Colombia’s beloved Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama, stated in an interview released Monday by FIFA.com, that the current Colombian team will have an edge over the previous World Cup team of 1994.
When asked to compare the current Colombian players to the dream team of the early 1990s, Valderrama said, “It was different because this whole group of players now play outside Colombia.”
The current crop of players have an edge due to their experience playing on an international stage, El Pibe suggested.
One such player with this international experience is Atletico Madrid’s star Radamel Falcao. “El Tigre” has become the Colombian World Cup team’s poster boy according to Valderrama. In addition to Falcao, El Pibe also referenced the F.C. Porto (Portugal) striker and Colombian native, Jackson Martinez, who he “really admires.”
“We [Colombians] have a quality player [Martinez] for a long time to come,” said Valderrama.
Colombia’s team captain, Mario Yepes, also has had success playing away from home for the last two decades.
Colombia is currently in sixth place in the FIFA World rankings and second in South America behind Argentina.
Sources
Valderrama: Colombia ready for World Cup return (Fifa.com)
Falcao flying the flag for Colombian football, says Valderrama (Goal.com)
World Cup rankings (Fifa.com)