Colombia World Cup 2018 squad and team guide

Radamel Falcao (centre) and James Rodriguez (right) are two of Colombia's superstars
Radamel Falcao (centre) and James Rodriguez (right) are two of Colombia's superstars Credit: getty images

Here we take a look at Colombia's World Cup squad and the other things it will be handy to know.

Colombia's preliminary World Cup squad - the 35 names

(To be cut to 23 by June 4)

David Ospina, Camilo Vargas, Ivan Arboleda, Jose Fernando Cuadrado; Cristian Zapata, Davinson Sanchez, Santiago Arias, Oscar Murillo, Frank Fabra, Johan Mojica, Yerry Mina, William Tesillo, Bernardo Espinosa, Stefan Medina, Farid Diaz; Wilmar Barrios, Carlos Sanchez, Jefferson Lerma, Jose Izquierdo, James Rodriguez, Giovanni Moreno, Abel Aguilar, Mateus Uribe, Yimmi Chara, Juan Fernando Quintero, Edwin Cardona, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, Gustavo Cuellar, Sebastian Perez; Radamel Falcao Garcia, Duvan Zapata, Miguel Borja, Carlos Bacca, Luis Fernando Muriel, Teofilo Gutierrez.

Colombia fans bring the colour Credit: ap

What odds are Colombia to win the World Cup?

40/1

Who's the coach?

Jose Pekerman. The 68-year-old comes from the Arsene Wenger school of professorial coaches, with a penchant for patient - some might say laborious - possession football.

Who's the star?

James Rodriguez. Has been revitalised by his move to Bayern Munich after a miserable spell at Real Madrid, scoring eight and delivering 14 assists last season.

Best thing about them

Pace on the counter-attack and a reasonably tight defence.

Worst thing about them

Goals are hard to come by - they scored only 21 in 18 qualifiers.

You may recognise...

There is a north London look about their defence - with David Ospina in goal and Davison Sanchez at centre-half - while Radamel Falcao, so underwhelming in England, still plugs away up front.

Cameramen will be picking out...

Any giant insects that take a liking to James, who spawned a million memes after being alighted on by a fearsome-looking grasshopper during Brazil 2014.

Fans' favourite chant

A patriotic bunch, Colombia enjoy belting out the national anthem - "Oh Gloria Inmarcesible!" ('Oh, unfading glory') at appropriately stirring moments.

On-field prediction

Not as stylish as Brazil, or starry as Argentina, but could go just as far as both.

Off-field prediction

Shakira to release a wretched World Cup song which sounds like it has been written via Google translate.