BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) – Overcoming solidly defensive teams like Greece has never been the forte of South American teams, which thrive on attractive football.
Consequently, Colombia coach Jose Pekerman sees the main challenge for his players in their World Cup opener today as respecting the way Greece plays.
Colombia, taking part in their first World Cup since 1998, boast a strong attacking line-up despite Radamel Falcao’s exclusion. While Pekerman doesn’t want to sacrifice Colombia’s aesthetic style, he wants his team to play with equilibrium.
He also hopes his players won’t get frustrated at Greece’s tactics.
“Traditionally, South American teams have a hard time against these types of opponents (which) play with a lot of determination and a mentality that say ‘we play this way and we can get a result’,” Pekerman said.
Teams like Greece, “They’re not bothered when others say to them, ‘Why don’t you play another way?’” he added. “Their style is well-defined and they are proud of it. Because of this, they are very strong.”
However, the notion that his Greek team would focus primarily on defence seemed to offend coach Fernando Santos.
“The most important thing is the whole team,” he said. “If we only play defence, we will lose. In football, you don’t play with four people (defenders). You need strikers, midfielders.
“My team is going to play to win. I think Colombia will do the same. That’s what I expect: both teams trying to win.”
Colombia and Greece both trained at Mineirao Stadium yesterday in Belo Horizonte, which will host the Group C opener. Before Colombia’s session, the players formed a circle on the pitch and prayed.
Pekerman said his team had become “a family” after Colombia were dealt a number of setbacks before travelling to Brazil.
Falcao, the team’s star forward who scored nine goals in qualifying, was cut from the squad last week after failing to recover in time from a serious knee injury. Centre back Luis Perea was also dropped because of a thigh injury. Then, midfielder Aldo Ramirez was sent home with a foot injury days after Pekerman announced his final squad.
“Like all families, we deal with problems and work on finding a solution,” said Pekerman, adding that Falcao and Perea would be in Brazil to support the team. “The injuries are in the past.”
Colombia will also be without suspended midfielder Fredy Guarin for the first match.
Greece consider Colombia the toughest team in the group, which also includes Japan and Ivory Coast. Greece will be relying on veterans like Costas Katsouranis and captain Giorgos Karagounis, who were part of the team that won the 2004 European Championship.
The 37-year-old Karagounis, playing in his last tournament, also didn’t appreciate Greece being defined as a defensive team.
“We are concerned about how to score, and then how to defend our goal. It’s as simple as that,” he said. Colombia “should also be concerned about defending their own goal”.
