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Colombia: A World Cup
story of redemption
by rick olivares pic from adidas
Minutes after Argentina fell to Germany, 4-2, in
penalties (after a 1-1 draw in full time and extension) in a quarterfinals
clash in Berlin during the 2006 World Cup, La Albiceleste head coach Jose
Pekerman resigned. Although he wasn’t pushed out by the Argentinean Football
Association, Pekerman promised that his side would play seven matches, the
total number of games played on the road to the finals. His team fell short in
the quarterfinals and the coach deemed his tenure to be a failure.
Nevertheless, Pekerman would be scored for two
curious moves he made that might have ultimately cost Argentina a chance to
move on.
First, he removed playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme in
the 76th minute in favor Esteban Cambiasso. Argentina had gone up,
1-nil, after Roberto Ayala scored in the 49th minute. With the game
close to full time, Pekerman felt that he needed to hold his position rather
than take the fight to Germany. It went for naught as Argentina’s offense
sputtered and Miroslav Klose scored in the 86th minute to equalize.
Second, he kept Lionel Messi and Javier Zanetti on
the bench. The two could have possibly sparked new life into Argentina’s attack
and put the Germans on their heels. Instead, Pekerman sent in Inter Milan
striker Julio Cruz who was eventually meted out a yellow card for a reckless
challenge. His other substitution was used when he tabbed back up keeper Leo
Franco to come in for starter Roberto Abbondanzieri who was accidentally kneed
in the chest by Klose during a challenge in the 71st minute.
While no one blamed Pekerman, there moves were
questioned. Furthermore, the post-match brawl between the two sides sullied
Argentina’s image as they were deemed to be sore losers.
Pekerman then resurfaced in Mexico where he coached for
three years in the Liga MX. But success was hard to find in Mexico and he was
fired after the 2009 season. After a three year sabbatical to recharge his
batteries, he then moved back to his native South America to coach in Colombia.
Colombia.
Any mention of them is sure to bring back memories of
its harrowing 1994 World Cup experience never mind if they competed in the next
staging at France where they dropped three slots back to 21st from a
19th place finish in the USA. There was the loss to the US that saw
their 1994 campaign spiral out of control and ended with the murder of defender
Andres Escobar presumably for his own goal that led to the loss to the
Americans.
Colombia was a juggernaut as they demolished all
competition on the road to the US. They were picked by many to compete if not
win the World Cup. Instead, they sank to the bottom.
Now, Los Cafeteros, or the Coffeers, are back on
football’s biggest stage after missing the last three World Cups.
And like Pekerman, they are out for redemption.
But not without an early bump on the road.
On the third of June, 2012, in Pekerman’s debut,
Colombia squeaked past lowly Peru, 1-nil. It was an unacceptable result. To
make matters worse, in their next qualification match, his side lost to
Ecuador, 1-nil. The Argentinean was roundly scored for the loss. Before Pekerman
took the job, Colombia were 1-1-1 in CONMEBOL qualifying. Maybe Los Cafeteros
were better off with their former coach in Leonel Alvarez, the former national
player and USA World Cup veteran, who was on the job for less than three
months, said some critics.
However, after the loss to Ecuador, Colombia went on
a 7-2-3 tear to finish second behind Argentina in the nine-team qualification
round. They finished with 30 points to the 32 of Argentina. They also scored 27
goals for a plus-14 difference; once more second best behind La Albiceleste.
In pre-World Cup friendlies, they went 2-3-0.
Clearly, they were playing much better.
In an interview with the FIFA website, said injured
striker Radamel Falcao in the midst of their turnaround during the
qualifications, “Without a doubt, Pekerman’s arrival turned things around for
Colombia in terms of the team’s football, results, and confidence. He gave us
the necessary belief to go out there with freedom o play the kind of football
we are used to. That means trying to compete toe-to-toe whether home or away.
We’ve become a more mature and balanced team.”
True enough, once in Brazil, they topped Group C with
a 3-0-0 record defeating in order Greece, Ivory Coast, and Japan.
In the 4-1 win over Japan, Pekerman demonstrated that
faith in his charges that Falcao gushed about when made eight changes to his
starting eleven that defeated Ivory Coast five days earlier.
In the Round of 16, they sent Uruguay packing, 2-nil,
and will face host Brazil on July 4 at Fortaleza.
All this without their top striker Falcao who is
still out with an injury.
And now the excitement is back in Colombia. It is a
feeling not felt in these parts since their ill-fated ’94 squad. Already, their
quarterfinals finish is their best World Cup finish ever. From the looks of it
though, they aren’t done.
Before Pekerman took over, Colombia was ranked 35th
in the world by FIFA.
Before kick off at the World Cup, they were at a
robust eighth spot.
There were three other CONMEBOL countries ahead of
them – Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Without a doubt, after this World Cup,
they will leap frog past Uruguay. Should they go deeper into the competition
they could possibly face Pekerman’s native Argentina in the finals.
In this World Cup, we’ve seen countries redeem
themselves from some previously telling loses. There’s the Netherlands’ opening
day massacre of Spain and the United States’ 2-1 revenge over Ghana. There too have
been the inspired showings of Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Chile to name
a few.
But perhaps the best story of redemption is none
other than Colombia’s. From the stories of drug cartel-backed football squads
to assassinations to spectacular flops, although it still has to be played out
this World Cup’s end, Los Cafeteros’ journey is one for the books.
Maybe the Colombians along with head coach, Pekerman,
are due for a happy ending.
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