Nicolas Raymond-Flickr
Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brazil- A little shimmy here and a shimmy there. Colombia proves too much for the Ivory Coast better known as Les Elephants. Raucous crowds supporting the Colombian National Team better known as Los Cafeteros (due to the main export of Coffee in Colombia) were intent on not letting their team lose regardless of Les Elephants determination to advance from this group. With both clubs coming off impressive wins, this match was destined to be hard fought. The two teams had never faced each other before on Brazilian soil. Les Elephants got a huge reinvigorating win against Japan with a 2-1 victory. Down 1-0 to the Japanese until their Ace Didier Drogba subbed in. Drogba quickly changed the match with his presence alone. He commanded so much attention that it helped his teammate’s Ilfried Bony and Gervais Yao Kouassi create more space to score the goals. A confident Ivory Coast was heading into the Colombia match for a sure contested battle. Los Cafeteros themselves were feeling mighty confident, coming off resounding 3-0 win against Greece. Controlling most of the game against Greece; Los Cafeteros were ready to bring their own style of soccer based of speed in moving the ball within the passing lanes; especially on their counter attacks.
Ivory Coast ran a 4-2-3-1 format mainly to compensate for Los Cafeteros powerful attacks. Colombia implored the same formation that worked so well against the Greeks. It was a hard fought first half, with the score null-null. The most glaring opportunity missed in the first half was by Los Cafeteros own Teofilo Gutierrez, by whiffing right in front of the net. Once the second half began, this is where the score attempts rose from only 5 in the first half to 12 in the second. Then came the 64th minute, when James Rodriguez gave Colombia the advantage with a determined header off a corner kick. Soon thereafter, Los Cafeteros Juan Quintero received a great timed pass in front of the box while making his run to put the Colombians up 2-0 in the 70th minute.
Once again, Les Elephants found themselves in a hole much bigger than the one they faced against Japan. This time at the 74th minute mark, Gervinho split two defenders finagled his way into the penalty box and shot a vicious right footer into the back of the net. Colombia, being so skilled in their counter attacks coupled with a defense that ate up every poor pass made by the Ivory Coast was too much.
Colombia came away not only with the top seed in their group but had exercised some demons of their own along the way. They did not look the team of the 2000’s that failed to qualify over three World Cups from 2002 to 2010.
Soon after the death of Andres Escobar in the 1994 World Cup, Colombia’s golden generation had evaporated within the end of the decade and sent Colombia into a decade of disappointment and suffering.
Colombia seems intent on recapturing its glorious reputation of years past, but this time with a more added focus on their counter attacks and defense. The LL Cool J tune of “Momma Said Knock You Out” comes to mind, when describing these Cafeteros…..
“Don’t you dare stare, you betta move, Don’t ever compare me to the rest, that all get sliced and diced, Competition’s paying the price”
Morale was definitely high, as Colombia danced past the Ivory Coast.
Luis Valdes is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook.