Senegal vs Colombia: Like he did in the Premier League Radamel Falcao struggles with his lines on the big stage, scouting report

The Colombia captain will get another last chance to star on the big stage thanks to Yerry Mina's winner

Before this summer, the biggest global audience Radamel Falcao had shown himself on had been the Premier League and, for two seasons, he had shown himself up. It was a sad sight, El Tigre, as he is known in Colombia, without his claws to bare, being bullied by players far inferior to him. His time at Manchester United and Chelsea was one of the great disappointments of the Premier League.

In hindsight, it was hardly a surprise Falcao’s time in England was as such. He had just missed the 2014 World Cup where Colombia had delighted and James Rodriguez had usurped him as the nation’s darling, whose goalscoring had filled the void Falcao’s cruciate knee ligament injury had created.

But in Russia this summer, at 32 years old, Falcao finally made his World Cup debut, and as captain as well. But against Senegal Colombia were once again forced to face a World Cup without their best player, although this time it was Rodriguez who was leaving a void to be filled.

The game became a mirror of the 2014, except it was more a distorted mirror like those found at a theme park or carnival. Colombia were not looking like they were four years ago.

Falcao was taking the physical hits from Senegal, cleverly winning a free-kick on the edge of the area after being wiped out by Kalidou Koulibaly, much like he had done against Japan in the Group H opener. This time though, there was no genius under-the-fall free-kick from Juan Quintero to match it.

Drawing these fouls became the biggest outlet for Falcao and Colombia, dropping deep from his usual position on the last man to try and create some space in behind him. Without Rodriguez, the Monaco forward no longer had his wingman who is usually so instrumental in helping him convert, or vice versa.

Colombia's forward Falcao reacts during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group H football match between Senegal and Colombia (AFP/Getty Images)

In truth, Falcao’s loss of the bite on the international stage that earned him the Tigre pseudonym had gone at the same time as his cruciate ligament and it showed. He managed only two goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches Colombia.

In the two seasons since returning from his second Premier League audition with Chelsea, he has managed 39 goals on the smaller stage of Ligue 1 with Monaco, but with Colombia it is a different story as he plays a more regal, even ambassadorial, role as the lone striker.

Thanks to Poland’s victory over Japan, and Yerry Mina’s powerful header, he will have at least one more opportunity on the biggest stage of them all. And at 32 years old, it will be his last unless he remembers his lines.