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Colombia vs Uruguay preview: James Rodriguez allowed to shine by Jose Pekerman

A look ahead to the second match of the second round at the Maracana stadium

Konstantinos Lianos

Saturday 28 June 2014 22:06 BST

James Rodriguez (centre) celebrates after scoring Colombia’s first goal in their 2-1 win over Ivory Coast (EPA)

Uruguay have managed to make it through from the ‘Group of Death’ but lost their best player in the process. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned from any football for four whole months and will not be wearing the Celeste shirt for nine international matches. The punishment occurred after the 27-year-old bit Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder last Tuesday.

LIVE: Follow the latest from Colombia v Uruguay here

Manager Oscar Tabarez now needs to decide whether he will play Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani up front on his own or whether he will include the best player of the 2010 competition, Diego Forlan, next to him. To make matters worse, team captain Diego Lugano could also be out with a knee injury.

Colombia have dominated their way through from Group C by beating everyone in their path without their star striker Radamel Falcao. Manager Jose Pekerman has changed the formation to 4-2-3-1 that allowed young talent such as Monaco attacking midfielder James Rodriguez and Fiorentina winger Juan Cuadrado to shine.

World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

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1/19World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Neymar

Brazil 3 Croatia 1 Bringing Brazil level and coming good on the promise that he would be a star at this tournament, Neymar needed simply to raise a finger to the air to claim he was the one. When he put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot the emotion was clear to see, with the Barcelona player falling to his knees and pointing to the sky in what is sure to be one of the iconic shots of the tournament.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Robin van Persie

Spain 1 Netherlands 5 Robin van Persie had just scored one of the great World Cup goals with his flying header, but his celebration was less of a success. Rushing over to his soon-to-be club manager at Manchester United, Louis van Gaal, the pair went to 'high-five', only to barely make contact with each other's hand.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Jorge Valdivia

Chile 3 Australia 1 After putting a curler into the top corner to make the score 2-0 to Chile, Jorge Valdivia wheeled away rotating his fingers towards his head in a gesture that seemed to suggest he was going crazy.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Pablo Armero

Colombia 3 Greece 0 The whole Colombia team, including those on the subs bench, got involved when Pablo Armero gave them a scrappy early lead. The defender led his team-mates over to the sideline where they performed a jubilant dance, waving their hands in the air and jigging side to side. they had a little dance after their next goal too, but it couldn't match the first for surpirse and entertainment value.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Joel Campbell

Uruguay 1 Costa Rica 3 When Arsenal forward Joel Campbell brought the scores level, he momentarily forgot his traditional celebration. But within a couple of seconds, he had frantically gestured for the ball and then stuck it up his jersey. As he pretended to be pregnant, he also sucked his thumb for good measure.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Daniel Sturridge

England 1 Italy 2 Despite revealing afterwards that he wasn't planning to if he scored, when Daniel Sturridge found the back of the net against Italy he couldn't resist a few rigid dance moves. Had England gone on to win, it probably would have turned into a craze sweeping the nation. The rest of the England players were so jubilant at the equaliser they managed to dislocate the ankle of physio Gary Lewin amid celebrations by the dug-out.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Gervinho

Ivory Coast 2 Japan 1 Sliding on the knees is nothing knew, but doing it in tandem with Didier Droga whilst wearing the vibrant orange kit of the Ivory Coast made for a great image. Gervinho had just scored the winning goal.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Haris Seferovic

Switzerland 2 Ecuador 1 Haris Seferovic had just scored an injury time winner and didn't we just know it from his celebration. Reminicent of Marco Tardelli, the Switzerland player looked like he couldn't contain himself as he thrust his arms forward and back and charged up the touchline.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

John Brooks

Ghana 1 USA 2 Never has a player looked in quite such disbelief at scoring than John Brooks after he scored the winning goal for the United States against Ghana. Putting his hands to his head and looking to the sky, the German born player opted to head to the corner, collapse on his knees and then lie flat on his front with his face in the turf. He'll probably make a better job of it if he scores again.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Tim Cahill

Australia 2 Netherlands 3 Everton fans and watchers of the Premier League will have seen it all before, but Tim Cahill was able to perform his trademark celebration on the world stage after scoring a stumping first-time volley. After a goal that will be among the contenders for best of the tournament, the Aussie headed for the corner flag for a bit of boxing practice.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

James Rodriguez

Colombia 2 Ivory Coast 1 Colombia were at it again after James Rodriguez opened the scoring against Ivory Coast. After first heading to the corner for a dance, they opted to head up the touchline to have a dance with the substitutes as well. With the players kicking their legs in sync, it was clear they had been practising.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Wayne Rooney

Uruguay 2 England 1 The forward wheeled away in celebration after scoring his first-ever World Cup goal. The joy did not last long, however, six minutes later Luis Suarez scored the winner for Uruguay.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Clint Dempsey

USA 2 Portugal 2 Dempsey has become a national hero for the Americans during the the tournament, and this passionate celebration against Portugal showed just how much the World Cup means to the former Fulham and Tottenham man too.

World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Miroslav Klose

Germany 2 Ghana 2 So how do you celebrate drawing level with Ronaldo as the World Cup's highest ever scorer? A forward flip that nearly breaks your neck of course. At the age of 36 perhaps Miroslav Klose shouldn't be going for the theatrical celebrations, but luckily he made it just far enough round that he didn't do himself any damage.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Miguel Herrera

Croatia 1 Mexico 3 He might not have scored himself, but the celebrations of Miguel Herrera are more than worthy of inclusion. As his team beat Croatia 3-1 to book their place in the knock-out phase the Mexico manager couldn't contain himself. Jumping up and down, grabbing anyone in sight and simply looking like the happiest man alive made Herrera an internet sensation.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Georgios Samaras

Greece 2 Ivory Coast 1 After winning his side a penalty in injury time, Georgios Samaras picked himself up to take it. A goal would mean Greece were going through to the knock-out phase, so when the ball hit the back of the net the Celtic player was suitably jubilant. Racing to the corner, the striker slid on his knees towards the camera before finding himself at the bottom of the biggest bundle of World Cup so far.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Julio Cesar

Brazil 1 Chile 1 (aet: Brazil win 3-2 on penalties) After a thrilling, end-to-end game went to penalties, Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar emerged as the hero for the hosts, saving two penalties from Alexis Sanchez and Mauricio Pinilla. The relief when Gonzalo Jara hit a crucial penalty was clear for all to see as the Selecao players rushed to embrace the goalkeeper.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

Klaas Jan Huntelaar

Netherlands 2 Mexico 1 Arjen Robben may have caused controversy for the manner in which he won the penalty, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, on as a substitute for Robin van Persie, did not feel any pressure with the 94th minute penalty. The Schalke striker's goal sparked wild Oranje celebrations - we're not quite sure who his karate kick was in honour of.

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World Cup 2014: The best goal celebrations of the tournament so far

David Luiz

Brazil 2 Colombia 1 In one of the best quarter-finals ever, the match between the two South American nations was delicately poised heading into the final 20 minutes. James Rodriguez, perhaps harshly, conceded a foul about 35 yards from goal and David Luiz stepped up. What he did next was spectacular, rocketing a shot into the top corner - the celebration wasn't bad either as Luiz, eyes and veins bulging sprinted off down the touchline screaming before 'doing a Huntelaar' to the corner flag.

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Both of them are set to make the starting line-up and so will team captain Mario Yepes and striker Teofilo Gutierrez who were both rested in Los Cafeteros’ final group stage match against Japan.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 9pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Uruguay 2 (Cavani, Stuani) Colombia 0, World Cup Qualifier, September 2013

Colombia 4 (Falcao, Gutierrez 2, Zuniga) Uruguay 0, World Cup Qualifiers, September 2012

Uruguay 3 (Suarez, Scotti, Eguren) Colombia 1 (Martinez), World Cup Qualifiers, September 2009

STATS…

The teams have faced off 38 times with Uruguay winning 18 matches and Colombia emerging victorious out of 11 of the exchanges. Colombia’s first ever World Cup match was against Uruguay in 1962 where the Uruguayans were being managed by Diego Forlan’s grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazzo. That was also the last time they faced each other in this competition.

Colombia’s shot conversion equals to 31 per cent, which is the best rate out of any other squad in the group stage. Los Cafeteros have scored nine goals in three matches.

Jose Pekerman’s team is unbeaten in their last 10 matches, where they picked up six wins. Monaco attacking midfielder James Rodriguez has scored in all of his last five internationals.

Uruguay have achieved arguably their greatest feat in the Maracana stadium when they beat Brazil 2-1 in the 1950 World Cup final – that day is remembered as the Maracanazo.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned from nine straight international matches and any other sort of action for four months, which means that the Uruguayan will not be playing again until October. His country have lost both of the last World Cup matches that Suarez missed , which was against the Netherlands in 2010 and Costa Rica in this year’s opener.

Uruguay tend to struggle without Suarez (Getty Images)

ODDS…

Colombia to win: Evens

Uruguay to win: 16.5

Draw: 5.2

TV: Live on ITV at 9pm

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