Colombians love football. Almost as much as anything else. Whilst Colombian footballers may not have the international fame and prestige as some of their more well known Latin American counterparts, many people out here still firmly believe that if they make it to Brazil 2014 they have as good a chance as any side in South America of impressing on the global stage.
Going to a football match in Colombia is an experience not to be missed, whether you are a fan of the beautiful game or not. The stadiums become cauldrons of noise, as fans dance, jump, chant and sing seemingly non-stop for ninety-plus minutes. Whilst the quality of football may not quite measure up to the best in Europe, the atmosphere of the stadiums more than makes up for it: a derby match between Bogotá’s Santa Fe and Millonarios is as heated and passionate as any football game I have been to. Teams such as Millonarios, Atlético Nacional de Medellín, América de Cali and Junior de Barranquilla enjoy huge, passionate fan bases, which are present in force at every home fixture, and even make improbable 16 hour bus journeys overnight in order to see their team play on the coast or in the highlands. It makes a four hour coach down the M1 seem like fun and games, doesn’t it?!
Part of the fun of Colombian (and indeed, South American) football is the possibly for upsets. The dramatic changes in altitude and temperature which come with home and away fixtures can unsettle even the most consistent teams, meaning a visit to a match between a costeñoside and an Andean one can make for peculiar twists and turns.
Colombian football is once again beginning to establish itself on the world stage. Whilst the national league has never had much recognition outside of the country (although Alfredo di Stéfano once played for Millonarios, fact fans), individual players are starting to garner praise and respect in Europe, possibly for the first time since Faustino Asprilla briefly lit up Tyneside. Local hero Radamel Falcao continues to hammer home goal after goal in La Liga, and will have the opportunity to lift major silverware as his Atlético Madrid side contest the Europa League final, young sensation James Rodríguez is being repeatedly linked with some of the largest club teams in the world such as Man Utd and Chelsea, Fredy Guarín recently joined Inter on loan, and across town, national captain Mario Yepes is a rock in the A.C. Milan back four. Recent reports linking Liverpool to former Medellín striker Jackson Martínez suggest that he may soon be joining Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega in the Premier League.
The history of national football in Colombia is a chequered one: regular fixtures of the World Cup in the ‘90’s, Copa America Champions in 2001, that ‘Scorpion Kick’ save by René Higuita, Carlos Valderrama’s haircut, juxtaposed with the murder of ‘own-goal defender’ Andrés Escobar in Medellín, the disastrous, scandal-marred World Cup ’94 campaign, and only one World Cup visit this decade. However, things seem to be looking up. In the competitive qualifying stage for Brazil 2014, Colombia lie 6th, but with two away fixtures to come against a weaker Peru side, and close rivals Ecuador, confidence is high that new coach José Pekerman (following an impressive 2-0 friendly victory over Mexico) can lead Colombia to their first World Cup since 2006. Colombia will want to be present even more strongly knowing that this is the first World Cup to be played on South American soil in 36 years. It is long overdue.
There are many lists on Colombia Travel Blog telling you all about the Top 5 sights you have to see in Colombia, but for any sports fan a visit to a stadium, a beer and a hot dog, and 90 minutes in the company of some of the world’s most passionate and loud fans is the must-seeon a trip to Colombia.
Chris
