Fifa World Cup: Colombia seal 3-0 win to knock lacklustre Poland out of competition
Japan and Senegal, who both picked up wins in their first games, drew 2-2 earlier on Sunday and are in a battle with Colombia to qualify
After stumbling in their opening World Cup defeat by Japan, Colombia were back to their salsa-dancing best on Sunday with a 3-0 rout of Poland after talisman James Rodriguez made a stunning return to the starting line-up.
Jose Pekerman’s ‘Cafeteros’ lit up Brazil four years ago during a sparkling run to the quarter-finals, with playmaker Rodriguez racking up six goals – plus a hatful of assists – to waltz away with the Golden Boot award.
On Sunday at Kazan Arena, the team recaptured those heady days with three stylish goals from Yerry Mina, captain Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado, two of them set up by 26-year-old magician Rodriguez.
Having nursed a muscle injury into the tournament, Rodriguez came off the bench in the second half of the 2-1 loss to Japan but was unable to conjure an equaliser for 10-man Colombia, despite constantly threatening to do so.
Knowing a defeat by Poland would mean World Cup oblivion, Pekerman rushed Rodriguez back into the starting side in a menacing attacking trio with Juan Quintero and Cuadrado.