Rodriguez Wonder Volley Fires Colombia...
Rising Star is the Anti-Suarez, The Smiling Assassin who Destroyed Uruguay's Dream
Colombia 2-0 Uruguay:
James Rodriguez is the anti-Luis Suarez as his brilliant brace sets up quarter-final with hosts Brazil - James Rodriguez scores wonder volley to send Colombia through
- Midfielder now has five goals in the World Cup and leads the race for the Golden Boot
- Uruguay struggle without suspended striker Luis Suarez
Daily Mail UK, 29 June 2014
MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER AT THE MARACANA: Dark horses 2, dark forces 0. Uruguay can now join Luis Suarez in watching the World Cup from home, banished not by FIFA, but a young man who has proved it is possible to play football from the heavens, without simultaneously dragging the game into the gutter.
Golden goal: James Rodriguez scores a stunning volley in the first half to put Colombia ahead
Dark horses two, dark forces nil. Uruguay can now join Luis Suarez in watching the World Cup from home, banished not by FIFA or a dastardly European conspiracy, but a young man who has proved it is possible to play football from the heavens, without simultaneously dragging the game into the gutter.
James Rodriguez, now the tournament top scorer, made it five goals in four World Cup games for Colombia, including what may prove to be the highlight of this World Cup. It is human nature to hope that we have not seen the best already, but it is also possible that tonight we did.
Any contender for goal of the tournament will have to go some to top the strike that put daylight between these teams after 28 minutes of stalemate. Before Uruguay had a chance to respond after regrouping in the dressing-room, James – known throughout Colombia by his first name – followed it with a beautifully-worked second four minutes after half-time, and the contest was over.
Sweet strike: Rodriguez lines up his volley which gave Fernando Muslera no chance in the Uruguay goal
No stopping that one: Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera has no chance in stopping Rodriguez's shot
Cloud nine: Colombia fans celebrate knocking Uruguay out of the World Cup
RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT
James Rodriguez was a 100-1 outsider to win the Golden Boot behind more well-known players such as Lionel Messi and Neymar.
But the Colombian midfielder struck twice in the last 16 clash with Uruguay and now has five goals in the tournament and leads the race to be the top goal scorer.
Rodriguez is now as short as 2-1 to end the World Cup with the Golden Boot
It was a match of karmic delight. Colombia got what they deserved: a quarter-final date with Brazil that will leave the hosts more than a little apprehensive; Uruguay got what they deserved: nothing and the bum’s rush to the airport. They were confirmed as a one-man team, their shameful indulgence of Suarez’s worst excesses exposed as nothing more than a shield to cover their own inadequacies. Uruguay must tolerate Suarez, for without him they offer so little.
They have played 22 World Cup matches with him since 2010 and have lost five. They have played five without him in that time, and lost four. Once he was gone it was a matter of time before they followed.
How fitting that the architect of their downfall was the player of the tournament so far, 22, but looking younger, an anti-Suarez, playing with a smile not a snarl.
Face in the crowd: Uruguay's fans hold up cardboard cut outs of suspended Luis Suarez
The joke's on you: Uruguay fans wear fake fangs and a dog mask to mock Suarez's bite against Italy
Already a £37.5m player after moving from Porto to Monaco, he may well yet be one of the stellar transfers in Europe this summer, on the back of this campaign. A goalscorer, a match-winner, a classic number ten but with the heart and energy required of the modern game, he has looked a cut above many of the more famous names on display in Brazil and has now scored in Colombia’s last six matches. Who could afford him – and, of those that could, who wouldn’t want him?
Out here, in the international game, Brazil would love him, so too Spain or Germany and Italy have nothing like him, either. England? Well, we’d find a way of ruining him obviously, but that’s not the point. James has been a thing of beauty at this World Cup and Brazil will not enjoy dealing with his invention in Fortaleza next Friday.