Colombia fired by Rodriguez as Poles go out
In this thrillingly unpredictable World Cup, we are yet to know the identity of England’s opponents in the last 16. But of one thing we can be certain: it will not be Poland. On the day Harry Kane electrified the competition with his trio of goals, Poland produced a hat-trick of an altogether less elevated kind.
For the third time in a row, for them participation is over after two games. Following this defeat against Colombia, they have done what they did in both 2002 and 2006: ensured they would be back in Warsaw before the postcards.
“I am very sorry and very sad but tomorrow is another day and we have to come to terms with it,” was the Poland coach Adam Nawalka’s philosophical response.
But the thing is, few can be surprised. The Polish golden generation were exposed as bogus by a rampant Colombia side, who scored three scorching goals, each fashioned with precision and finished with panache.
After Japan and Senegal drew earlier in the day, both teams knew defeat here would end their chances of progressing. With David Ospina in one goal and Wojciech Szczesny in the other, this was the Arsenal reserve keeper derby, or as it might more accurately be termed, the battle of the No2s.
But it was Ospina who was soon looking the happier. Driven on by an incessant noise from the thousands of yellow-shirted supporters filling the Kazan Arena, Colombia quickly seized control.
The bellowing every time James Rodriguez, their presiding genius, got the ball was enough to shake the stadium’s foundations. Rodriguez, who, recovering from injury, only played a bit part in the defeat by Japan, was the difference here. Juan Cuadrado suddenly had someone to pass to him, and was soon galloping down the right, stretching Poland’s pedestrian back three.
Rodriguez was cropping up everywhere across the pitch, constantly Subs
Booked Colombia Subs Referee