TFT Issue 3263!

Over the last five to ten years, it was Uruguay who had the more settled, well-rounded squad out of these two. Now, though? I don’t think so. Tabarez is still in charge, and the Uruguayans rightly love him, but this squad of his is one of the weakest. It won’t stay that way because their talented youngsters will mature. For now though, Uruguay are torn between a terrific past and promising potential, and the results are rather disastrous, as their calamitous display in Ecuador last time out proved.

I mean, you have to bear in mind that Uruguay used to be able to win games because they could sit on leads. They had the best defensive setup in South America. That’s simply not the case any longer, and it jeopardises Tabarez’s entire game-plan – regularly. Gimenez is still a good centre-back, of course, but Godin’s best (and fittest) days are behind him, and the same could be said of Caceres. The continued absence of regular shot stopper Muslera through injury has not helped on that front either. It’s Gimenez vs the world at the moment, and rather understandably, the world is winning.

In midfield, the age-old problem of producing a natural flair player continues to wreak havoc on Uruguay’s attacking intent. I appreciate he’s not the most consistent of players, but Lodeiro has been one of the few over the past few years that could do that job – and he’s out of the squad right now. De Arrascaeta has emerged as someone that can do it, but he’s injured, so he’s out too. On top of that, midfield controller Valverde is out. It leaves Uruguay looking very samey. Again, in years to come, I’m sure they’ll be fine – de Arrascaeta and Pellestri will see to that – but for now, they look bland. 

Lastly, that attack of theirs looks grim. Seriously grim. Suarez may be enjoying the love he’s getting at Atletico Madrid, but he’s still not a good finisher nowadays, and hasn’t been in two years. He’s been brilliant at everything else, but not that. So what have Uruguay done? Paired him with Cavani, another player that hasn’t been a good finisher in two years. He works hard enough but isn’t what Suarez needs. Gomez is out of the squad through injury – he’s the best of the lot, for my money – which means Uruguay look short in attack. In every single area of this squad, I spy weakness – and Colombia don’t seem so charitable right now.

As far as I am concerned, Queiroz is one of the best international managers around. He always manages to get the best out of squads, and Colombia are beginning to show it. Unlike their opponents, they’re not clinging to the past; they’re embracing the future. Some older players that still perform well (e.g. Cuadrado) make the squad, but they’ve moved on from being carried by Falcao, instead calling upon Zapata and Muriel to spear-head the attack. Diaz of FC Porto has impressed, and Morelos has always had the ability; just not the temperament. Therefore, even with Falcao out at the moment, Colombia look just fine rather than desperately scrabbling around for players that can’t do a job at this level any more.

The only one in this squad that puzzles me by his presence is Rodriguez. He had his moment in the sun after moving to Everton, and has now disappeared again because that’s what he does. He was once a brilliant teenager but the reality is that he’s never moved on from there. I much prefer Quintero but he’s out of the squad at the moment, presumably less effective since moving to a far easier Chinese league. Other than that, though, this Colombian squad is really something. Lerma is there for the more physical battles, and Barrios is there to ensure that the team keeps the ball well. Sanchez, Murillo, and Mina keep the defence in check, and Ospina is a safe pair of gloves between the sticks. It’s a very solid foundation, and subsequently a very consistent team; one that impresses far more than Uruguay right now.

Therefore, I’m happy to back Colombia to win this game at 19/20.