Colombia national football team

The Colombia national football team is the national team of Colombia and is controlled by the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol. Colombia has made four World Cups, but only one before the 1990s: in 1962. They only advanced past the first round once.

The team is considered slightly above-average in ability in the CONMEBOL region; they are stronger than Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia, not quite as strong as Brazil and Argentina and often find themselves evenly matched with Paraguay and Uruguay. They are also known for producing good performances in preliminary tournaments and friendlies but seem to collapse in important matches. A 2001 Copa América win gave their backers hope that the side may yet join the top flight of international football. Recently, Colombia has shown ability to rach eqaul scores with Brazil and Argentina, tying the former on the road 0–0 and the latter at home 1–1.

The team has been peripherally involved in two of the greatest personal tragedies to hit football in recent years. In 1994, defender Andrés Escobar scored an own goal in a World Cup match against the United States; shortly after the team returned to Colombia, Escobar was murdered. In 2003, at a Confederations Cup semifinal, the Colombians watched as Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed and died on the pitch due to an undetected heart condition.

World Cup record

• 1930 – Did not enter
• 1934 – Did not enter
• 1938 – Withdrew
• 1950 – Did not enter
• 1954 – Did not enter
• 1958 – Did not qualify
• 1962 – Round 1
• 1966 to 1986 – Did not qualify
• 1990 – Round 2
• 1994 – Round 1
• 1998 – Round 1
• 2002 – Did not qualify

Copa América record

Famous players

• Juan Pablo Angel
• Faustino Asprilla
• Iván Córdoba
• Oscar Córdoba
• Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentine, also played for Argentina and Spain)
• Andres Escobar
• Giovanny Hernández
• Sergio Herrera
• René Higuita
• Luis Amaranto Perea
• Freddy Rincón
• Carlos Valderrama
• Adolfo Valencia

External links

• RSSSF archive of results 1938-
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
• RSSSF archive of coaches 1938-