World Cup 2018: 5 unfancied teams that could go all the way at Russia 2018

#3 Colombia

The Colombians have a good mix of old and young

One of the teams that went through qualifying with the minimum of fuss, Colombia were quietly efficient in making it through the notoriously tough CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying rounds.

Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) seem to have hit that sweet spot in a football team’s development; a good mix of experienced players who have something to prove and a steady stream of above-average youngsters.

Colombia have always had good players; Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla and much more but are yet to make an appreciable impact at world level for the talent they have had.

Under long-term Argentine coach José Pékerman, the Colombians have made excellent progress and should have done better at the last Copa America, losing tamely to eventual winners Chile in the semi-finals.

With Radamel “El Tigre” Falcao back in goal scoring form, captain James Rodriguez playing again and youngsters like Tottenham’s Davison Sanchez coming of age, the Coffee Growers will be a handful for anyone who comes across their path in Russia.

Pékerman will feel he has a team good enough to go far at the World Cup but must do better with his tactics and set up as his record of reaching quarter-finals with his home country, Argentina (2006) & Colombia (2014) show how his tactical acumen failed two very good teams who had the skill set to go all the way to the final matches of these World Cup tournaments.