to ease through the remainder of the tie in relative comfort. It is remarkable to consider Colombia have never progressed this far before, their only previous knockout game having been lost to Roger Milla and Cameroon back at Italia 90. Yet Los Cafeteros are now unbeaten in 11 games. If Chile scared the hosts in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, what awaits them in Fortaleza is potentially terrifying, so slick and at ease are this Colombia team at present.
Uruguay, of course, could justifiably point to their own challenge being blunted in Suárez’s absence, Luisito back at his holiday home in Solymar watching on television when Tabárez needed him out in the Maracanã. Without him, they lacked an attacking focal point, with Diego Forlán’s career in its twilight and Edinson Cavani strangely peripheral at this tournament. David Ospina kept them at bay here, denying Álvaro González, Cristian Rodríguez and Pereira, the latter from close range, but there was a desperation to the Uruguayans’ approach.
It might have been different had Suárez been there to lead the line and make his mark, in a footballing sense, on the shoulder of the centre-halves. Though taming this Colombian selection would probably still have been beyond them. Tabárez was realistic when acknowledging his side’s time at this tournament was simply up. Colombia, in contrast, have plenty more to give.
Uruguay have followed Luis Suárez in departing the World Cup, though unlike their talismanic striker they need not be consumed by shame at this exit. The nation’s outrage at the sanction handed to the Liverpool forward will still be smouldering upon arrival in Montevideo but, if the sense of fury ever subsides, they may concede it was a Colombian genius rather than the actions of a flawed one of their own who dispatched them from the tournament.
James Rodríguez was afforded a deafening reception upon his departure five minutes from time here, the tournament’s leading scorer having scored the goals that eased his wonderfully impressive side into a quarter-final against Brazil on Friday. The 22-year-old had arrived at the tournament with his reputation established at Porto and after a year at Monaco, where he had cost the French club £40m, yet his effervescent displays at these finals are already making that fee seem a bargain. No opponent to date has found a way of stopping Colombia’s principal playmaker. Brazil do not have long to come up with a plan.
He glides with such menace, his touch sublime and awareness almost unnatural for one gracing these finals for the first time. This team purred when Rodríguez found space and time on the ball at the Maracanã, his movement clever as he interchanged with a fluid and potent front line. Juan Cuadrado is flourishing at his side. Jackson Martínez is aggressive, eager and clever in positioning and delivery. Teófilo Gutiérrez appears willing to offer up selfless industry as the furthest forward of an impressive front-line. And to think their number might have been complemented by Radamel Falcao, Rodríguez’s team-mate at the Stade Louis II and himself a £60m striker recently considered this team’s stellar talent. While the team’s nine-goal inspiration from qualification continues his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury on holiday in Florida, his compatriots are running riot.
This game had ambled along cagily for almost half an hour, Uruguay tigerishly setting about stifling any hint of Colombian ascendancy, when Abel Aguilar nodded the ball forward to Rodríguez, loitering with his back to goal in a pocket of space just outside the Uruguay penalty area. There was no obvious threat developing, no reason for the experienced Diego Godín to sense danger. Yet El Nuevo Pibe (The New Kid) flashed a quick glance at goal to make certain of his bearings before, as Godín and Maxi Pereira edged forward half-heartedly in anticipation of a block if required, collecting the ball on his chest and dispatching his shot left-footed on the volley. The attempt dipped gloriously, a startled Fernando Muslera leaping to his right only for the ball to graze the fingertips of his right hand and kiss the underside of the crossbar before careering into the net.
The youngster tore off to the corner flag to conduct another of those choreographed celebrations, his hips snapping in familiar style with this a sixth game in succession for his country in which he has scored. “It was one of the greatest goals the World Cup has ever seen,” said Óscar Tabárez in the aftermath, the Uruguay manager going on to compare James Rodríguez to Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and, pointedly, Suárez. “He’s the best player in the World Cup, I don’t think I’m exaggerating.” Unfortunately for Uruguay, heRodríguez had not finished there.
Where that first had been reward conjured from thin air, a goal to defy belief, his second was constructed with the kind of slick precision that truly drains the hope from opponents. The kind of goal that renders them helpless. José Pékerman’s players revelled in patient possession, transporting the ball from one flank to the other and resisting the temptation to overelaborate, forever probing in search of an opening. Uruguay were powerless to steal it from them and, eventually Pablo Armero marauded forward in support to accept possession on the charge and cross to the far post where Cuadrado carefully headed back and across and an unmarked Rodríguez tapped in.
Cuadrado’s fourth assist of the tournament had provided the No10’s fifth goal, this contest settled thereafter with Colombia – in stark contrast to Brazil earlier in the day – able to ease through the remainder of the tie in relative comfort. It is remarkable to consider Colombia have never progressed this far before, their only previous knockout game having been lost to Roger Milla and Cameroon back at Italia 90. Yet Los Cafeteros are now unbeaten in 11 games. If Chile scared the hosts in Belo Horizonte on Saturday, what awaits them in Fortaleza is potentially terrifying, so slick and at ease are this Colombia team at present.
Uruguay, of course, could justifiably point to their own challenge being blunted in Suárez’s absence, Luisito back at his holiday home in Solymar watching on television when Tabárez needed him out in the Maracanã. Without him, they lacked an attacking focal point, with Diego Forlán’s career in its twilight and Edinson Cavani strangely peripheral at this tournament. David Ospina kept them at bay here, denying Álvaro González, Cristian Rodríguez and Pereira, the latter from close range, but there was a desperation to the Uruguayans’ approach.
It might have been different had Suárez been there to lead the line and make his mark, in a footballing sense, on the shoulder of the centre-halves. Though taming this Colombian selection would probably still have been beyond them. Tabárez was realistic when acknowledging his side’s time at this tournament was simply up. Colombia, in contrast, have plenty more to give.
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