Columbia remained unbeaten in the group stages, finishing on an impressive seven points. They will be hoping to maintain their form going into the knockouts.
Colombia showed everything a top team needs in a tournament across their three group games - togetherness, attacking flair and adaptability - three attributes that will stand them in good stead for a deep run into the tournament.
At the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Morocco were the surprise package, falling at the semi-final stage - there is no reason why Colombia could not emulate that this time around.
For that to come to fruition, they would have to topple some heavyweights in the latter stages, but it is not beyond their capabilities to do so.
Colombia showed many strings to their bow
Los Cafeteros approached every game differently in the group stage.
They swept aside a sorry Uzbekistan outfit in their opener with minimal fuss, where they were able to impose themselves in a dominant way with little to no threat in return.
DR Congo presented a different test - one where they had to break down a dogged and determined defence, which has proved to be a good trial run for Colombia, given they are playing Ghana in the next round, who will likely set up in a similar fashion.
Against Portugal - who were many people’s favourites in their pre-tournament predictions - they were unlucky not to come away with a winner, and would have done so if not for a last-gasp VAR intervention.
Colombia demonstrate collective edge
Pre-tournament discussions placed significant emphasis on Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez, and understandably so. Both were central figures in qualifying, contributing a large proportion of Colombia’s goals and were widely viewed as the key to any potential deep run.
Of course, they have still been vital cogs in this well-oiled Colombian machine, but they have not necessarily been relied upon as much as first anticipated. They have arguably been more effective without the ball at their feet - occupying space for the menacing Muñoz to flood into, which has been a key feature of their play style, highlighting just how fluid and interchangeable they are.
The fact Muñoz is their top scorer at present sums up the collective responsibility. They appear to be thriving off it.
Various managers throughout the tournament have reiterated the importance of substitutions, and Colombia have been no exception. Their substitutes have also played a pivotal role, providing energy and impact when introduced. While this is a broader trend across the competition, it has been particularly valuable for Colombia, giving them the ability to maintain intensity and alter the flow of games when needed.
