Fans who watched the 2014 World Cup will remember just how effective James Rodriguez was for Colombia in 2014. Rodriguez made a big impression so much so that Real Madrid quickly swooped him up as the latest addition to their roster.
A lot has happened since James’ fairytale run: his Real Madrid honeymoon quickly turned south, and he was found to be an imperfect fit for the Galacticos. These turbulent trials James experienced in his club career has led many a people to ask this one question.
Is James Rodriguez still a giant threat to oppositions in the World Cup?
A Shot at Glory
James showcased in Porto, where he scored 32 goals in three seasons. He was then picked up by Ligue 1 side Monaco. He stacked an impressive stat line in his lone campaign in the French top flight: he got nine goals and 12 assists while playing behind fellow Colombian Radamel Falcao.
However, not much attention was given to him until the 2014 FIFA World Cup began its festivities. The then-22-year-old immediately made his impact known in the competition, scoring five goals in only four appearances. He led the Cafeteros to their first quarter-finals in history, and pundits praised him as one of the best in the tournament.
He played his best football in that tournament, which convinced Real Madrid President Florentino Perez to make a move on the hot commodity that is James Rodriguez.
Trouble in Paradise
The Santiago Bernabeu was ecstatic after acquiring Rodriguez for €75million as Rodriguez just came off a very successful stint in the World Cup. He immediately showed his value in the 2014/15 campaign, scoring 13 goals and supplying 13 assists to help Los Blancos finish second on the table, only behind Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.
However, the Colombian star struggled to follow through his fantastic debut season for Madrid. Rafa Benitez left James on the bench in favour of Casemiro in the 2015/16 season, drawing a lot of flak from the stands. When he did play during one of the yearly El Clasico matches, Real Madrid were obliterated to the tune of 4-0.
He did not see much improvement in his playing time under Zinedine Zidane. The Frenchman chose to field Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo on the attack, while Casemiro kept his spot at midfield.
What made matters worse for him was the lack of confidence Zizou had for him. There was never any assurance that he would eventually see playing time under Zidane, and his exclusion from the 2017 Champions League finals was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
A Beautiful Resurgence
He wanted to get more playing time, and the top brass eventually loaned him off to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich. Ronaldo was reportedly upset that the Colombian was let go, and James made sure that the Portugal captain’s feelings were justified.
While opportunities in a stacked team are still hard to come by, James more than made his worth to the club that got him. He scored seven goals and dished out 11 assists in his 18 appearances, meaning that he practically contributed in every game he was featured in. Moreover, he was instrumental in Bayern’s title-clinching victory against FC Augsburg.
In an interesting twist of fate, James played against the club that didn’t want him in the Champions League. While they lost the aggregate series, James scored one for Bayern to end the second leg of the semi-finals in a 2-2 draw.
Looking to the Future
Of course, the biggest, most immediate concern for James moving forward is the World Cup. He is hard-pressed to replicate the brilliant form that got Real Madrid spending considerable money four years ago, and he will likely be hungry to prove that.
He is still the best player on a squad that features names such as Falcao, Juan Cuadrado, David Ospina and Cristian Zapata. The Colombian attack will naturally revolve around him, and it is up to him to ensure that the country at least makes it back to the World Cup quarterfinal.
I believe that he is more than capable of doing that, and I explained my case in a previous piece. He will also want to perform well here if he is looking to move out of Real Madrid. Liverpool are looking for a replacement to Philippe Coutinho, and rumours are floating around that he wants to join Manchester United.
Even if the rumours weren’t there, James Rodriguez knows that the coming World Cup is an important tournament to win. Not only will it bring glory to his native Colombia, it will also cement him as a quality player that Zizou allowed out of the Bernabeu. If he dominates top World Cup teams the same way he did in 2014, the inevitable axe the Frenchman will receive is more than justified.
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