Game 4: Poland 0-3 Columbia
Group H: Poland 0-3 Columbia
Apparently, Ally McCoist’s highlight of the tournament so far has been the Colombian fans’ singing of their anthem! There are a lot of Colombian supporters in the ground, and they are making a raucous noise, but I’m sure there have been better moments.
Anyway, after seeing Maya Yoshida in the earlier game, it’s Jan Bednarek’s turn, and he would have to deal with James Rodríguez, both were starting their first game of the tournament.
Polish left back Pazdan, who’s name caused B to make an awful pun (chip off the old block I guess) seemed unable to take a proper throw in; each time he raised his back foot off the ground, but even though it was right in front of the assistant referee, he was never pulled up for it.
Colombia were the most offensive of the teams early on, but the end product was always missing.
A break in play while Colombia’s Aguilar was attended to and then eventually stretchered off gave Ally McCoist change to give us a history lesson of the local Kazan area. I now know that the Siege Of Kazan by Ivan The Terrible in 1552 allowed Russia to take the city after massacring most of the population.
Colombia started to get it together, Juan Cuadrado went close with a shot from a tight angle and then, five minutes before half time, Colombia scored. Rodríguez chipped the ball in after a short corner and Yerry Mina rose high and unopposed in the middle of the six yard box to head in from close range.
The Colombian fans erupted.
Poland failed to have a single shot on target in the first half.
Half Time: Poland 0 Colombia 1
Ten minutes into the second half Poland had a shot. Lewandowski latched on to a long ball, brought it down well and shot, but it was well saved by Ospina, who had the wind knocked out of him.
Bednarek was then booked for a cynical foul on Mateus Uribe on the halfway line.
Colombia were passing it around, keeping possession, but were never really doing much more than pissing off the Polish players because they couldn’t get near the ball.
Falcao then latched on to a superb through ball from Quintero, running clear into the Polish box he calmly guided it past Szczesny with the outside of his right foot. It was an excellent finish after a superb pass.
Poland looked a beaten team and five minutes later another superb pass, this time from James Rodríguez who bent a lovely ball along the grass from out on the left wing to the centre of the pitch, where Cuadrado ran clear of the Polish defence and side footed the ball into the net for 3-0.
Poland did have another attack, forcing Ospina into a good save, but it was Colombia who looked the more likely to score the next goal and Bednarek had to clear off the line after a back heal from Matues Uribe.
With a rare attempt on the Colombian goal Robert Lewandowski‘s fierce shot was well saved by Opsina, he palmed the ball over the bar, his third good save of the game. That came in the 90th minute.
With 30 seconds to go Rodríguez was turning on the style with some neat footwear and a flick to pass to a team mate despite the attention of three Polish defenders.
And that was it. Poland are out, and Colombia gave themselves a chance with a display that showed they have what it takes to give anyone a hard game.
Apparently, Ally McCoist’s highlight of the tournament so far has been the Colombian fans’ singing of their anthem! There are a lot of Colombian supporters in the ground, and they are making a raucous noise, but I’m sure there have been better moments.
Anyway, after seeing Maya Yoshida in the earlier game, it’s Jan Bednarek’s turn, and he would have to deal with James Rodríguez, both were starting their first game of the tournament.
Polish left back Pazdan, who’s name caused B to make an awful pun (chip off the old block I guess) seemed unable to take a proper throw in; each time he raised his back foot off the ground, but even though it was right in front of the assistant referee, he was never pulled up for it.
Colombia were the most offensive of the teams early on, but the end product was always missing.
A break in play while Colombia’s Aguilar was attended to and then eventually stretchered off gave Ally McCoist change to give us a history lesson of the local Kazan area. I now know that the Siege Of Kazan by Ivan The Terrible in 1552 allowed Russia to take the city after massacring most of the population.
Colombia started to get it together, Juan Cuadrado went close with a shot from a tight angle and then, five minutes before half time, Colombia scored. Rodríguez chipped the ball in after a short corner and Yerry Mina rose high and unopposed in the middle of the six yard box to head in from close range.
The Colombian fans erupted.
Poland failed to have a single shot on target in the first half.
Half Time: Poland 0 Colombia 1
Ten minutes into the second half Poland had a shot. Lewandowski latched on to a long ball, brought it down well and shot, but it was well saved by Ospina, who had the wind knocked out of him.
Bednarek was then booked for a cynical foul on Mateus Uribe on the halfway line.
Colombia were passing it around, keeping possession, but were never really doing much more than pissing off the Polish players because they couldn’t get near the ball.
Falcao then latched on to a superb through ball from Quintero, running clear into the Polish box he calmly guided it past Szczesny with the outside of his right foot. It was an excellent finish after a superb pass.
Poland looked a beaten team and five minutes later another superb pass, this time from James Rodríguez who bent a lovely ball along the grass from out on the left wing to the centre of the pitch, where Cuadrado ran clear of the Polish defence and side footed the ball into the net for 3-0.
Poland did have another attack, forcing Ospina into a good save, but it was Colombia who looked the more likely to score the next goal and Bednarek had to clear off the line after a back heal from Matues Uribe.
With a rare attempt on the Colombian goal Robert Lewandowski‘s fierce shot was well saved by Opsina, he palmed the ball over the bar, his third good save of the game. That came in the 90th minute.
With 30 seconds to go Rodríguez was turning on the style with some neat footwear and a flick to pass to a team mate despite the attention of three Polish defenders.
And that was it. Poland are out, and Colombia gave themselves a chance with a display that showed they have what it takes to give anyone a hard game.
