Bittersweet exit for Colombian star

AS the World Cup's top scorer, James Rodriguez, exited the stage that has made him a world star, there was one last standing ovation.

The 22-year-old wiped the tears from his cheeks as he trudged off the field in Fortaleza on Friday, despite having netted his sixth goal in five games as Brazil progressed to the last four 2-1.

And it was the hosts' match-winner, David Luiz, who appealed to the home crowd to raise the roof in appreciation as he consoled Colombia's No10.

"Having so many great players hugging me made me happy," the Monaco playmaker, who has become a target to be Real Madrid's next purchase with his performances in Brazil, said.

Colombia's lesson is one Brazil could well learn from in the coming week as they try to cope without star striker Neymar after he suffered a broken vertebrae late in the match.

Los Cafeteros lost their leading goalscorer before the tournament even began in Brazil, but Radamel Falcao's unfortunate knee injury allowed Rodriguez to take the lead role as Colombia reached the last eight for the first time.

"The work of James in the World Cup has been excellent. We expected this of him because he is an exceptional player that has huge talent and ambition," Colombia boss Jose Pekerman said.

In addition to that abundant talent, most visibly demonstrated by his sensational dipping volley to open the scoring against Uruguay in the last 16, Rodriguez showed no little guts in Fortaleza.

Time and again he was targeted by Brazil's hatchet men as they tried to kick him out his stride with little protection offered by Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo.

And when Colombia did finally get a break 10 minutes from time when Carlos Bacca was chopped down by Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar, Rodriguez coolly slotted home the spot-kick to briefly give his country hope.

"Unfortunately, the referee didn't help a lot," he complained, having been ludicrously booked himself for the foul that paved the way for Luiz to win the game with a second-half free kick.

The bright side for Colombia is this should be just the beginning for Rodriguez and his crew of talented young teammates with two editions of the Copa America to come in the next two years before another crack on the world stage in four years time. – AFP