Is there a Falcao in the Colombian team of the future?

With the best Falcao on the pitch, Colombia was less likely to row against the tide and often had the wind advantage thanks to his goals.

The lack of efficiency of our players, especially the forwards, was lethal during the World Cup qualifier in Qatar. With a hungrier and more accurate shooter, like Falcao, the story might have been different.

Not scoring a gloomy goal for seven games in a row is too much. The National Team was only one point behind Peru. In that long drought it was possible to get more than one victory, but impossible without goals.

The irregularity of the qualifiers left the national team with resistance and options despite such an unfavorable streak. However, there was no solid, undisputed slugger in the whole of qualifying.

The samarium, already 36 years old, far removed from the strength, power and mobility of its smartest version, struggled with constant injuries in his clubs, had a hard time showing up and saving the homeland, as he did many times during the era of Joseph Pekerman as a coach, in which qualifications were achieved for the World Cups in Brazil-2014 and Russia-2018.

On the way to the land of the samba, Falcao contributed nine touchdowns in 13 games (12 as a starter), while on the route to Russian territory he scored just two goals in eight games (five as a starter).

In addition, Falcao had as a partner in the qualifiers against Brazil Theophilus Gutierrezwho celebrated six times in 11 pledges (10 from kick-off).

In qualifying for Russia 2018, James Rodriguezwho was Brazil’s top scorer in 2014, scoring six goals in 13 games (all as stars), and Charles Bacca he won three in 13 games (10 as a starter).

In the just ended qualifiers, Falcao’s scoring contribution was reduced to a small goal. He participated in a total of 10 games, including three as a starter. The top scorer was Miguel Borgia with four goals in nine games (only four starts). Luis Fernando Muriel followed with three goals in nine games (six as starters). The same three that winger Luis Díaz scored.

Duvan Zapata, one of those called to fill the void of Radamel Falcao, could not bear that responsibility. His performance was very mediocre. ‘El Toro’ never came close to what ‘el Tigre’ represented. A sad goal in 11 games (eight as a starter).