Poland vs Colombia World Cup 2018: James Rodriguez’s calming influence in erratic attack keeps Colombia in the tournament, scouting report

Poland against Colombia. The loser would exit the tournament with a game to spare, and for Colombia that would mean losing their first two games at a World Cup for the first time since 1994.

In Colombia’s first match they were handicapped by Carlos Sanchez’s early red card and lost the match 2-1, putting them under immense pressure to qualify. Although they had 10 men, they lacked a calming influence to unleash the chaotic attack. It was a mess, and manager Jose Pekerman came under severe pressure.

Pekerman became a hero when he led Colombia to a record quarter-final finish at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and the most important part of that eye-catching team was the tournament’s top scorer, James Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s six goal haul earned him a move from Monaco to Real Madrid where he won two Champions Leagues, a La Liga title as well as enjoying success in the Super Cup and the Club World Cup. He fell down the pecking order at Los Blancos and swapped Madrid for Germany, joining Bayern Munich on a two year loan in 2017.

Rodriguez missed the game against Japan with a calf injury, but was named in the starting line-up in Colombia’s crucial clash with Poland. The weight of a nation’s expectation were on his shoulders.

He was given a free role alongside Juan Cuadrado and Juan Quintero behind Radamel Falcao and already made Colombia a much better side. The chaotic and erratic style of attack was now complemented by a more composed and calculated conductor.

Cuadrado and Quintero benefitted from Rodriguez’s intelligent passing and quick one-twos which released the wingers into space in the channels. Colombia were looking much more like the side that did so well in Brazil four years ago, and Rodriguez was behind it.

His crowning moment in the game came when he provided a superb cross to assist Yerry Mia who score the opening of the game. Rodriguez was stationed inside the right channel and took the defenders out of the game with a curled cross towards Mia who headed in from close range.

He added another assist late on with a wonderful cutting pass across the pitch to release Cuadrado through on goal who added a third for Colombia.

It wasn’t a ground breaking performance from Rodriguez, but it was something that Colombia were desperately crying out for in their first match. A win against Senegal will see Colombia safely through to face either England or Belgium, a draw would be enough as long as Poland beat Japan.

Bayern Munich have Rodriguez available to them for another season, but may want to tie him down on a permanent deal to ward off interest from potential employers.

A host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, have been reportedly showing interest in the 26-year-old, who would be a perfect addition at Anfield should Liverpool wish to switch their attention away from Nabil Fekir.

Colombia’s slow start is behind them and Rodriguez showed why one of the world’s biggest clubs promptly signed him after such a good showing in the previous tournament. Colombia’s success in this tournament will be down to Rodriguez’s performances, and against Poland he showed why he is so important to this team.