04/25/24
June 28, 2014
Colombia Faces Suarez-Less Uruguay in World Cup Knockout: Uruguay may have bitten off more than it can chew in a World Cup round of 16 match against fellow South American side Colombia, playing without star striker Luis Suarez after his suspension for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the final group game. This is only the second time Colombia has reached the round of 16 and the first time it enters as a group champion. Uruguay has won 6 of the last 8 against Colombia, but lost the last two cup matches it played without Suarez.
This is how you broadcast a goal by your country:
The James Rodriguez Golazo on Columbian television
ESPN has got to step up in the USA/Belgium game...
posted by grum@work at 07:11 PM on June 28, 2014
Oh, and everyone just watched James Rodriguez add another zero to his paycheck (and his transfer fee).
posted by grum@work at 07:12 PM on June 28, 2014
Unless there's another Brazil we haven't seen yet in this tournament, Colombia is going to roll over them.
posted by rcade at 09:15 PM on June 28, 2014
Unless it's Madrid or Barcelona on a Bale-type deal, would be surprised if Rodriguez moves again this summer. He just was sold from Porto to Monaco last summer for 47M. I would also imagine that with that club's wealth and tax status, he might be hard pressed to find a situation with potential for greater net wages.
posted by holden at 09:34 PM on June 28, 2014
Yeah, Rodriguez isn't an undiscovered star, and he isn't short of a bob or two after the move to Monaco.
As the old terrace chant goes, it's just like watching Brazil, and it's weird to think that Colombia are missing a huge talent in Radamel Falcao (who the gossipy back pages believe is in Madrid right now). The bookies still have Brazil favourite for the quarter-final, and luck appears to be with them right now, but I'd love to see Colombia keep going.
posted by etagloh at 10:14 PM on June 28, 2014
If Rodriguez keeps playing this way and Colombia knocks off Brazil, isn't he a lock for a Madrid- or Barcelona-type deal -- or at least an offer so enormous people can't believe Monaco turned it down?
posted by rcade at 10:20 PM on June 28, 2014
rcade, Monaco is owned by a Russian oligarch so unless that 2.7B Euro divorce settlement did more to his bank account than expected I doubt it.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:13 AM on June 29, 2014
Monaco are in the Champions League, there's no income tax (I believe) and they can come in second in Ligue Un every year without trying. Is there a real reason to force a move to Madrid or Barcelona where you'd be forced to play second fiddle?
posted by yerfatma at 10:39 AM on June 29, 2014
The appeal of the biggest stage in club soccer.
posted by rcade at 10:52 AM on June 29, 2014
there's no income tax (I believe)
There would be for the players and the team, if they hadn't openly paid off the French football league to avoid it.
("It" being forced to move their headquarters to France and paying a 75% tax on earnings over 1million euros.)
posted by grum@work at 03:06 PM on June 29, 2014
The appeal of the biggest stage in club soccer.
I thought the biggest stage was whichever team was winning the Champions League and that can be Monaco if they can work around the fair play rules like every other billionaire. Heck, Man U could have had him for a measly £5 million in 2010 and at that time we would have said Man U was also part of that big stage.
posted by yerfatma at 09:50 AM on June 30, 2014
The latest from Suarez :
"I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent."
Keep 'em coming, Luis.