The Whole Delivery

FT: Brazil 2-1 Colombia  It was a team performance led by the centerbacks on both ends of the field to see the host nation progress.  David Luiz had his strongest game for his nation, while Thiago Silva displayed why he is the best in the world at his position. Silva unfortunately got the stupidest yellow card of the tournament, as he will not be out of the semifinal against Germany.  But Silva (and Neymar's possible absences) will be analyzed for days to come. Right now, Luis Scolari's team containing James Rodriguez for most of the evening was very good for the evening. Juan Cuadrado couldn't get things going on, and Teo Gutierrez showed once more how big the gap is when he has to replace Radamel Falcao.  The front four (along with Victor Ibrabo) for Colombia failed to do enough as they struggled throughout to get clear chances on a Brazilian defense that had its best performance this tournament. Helping in that was the great play from Fernand...

Photo from Getty Images and FIFA.com Faryd Mondragon has the unique distinction of being the only player in the entire 2014 World Cup who was a squad member in the 1994 installment in the United States. At the time, Mondragon was a soon to be 23-year-old keeper who saw first hand how his Colombian nation came into the tournament as destined for greatness, picked by some to even be world champions. Of course, it turned out to be the opposite of that, as a 3-1 loss to Romania, followed by the more infamous 2-1 defeat at the hands of the host Yanks proved to be the start of a long painful demise on the global stage for Los Cafeteros. The shock exit out of World Cup ’94. The tragic death of Andres Escobar. The quick departure out of the group stage of the following World Cup in France. The three consecutive cycles of failing to qualify for the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cup. Mondragon has seen his country endure its pinnacle and a pitfall, its apex and its vortex, its crowing ...

Projected Formation                         Ospina Zuniga -   Zapata - Yepes - Armero                  Aguilar - Sanchez          Rodriguez- Guarin- Cuardado                          Gutierrez  Key Bench Options: Martinez, Ramos, Bacca, Ibarbo,  Quintero, Alvarez Balanta      The Runthrough        Before the misfortune of seeing Radamel Falcao go down with a devastating ACL injury in January with Monaco, there was still  major fears for the Colombian nation about their shaky central defense that could ruin their long awaited return to the World Cup Finals.  Falcao's expected loss for the tournament was a psychological blow, but with the new golden generation of attacking talents available f...

As condolences are delivered to Colombia (and Mexico's) pride and joy Gabriel Garcia Marquez, there is definitely one standout tidbit that caught the attention of yours' truly. It was from CNN Tood Leopold's great obit on Marquez, where the United States' paranoia with renowned outsiders who contrast with its "ethos" was once again apparent. The book didn't ease all of García Márquez's problems, however. As a vocal leftist and defender of Castro's Cuba, he was regularly limited or denied visas by the United States until President Bill Clinton, a fan of "Solitude," revoked the ban. Clinton went on to express his condolences right after in that fine write up from Leopold and showed how Marquez remained steadfast to his rational, "all for one, one for all" perspective that fueled his writing. It also displayed the utter pettiness that came with so many US presidents from Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush with an accomp...