Cahill wary of threat from familiar Colombian striker Falcao

While England may have dropped into the perceived easier side of the draw in the World Cup, in the last 16 in the Spartak Stadium on Tuesday they come up against a quality Colombian team that includes in-form striker Radamel Falcao.

Colombian boss Jose Pekerman increasinlgy looks likely not be able to call on James Rodiguez for that game – the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner limped out of their win over Senegal – but England will face Colombian record goalscorer Falcao who is bang in form.

Many of the England squad are familiar with 32-year-old Falcao who had unsuccessful loan spells in the Premier League with Manchester United and Chelsea. His former team-mate at Stamford Bridge, Gary Cahill spoke about the striker with the media in the mix-zone last Thursday after their match with Belgium in Kaliningrad that England lost 1-0.

Cahill described Falcao’s time in England as “stop-start” but how he has now found “his goalscoring form again".

"He’s been banging goals in again ever since.”

When on loan from Monaco though, the Colombian striker could only score five Premier League goals – four from his 26 games with Manchester United and just a solitary strike from ten appearances with Chelsea.

“Sometimes, you don’t get loads of opportunities," said Cahill. "You’re in for one or two games, then you’re out or not even given a full 90 minutes, that was his frustration (at Chelsea). 

“He never really got up and running, or got a good spell of games back-to-back to find form.”

Returning to Monaco, his form has also returned earning him a Ballon d’Or nomination. He was top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals from 29 appearances, helping the Principality to the French title. He scored another 18 domestic goals last season as Monaco finished runners up to PSG.

“He’s scored many, many goals. We were on the end of a hat-trick in the Super Cup, so he’s a goalscorer,” said Cahill who was on the losing Chelsea team in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup against Atletico Madrid.

“He had a difficult time in England but showed his character when he went to find his form again. He is a huge player for Colombia. Everyone knows him. Everyone is well aware of him and his ability.”

Falcao scored the second goal for Los Cafetoros in their 3-0 win over Poland. They lost their opening group game to Japan but an earlu red card certainly influenced the outcome of that match. 

It meant a nervous game with Senegal in their final group game. Back-to-back clean sheets and Yerry Mina’s match winner 16 minutes from time were enough to take them through as group winners and the much anticipated last 16 tie with England.

¡Gol de Colombia!
: 69’
Anota Falcao García.
Colombia 2 - Polonia 0#POLCOL#MiCorazónTricolor#Rusia2018pic.twitter.com/TtPvY2W31r

— Selección Colombia (@FCFSeleccionCol) June 24, 2018