BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Colombia fans celebrate after James Rodriguez scores a contender for goal of the tournament as Colombia beat a toothless Uruguay 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time

Record ID: 351667

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Colombia fans celebrate after James Rodriguez scores a contender for goal of the tournament as Colombia beat a toothless Uruguay 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time
  • Date: 28th June 2014
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (JUNE 28, 2014) (REUTERS) FANS LEAVING THE MARACANA FOLLOWING COLOMBIA'S WIN OVER URUGUAY FANS LEAVING AFTER THE GAME BRAZIL FAN HOLDING A CUT-OUT MASK OF BANNED URUGUAY STRIKER LUIS SUAREZ VARIOUS OF ANGRY URUGUAY FANS WALKING PAST CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) URUGUAY FAN, ALVARO RODRIGUEZ, TALKING ABOUT WHETHER LUIS SUAREZ WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERE
  • Embargoed: 13th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACZET2D80GZGU6EYA43ZYC92J3
  • Story Text: Nothing could dampen the mood of the multitude of Colombians filing out of Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium on Saturday (June 28) night after their commanding 2-0 win over Uruguay in their World Cup Round of 16 match.
    The same could not be said for Uruguay fans who were left reeling after their team was eliminated from the tournament, ending all their hopes of repeating their 1950 Maracanazao here at the Maracana at the 2014 final.
    Uruguay were without their key striker Luis Suarez who was banned by FIFA after he bit an opponent during Uruguay's 1-0 win over Italy in Group D, and some fans thought his absence was the difference.
    "Absolutely, Suarez is very important for Uruguay, but it wasn't as if it was an unbalanced game. It was pretty close," Uruguay was short of star striker Luis Suarez who was banned by FIFA after he bit an opponent during Uruguay's win over Italy that gave them a last-16 place. "Colombia made a goal at the right time in the second half. Uruguay attacked, but could not connect. Suarez was missed."
    "Viva Uruguay. We did the best we could, but unfortunately, without Suarez we've got nothing. Without Suarez we are nothing. But we played well. We can go on with our heads held high. We beat Italy, we sent England home. So let's go Colombia. A good game with Brazil. Keep the World Cup in South America. Let's go," Roberto Guibillo of Uruguay said.
    But their dismay was overtaken by the jubilance of Colombia fans who spilled into the streets outside the Maracana as they hailed their new hero, James Rodriguez, who scored twice to send the Colombians into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
    And Colombia fans asked, "Suarez who?" saying it would not have made a difference if he had been allowed to play after 22-year-old Rodriguez became the tournament's top scorer with his fifth goal in four games.
    "It had nothing to do with Suarez. It was all Colombia today. And if Suarez were here we would have won 3-0 with Suarez," said Colombia fan Sami Isa.
    "James is better than the whole Uruguayan team. James is the best player of the Brazil World Cup 2014. James is the best scorer, there is no Neymar, there's no Suarez. James Rodriguez is the best," another fan from Colombia, Taric Ali said.
    Rodriguez was the man of the hour after he put Colombia ahead with a spectacular opening goal after 28 minutes.
    He followed that up with an equally spellbinding boot after a beautifully team-played set up at 50 minutes securing Colombia's place to challenge hosts Brazil in the last 8 in Fortaleza on July 4.
    Brazil barely squeezed out a win against Chile in penalties to set up another mouthwatering South American standoff.
    When Colombia arrived in Brazil without injured key forward Radamel Falcao, few would have counted on baby-faced Rodriguez, who has now scored in each of his team's three group games and their knockout match, to successfully replace him But he has taken the tournament by storm, netting five times already and winning man-of-the-match awards in his opening two games.
    It seems Rodriguez was made for the biggest stage of all and, with the player turning 23 the day before the World Cup final in Rio, few would now bet against him giving himself the greatest belated birthday present.
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