World Cup 2014 Qualification

FIFA delay World Cup qualification berth decision
16 July 2010

FIFA president Sepp Blatter this week announced that a decision on the distribution of qualification places for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will not be taken until 2011.

It had previously been understood that South America would receive their usual four and a half places, but with Brazil automatically qualified as hosts there have been calls for Africa's qualification places to be raised to six.

Sepp Blatter has said that the good performance of South American sides in South Africa 2010 would not influence FIFA's decision. South American teams made up four of the eight quarter finalists with Uruguay reaching the semi-final. Ghana were the only team to qualify from the group stages and were knocked out by Uruguay in the quarter finals.

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South America to receive normal World Cup allocation
9 May 2010

Qualification for the 2014 World Cup begins later this year. Hosts Brazil are already qualified and it expected that South America will still receive its allocation of four and a half places in the competition.

This is significant for the Colombia national team as they have missed each of the last three World Cups finishing just outside the qualification spots.

News and Fixtures for the 2014 World Cup South American group will be posted here when they become available. 

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World Cup 2010 Qualification

Chile condemn Colombia to another

World Cup absence

Colombia 2 - 4 Chile
Medellin, 10 October 2009

Chile secured a World Cup place in South Africa and ended Colombia's slim hopes of qualification with a comfortable 4-2 victory.

Much of the pre-match talk from the Colombian camp was of attempting to exploit the flanks where Chile are supposedly weakest. Envigado debutant Dorlan Pabón was selected and it was hoped that his pace down the right would be one of the keys to opening up the Chilean defence.

The home team started brightly and snatched the lead on 12 minutes, Jackson Martinez taking advantage of a defensive mix up to play the ball across goal which, under pressure from Falcao, Chilean defender Arturo Vidal could only turn into his own net. The small crowd inside the Atanasio Giradot stadium suddenly believed.

The optimism would last 22 minutes. Chile began to dominate midfielf and on 33 minutes won a dubious free-kick outside the Colombian penalty box. The kick was swung over and met by the head of Waldo Ponce to level the encounter. But worse was very soon to come. Still shell-shocked, Colombia gave the ball away in the middle of the park and a swift Chilean move was nodded in by Humberto Suazo who would terrorise the Colombia defence all evening. Those two ruthless minutes, in particular the second goal, highlighted the gulf in quality and efficiency between the two sides. Chile, now with the bit between their teeth, seemed much more comfortable in possession and it seemed like an uphill task for Eduardo Lara's side. A good 5 minute spell from Colombia just before the break, however, suggested that Colombia hadn't given up hope just yet.

Colombia started the second half brightly but, as has often been the case throughout this campaign the final delivery was lacking. On 56 minutes Lara made two changes. First to trot off was Freddy Guarin, replaced by Christian Marrugo. As the fans realised that the second player to be taken off was playmaker Giovanni Hernandez the crowd began to launch insults at Lara. The fact that local boy Giovanni Moreno was his replacement did not placate the by now irate supporters who felt that with 35 minutes of their qualification campaign left there was room for both of the attacking midfielders.

With Colombia still trailing 2-1 and with less than half an hour to go Lara gave his final throw of the dice and brought on Wigan Athletic's Hugo Rodallega for Dorlan Pabon. Just two minutes later Colombia were level. A corner from the left hand side resulted in some penalty box pinball before Giovanni Moreno finally lashed home from ten yards.

Colombia piled on the pressure but just 8 minutes later were trailing again courtesy of a goal from first half substitute Jorge Valdivia. And 7 minutes later Colombia were all but eliminated, Fabian Orellana finishing off another slick counter attack chipping over the stranded David Ospina.

Immediately the terraces began to empty and the abuse towards the Colombian coach, Lara, intensified. As the final whistle was blown the disconsolate Colombian players could only watch as the jubilant Chileans celebrated their fist World Cup qualification since 1998, also the last time Colombia competed on the grand stage. Colombia, however, will have to endure at least another 4 years of hurt before they finally return to a World Cup.

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Defeat in Uruguay leaves Colombia's

world cup hopes hanging by a thread

Uruguay 3 - 1 Colombia
9 September 2009

Colombia have been left with slim hopes of qualifying for next summer's world cup after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Uruguay in Montevideo.

Uruguay went ahead early on through Luis Suarez on 6 minutes and Colombia seldom looked like troubling the Uruguay defence. One minute into the second half the Paraguayan referee harshly sent off Colombian striker Teófilo Gutierrez. Colombia coach Eduardo Lara brought on the hero of Saturday's game against Equador, Jackson Martinez, and it was Martinez who, on 64 minutes, rose to nod the ball home to bring Colombia back level. 12 Minutes later, however, Equador were back on top after some poor defending allowed Andres Scotti to head home from close range. Colombia's misery was complete three minutes from time as Sebastian Eguren found the net to seal the game 3-1. The victory puts Uruguay back into serious contention for a world cup spot while Colombia drop back to 8th and need something of a miracle to qualify.

Colombia's final two games are a home tie to Chile and finally an away trip to already qualified Paraguay.

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Colombia defeat Ecuador to keep

World Cup dream alive

Colombia 2 - 0 Ecuador
Medellin, 5 September 2009

Colombia secured a vital three points against an under par Ecuadorian side to keep them in the hunt for a world cup spot in South Africa.

For over 80 minutes a combination of resolute Ecuadorian defending and poor touches in the final third frustrated Colombia until on 81 minutes Jackson Martinez, who plays for local club Deportivo Independiente Medellin, finally broke the deadlock latching onto a first time through ball from Giovanny Moreno and cooly slotting past the Ecuadorian keeper Cevallos. The provider, Moreno, who also plays his football in Medellin, at Nacional, had so far disappointed the expectant crowd but found his touch when it mattered most. Moreno was instrumental in sealing the three points three minutes into injury time with a piece of trickery that has won him so many plaudits within the domestic Colombian league, beating the Ecuadorian defender with a delightful drag before passing the ball across the face of goal for Junior striker Teófilo Gutierrez to prod home from close range to make it 2-0 and to spark ecstatic scenes both on the terraces and on the pitch.

Elsewhere Colombia were helped by victories from Peru over Uruguay, and Brazil over Argentina. Venezuela produced a surprise result in Santiago by holding Chile to a 2-2 draw, but that still leaves them 2 points adrift of Colombia who currently sit in 5th place in the play off position.

Colombia travel to Montivideo to face Uruguay this Wednesday at 4pm.