Gulf News

Falcao hoping to realise Cup dream

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Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is aiming to realise his “dream” of playing in a World Cup next year, after continuing his red-hot start to the Ligue 1 season for Monaco on Saturday.

The 31-year-old scored a brace in the French champions’ 3-0 win over Strasbourg to make it nine goals in just six league games so far this term.

Falcao rediscover­ed his best form after returning to the Stade Louis II last season, scoring 30 goals as Monaco won the Ligue 1 title and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

That followed a bitterly disappoint­ing two years on loan in England, where he was derided as a flop and scored just five times in 36 Premier League appearance­s for Manchester United and Chelsea.

But that bad spell came as he struggled to return to full fitness after missing out on the 2014 World Cup with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Amazingly, Colombia’s record goalscorer has yet to feature at a World Cup finals at all, after they missed out on the 2010 play-off by one point. “(The World Cup) is a dream for me,” said Falcao.

“I am very motivated to help Colombia qualify for the World Cup and then I want to play it. I’m getting ready for that.

“I feel better, I feel better than last year. It’s important to me, and the more months that go by, the better I’ll feel.

“Yes of course I thought I would come back (from the injury). I am always positive with a mentality to work a lot.”

 ?? Reuters ?? Radamel Falcao
Reuters Radamel Falcao

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