SPORT SCOUTING REPORT ON COLOMBIA

COLOMBIA’s headache concerns the fitness of James Rodriguez, Golden Boot winner at the 2014 World Cup, who came into this tournament nursing a calf strain and broke down in the first half against Senegal on Thursday. His impact in Brazil four years ago earned him a move to Real Madrid, followed by a loan to Bayern Munich where he never found consistent good form. With the pressure on and results going awry in qualifying, James sparked a storm when he made a middle-finger gesture at media after a defeat against Bolivia. James has experience, flair and talismanic presence, all key to the national team. If it happens that Rodrqiguez is not fit, Mateus Uribe is a capable replacement.