Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast: Five talking points

Colombia defeated the Ivory Coast in a closely contested game 2-1 to seal their passage to the knockout rounds of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.Here are afew thoughts onthe game,in no particular order.

#1 Colombian counter-attacks

Colombia and Ivory Coast possess two similar attributes: speed and weak defences. Gervinho, Max Gradel, Serge Aurier; Cuadrado and James Rodriguez are all pacy, while Kolo Toure and Mario Yepes are ageing and past their best. Logically, a counter-attack was the most likely route to a goal for either side.

It didn’t quite work out that way, but both Colombia goals were a result of counters. James Rodriguez won a corner completely against the run of play, then headed it in himself. Six minutes later he seized the ball from Die, and a couple of passes later Quintero netted the winner.

Both goals were due to sudden surges from midfield that Ivory Coast had no answer to, and the frustrating thing for coach Sabri Lamouchi was that Colombia had been doing it all match long.

#2 Everything through the flanks

In the 1st half, it was noticeable how much both sides attacked through the flanks. It wasn’t surprising, given that both sides possess great wide players, but even a central midfielder like Yaya Toure preferred to run on the right.

This made life easy for both defences, who could crowd out the wingers, leading to an over-dependence on crossing and ultimately a poor 1st half of the game.

#3 A game of two halves

Its not the first time that weve seen a change in momentum after the break, but its astonishing how dramatically both teams lifted themselves in the 2nd half. From the 46th minute, the tempo was utterly different, and both Ivory Coast and Colombia showed a lot more invention through the centre, more graft and grit, and less dependence on crossing.

All 3 goals were a direct result of this pressure, and it did much to make up for an average 1st half.

#4 Poor finishing

For perhaps the first time, Radamel Falcao was sorely missed. His presence might have added the penalty-box finishing that Colombia sorely missed and, at the other end, Ivory Coast did miss chances as well.

First Gutierrez made a hash of a 1 vs 1 on a counter-attack; then, presented with a simple knock-down in front of goal, Wilfred Bony tried to do a Cafu ‘bicycle kick’ and failed. Several other chances went abegging throughout the game.

Gervinho’s brilliant solo effort aside, the match was devoid of quality finishing.

#5 Colombias winnability

In this most elegantly diverse of groups, with each side representing a different continent and playing style – a microcosm of the World Cup – Colombia have proved that they can hold their own against more experienced, albeit ageing, opponents twice in a row.

They will face sterner tests in future rounds, but they did not succumb to the barrage Ivory Coast unleashed in the last 15 minutes. The experience will stand this young side in good stead.