Falcão García detonates Colombian football after elimination from the World Cup: "Shame"

Colombia left the World Cup undefeated in regulation time, but with yet another painful elimination on penalties. The former striker and top scorer in the history of the Colombian national team, Radamel Falcão García, spared no criticism after the defeat.

The South Americans were eliminated in the round of 16, on Tuesday (7), after losing 4-3 to Switzerland in a penalty shootout, following a goalless draw in Vancouver. The result ended Colombia's dream of reaching the quarter-finals.

This was another Colombia elimination decided on penalties. The country also fell in this way in the 2018 World Cup and in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Copa América.

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Acting as a commentator for ESPN during the tournament, Falcão stated that the defeat exposed structural problems in Colombian football.

"It's a shame because of the chances we had; we didn't know how to take advantage of them. In a competition like this, the opponents don't forgive, and once again we were eliminated on penalties, as has happened so many other times."

The former player defended profound changes in both the clubs and the national team.

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"We need to work better on our football, at clubs and at national level. We have to pay close attention to this, because we have already accumulated too many disappointments."

Folcao then directed criticism at the Colombian championship, which has only 36 professional clubs - 20 in the first division and 16 in the second.

"Our training programs need to improve. It is unacceptable that there is no third division."

"It's a shame that our football has little competitiveness and encourages mediocrity and accommodation, with clubs that don't invest because they know they won't be relegated."

Colombia finished the group stage at the top of Group K, after beating Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and drawing with Portugal. In the next phase, they eliminated Ghana before falling to Switzerland.

Despite the frustration, midfielder Jhon Arias adopted a more optimistic speech.

"If there is something that defines us, it is the ability to get up. I hope this is a new beginning, that will take us until the last day of the competition. We have had enough of always hitting the goal post."

For the first time, the quarterfinals of the World Cup are without Brazil, Germany and Italy

Source: CNN