Colombia 3-0 Greece:
Welcome back, Colombia. They may be in the shadow of more illustrious South American contenders but what an exhilarating performance they put on Saturday amid another intoxicating atmosphere at this goal spree of a World Cup.
Missing the mercurial talents of Radamel Falcao to a pre-tournament injury that robbed them of one of the world’s most potent strikers, they were nevertheless far too good for an ageing Greek team whose game plan went out of the window after five minutes.
Just like in Sao Paolo in the opening game, Belo Horizonte’s imposing stadium was turned into a sea of yellow, but yellow of a different patriotic fervour. More than 40,000 Colombians poured into Brazil’s third largest city hoping to carry on where they had left off in qualifying when they finished second behind Argentina.
Coach Jose Pekerman described the loss of Falcao, otherwise known as El Tigre, as his saddest day since taking charge of Los Cafeteros but it mattered little as his team cemented their status as dangerous floaters with a delicious exhibition of South American flair.
Colombia's first World Cup match in the finals since 1998 offered a distinct clash of styles. While the Greeks are known for their defensive nous and conceded only four goals in qualifying, Colombia, who scored 27 goals and had the most shots on target, only know how to play one way.
And so it proved in an intriguing lunchtime encounter, the first of Super Saturday’s foursome at the same venue where England will wrap up their group action against Costa Rica.
Even without Falcao – who nevertheless provided moral support by hugging each and every one of his team-mates before kickoff -- Colombia were still brimming with talent and their deafening fans, bathed in sunshine, belted out the national anthem.
Greece, as we all know, can be disciplined, organised opponents as Otto Rehhagel's side proved a decade ago when they shocked the world by becoming champions of Europe.
Yesterday, however, they never really looked the part and got off to the worst possible start when Pablo Armero -- on loan at West Ham from Napoli last season – struck low and hard and the ball deflected off Kostantinos Manolas, not the best 23rd birthday present for Olympiakos Piraus defender, sparking bedlam at the side of the pitch and in the stands.
Source:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2657917/Colombia-3-0-Greece-Pablo-Armero-Teofilo-Gutierrez-James-Rodriguez-goals-South-Americans-Group-C-win.html
Welcome back, Colombia. They may be in the shadow of more illustrious South American contenders but what an exhilarating performance they put on Saturday amid another intoxicating atmosphere at this goal spree of a World Cup.
Just like in Sao Paolo in the opening game, Belo Horizonte’s imposing stadium was turned into a sea of yellow, but yellow of a different patriotic fervour. More than 40,000 Colombians poured into Brazil’s third largest city hoping to carry on where they had left off in qualifying when they finished second behind Argentina.
Coach Jose Pekerman described the loss of Falcao, otherwise known as El Tigre, as his saddest day since taking charge of Los Cafeteros but it mattered little as his team cemented their status as dangerous floaters with a delicious exhibition of South American flair.
Colombia's first World Cup match in the finals since 1998 offered a distinct clash of styles. While the Greeks are known for their defensive nous and conceded only four goals in qualifying, Colombia, who scored 27 goals and had the most shots on target, only know how to play one way.
And so it proved in an intriguing lunchtime encounter, the first of Super Saturday’s foursome at the same venue where England will wrap up their group action against Costa Rica.
Even without Falcao – who nevertheless provided moral support by hugging each and every one of his team-mates before kickoff -- Colombia were still brimming with talent and their deafening fans, bathed in sunshine, belted out the national anthem.
Greece, as we all know, can be disciplined, organised opponents as Otto Rehhagel's side proved a decade ago when they shocked the world by becoming champions of Europe.
Yesterday, however, they never really looked the part and got off to the worst possible start when Pablo Armero -- on loan at West Ham from Napoli last season – struck low and hard and the ball deflected off Kostantinos Manolas, not the best 23rd birthday present for Olympiakos Piraus defender, sparking bedlam at the side of the pitch and in the stands.
Source:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2657917/Colombia-3-0-Greece-Pablo-Armero-Teofilo-Gutierrez-James-Rodriguez-goals-South-Americans-Group-C-win.html
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