Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
James Rodriguez injury: Colombia to make last minute decision ahead of England clash
JOSE PEKERMAN has left England guessing by saying he will give his star player James Rodriguez until the last minute to declare himself fit for the World Cup last-16 tie here.
The Colombia boss said a scan had shown Rodriguez’s calf injury isn’t serious but he wasn’t prepared to rule him in or out 24 hours before the game in the Spartak Stadium.
Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup with six goals, didn’t train with the other players in the session in front of the media but lay on a mat on the touchline doing core exercises.
After carrying the injury into the tournament, he came on in the first group game, started the second and came off after half-an-hour in the third. But all the indications are the Real Madrid player will start.
Pekerman said: “We had good news after his medical tests. He doesn’t have a serious injury.
Bundesliga reflect on James Rodriguez’s footballing history
He doesn’t have a serious injury
“We still have one-and-a-half days to see how he feels and, as always, we hope he will be able to play for the following games.”
Asked if Rodriguez can play 90 minutes he replied: “I will tell you who will be in the starting XI tomorrow, one hour before the game. That’s when we’ll know how everybody’s feeling.”
Colombia skipper Radamel Falcao admitted he didn’t “shine” in his two seasons in the Premier League with Manchester United and Chelsea but vowed to make his point.
“It’s true that I didn’t shine as I wanted in England but that’s part of the past,” he said.
“This is a match we’ve always dreamed of playing, since we were young children we wanted to play something like this, so we are really looking forward to it and we’re used to playing games like this.
“We hope we’ll be able to enjoy the game, try to play the game we have planned and try to live this dream being responsible because we know we are facing a great opportunity.
“I only can say that it’s beautiful to be here, to be able to play against England, and I think all my team-mates are ready to play and give everything.”