If the absence of hit man Radamel Falcao was a worry for Colombia, James Rodriguez has made his AS Monaco teammate a distant memory with his amazing performances as of late. The Colombian attacker scored the only goals in his country's 2-0 victory over Uruguay in their round of 16 match to secure their date with Brazil in the quarter finals.
The match proved to be a tense encounter from the start, as James Rodriguez's Colombia looked comfortable with the ball and a Luis Suarez-less Uruguay looked to sit deep. James broke the deadlock with a moment of magic that he created with his left foot wand that could be a contender for goal of the tournament. He would double his side's advantage five minutes into the second half as compatriot Juan Cuadrado's headed ball back to him provided him with an easy finish.
The performance put in from the former FC Porto star shows he has become the figurehead of Colombia's World Cup voyage. It is through his creativity and unpredictability on the field he has guided his team past opponents. He can both finish and create chances on his left foot, as he is currently sitting as top scorer in the World Cup with five goals. He has also grabbed four assists in his four appearances. His speed and agility when on the ball is what makes him dangerous, as he flies past defenders and stings the goalkeeper like a hornet.
Although he is the poster boy for his nation, James' recent rich vein of form has also rubbed off on teammates Juan Cuadrado and Jackson Martinez. Cuadrado and Martinez have both made significant impacts along with James in Brazil. Together the trio spearhead a Colombian strike force that all nations are weary of.
At the age of 22, James Rodriguez still hasn't reached his potential. This is terrifying as in his first World Cup he is trail blazing through the nations that have gotten in his way. Felipe Scolari will no doubt have his Brazil defense focus on the Monaco attacker in their quarter final match. Given his recent performances, however, James will not be tamed easily.
Source: DSG
