FIFA World Cup: From Escobar to Rodriguez, Colombia has come a long way

July 2, 1994 is a day that lives on in infamy. A few days after returning home early from a the 1994 World Cup that many, including Pele, thought Colombia could win, defender Andres Escobar, known as “The Gentleman of the Field,” was shot dead in his hometown of Medellin. Escobar was shot six times by Humberto Munoz Castro, who was employed by two drug traffickers, who had been complaining to him about his blunder 10 days earlier in Los Angeles. An Escobar own goal gave USA the lead in their group match in Los Angeles on June 22. Colombia eventually lost the game 2-1 and with it any chance of progressing further in the tournament. The Associated Press reports: “The crime reinforced Colombia’s reputation as a violent country rife with drug cartels, leftist rebel groups and right-wing paramilitary militias. And the investigation of Escobar’s murder reinforced the perception of impunity.” “While triggerman Humberto Munoz Castro was sentenced to 42 years in prison, he refused to implicate his bosses who were with him at the time. He left prison after 11 years for good behavior.” [caption id=“attachment_1600465” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  James Rodriguez has been the star of the World Cup. AFP[/caption] But now as you watch the 2014 Colombian side dance, score goals and just play the game, you can’t help but feel the country is changing. All the talk this time round, has been about football… about James Rodriguez, about Mario Yepes, about Juan Cuadrado, about Jackson Martinez. In the 20 years that have gone by, Escobar is not forgotten but the country seems to have moved on. The Medellin and Cali drug cartels have been dismantled, the Paramilitary groups demobilized in 2006. And the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia is negotiating peace with the government. Change is here and what better way to highlight it then to play the Jogo Bonito as it is meant to be played. Many might not have thought it possible but Colombia is the team that has brought the most joy to the World Cup. They have played fearless football – a goal difference of 7 in the group stages was testament to that - and they have added a further two goals to their tally in the the round of 16 against Uruguay. In coach Luis Felipe Scolari’s words, Brazil have struggled with the pressure. Colombia seem to have thrived with the complete lack of it thus far. A young team missing their best player Radamel Falcao was expected to be a pushover – instead we have a situation where in his absence, the youngsters have found the space to blossom and play some truly exciting football. And when they take on Brazil on Friday, it will as much be a clash of two footballing nations as it will be of two 22-year-old’s - the no.10s, Neymar da Silva and James Rodriguez. Both carry their sides – perhaps Neymar more than Rodriguez; both have a wonderful touch but while Neymar is whippy, Rodriguez seems strong; while Neymar is quick, Rodriguez is measured but they already possess the magic that all great players do. We have seen Lionel Messi win four matches for Argentina and also being adjudged as the player of the match in each of those matches. All he needed was a little space and he was away – scoring and creating goals. Neymar and Rodriguez have that kind of talent too. But still when Colombia take the field in front of thousands of Brazilian fans, it might not be odd to expect them to be nervous. The rendition of the Brazilian national anthem has been stirring enough to reduce the home players to tears but Colombia will stand tall and firm and perhaps say a silent prayer for Escobar. If they ever needed a guardian angel then Friday would be the day. Any which way, they will not hold back and they will run hard at the Brazilians, forcing the hosts to play their best football or crash out. There is belief in this Colombian side; belief that tells them they can go all the way; belief that tells them their time is just beginning. And it is a belief that is starting to get contagious. Just how far it’ll spread, we’ll know after the game against Brazil.