Colombia are the new stars in yellow
There's a team, in a classic yellow shirt, playing fantastic football at this World Cup, with flair, pace and skill, and it's certainly not Brazil. Colombia are the form South American team thus far, despite the loss of key forward Radamel Falcao before the tournament. Las Cafeteros are playing the way Brazil used to; speed all over park, exhibiting decisive skills under pressure.
Their supporters, who have waited two decades to return to the World Cup, have been rewarded with four successive, convincing victories. They could go further, but one senses that Brazil are destined to reach the last four, given how fortune was on their shoulder against Chile.
You can't, at any level, sit on a lead.
Both Mexico and Costa Rica went ahead early in the second half of their matches today and then stopped playing. In Mexico's case it was a fatal mistake; the Dutch poured forward, knowing they were not going to be challenged defensively and were rewarded with two late, late goals.
Costa Rica did have a man dismissed in the 67th minute, but Los Ticos were still far more defensive than they needed to be against a extremely limited, though gutsy, Greek team. Costa Rica got through, but were fortunate their goal keeper pulled off some miraculous saves while the Europeans wasted several great chances, with a total of 24 shots on goal.
