Colombia v Greece Preview: No Falcao, no flying start in Group C?

colm-2347
colm-2347

Colombia will take on Greece in the first Group C match this afternoon in Belo Horizonte, with both sides eager to get off to a winning start in Brazil.

colm-2347

The absence of Falcao is the big talking point leading up to Colombia’s World Cup adventure, with the Monaco striker just failing to recover from a knee injury, but in Greece they face a side with only one win from the two previous World Cup finals.

Colombia Team News:

New-Colombia-World-Cup-2014-Jersey

Possible lineup (4-4-2): Ospina; Zuniga, Yepes, Zapata, Armero; Cuadrado, Aguilar, Rodriguez, Sanchez; Gutierez, Martinez

Porto’s Jackson Martinez and River Plate striker Teofilo Gutierrez are set to lead the line against the Greeks, with AC Milan defender Cristián Zapata and his former teammate, the 38-year-old Mario Yepes looking to keep the defence tight.

Falcao’s Monaco colleague James Rodriguez could be a star of the tournament, if the rest of the team can complement his vicious attacking instincts, the likes of which persuaded his French club to part with €45 for his services last year.

Greece Team News:

greece-2014-world-cup-kit-home-away

Possible lineup (4-4-2): Karnezis; Torosidis, Papasthathopoulos, Manolas, Holebas; Salpingidis, Katsouranis, Maniatis, Kone; Samaras, Mitroglou

Star striker Kostas Mitroglou, who endured a horror few months at Fulham last season, will surely start up top, with Celtic mainstay Georgios Samaras alongside him. Attacker Panagiotis Kone is certainly one to watch from the midfield, while Dimitrios Salpingidis, who scored four in nine qualifying games, will be danger to the Colombians from the flanks.

Prediction: Colombia 0-0 Greece

While this Colombia side is full of attacking possibilities, and the Greeks are certainly not bereft of intent, something tells me we’re in for a close fought stalemate in the Estadio Mineirao.

I hope I’m wrong, what with the stunning precedent set yesterday!

Key World Cup links:

Colombia World Cup 2014 Team Page.
Greece World Cup 2014 Team Page.
World Cup 2014 Matches – Fixtures & Results
World Cup 2014 Player & Team Stats
World Cup 2014 Group Tables
Watch live World Cup matches online.
Our main World Cup 2014 news page.
The Official Soccerlens World Cup Predictor Game.

Latest news

View all
Arrow to top