He Who Must Not Be Exempted
Indeed he is a man capable to changing a particular game with goals and galore being a major part of his footballing philosophy. His goal tally for FC Porto speaks for the threat he will bring as the Copa America head closer. We often associate the likes of Wayne Rooney, David Villa and Didier Drogba when we speak about great strikers. But Falcao has often lived behind the shadows of these players and the man that scored goals for River Plate like nobody's business probably has done enough to raise a few million eyebrows that constantly follow the beautiful game.
Despite being goal scoring striker for his club, seven successful strikes in 28 attempts will attract widespread criticism on his inability to convert his club-form for his national team- a 'disease' that seems to be perplexing lots of players that belong to the newer generation. Nevertheless, the Copa America represents a golden chance for Falcao to establish himself internationally. All he needs is support from midfield and you can be pretty sure that the man will tuck in goals.
Lowlights And Highlights
Lowlights
2007 Copa America: Falcao was already being regarded as the next Colombian football star at this time but an injury plagued season with River Plate saw his place in the Colombian National Team get under threat. Subsequently, Falcao was not named in their Copa America squad as Colombia went on, only to exit in the group stages after three defeats from three matches.
2009 World Cup Qualifier: Colombia needed a win in order to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup alive and Falcao was being touted as their best hope of inspiring them to a win. However, a poor outing for him summarized a terrible day for Colombia as they were beaten 4-2 by Chile- a defeat which successfully ended their chances of making the cut in South Africa.
Highlights
2007 Friendly Match vs Montenegro: Falcao scored his first international goal for Colombia in a friendly match against Montenegro in 2007. The simple fact that made his first goal a sweeter one was that it arrived after an injury-plagued season with River Plate prior to that.
Awards
Below is a short list of the awards that Falcao has bestowed with over the years:
- Part of the Dream Team of America (South America 2007)
- Top Scorer (Taca de Portugal 2009-2010)
- Best Goal (UEFA Champions League 2009-2010)
- Best Player (UEFA Europa League Final 2010-2011)
Strength And Weaknesses
Falcao is undoubtedly an out and out centre-forward with a sharp eye for goal. The ex-River Plate man is known for his terrific tactical awareness inside penalty box, which explains his goal-scoring record. Falcao is strong on both his foot and does pose significant threat when it comes to aerial battle. A few crosses into Falcao's path and he will definitely score at least one. However, speed isn't something embedded in him and assist from faster players are needed to showcase his talent. The video attached below provides some detail look into his fantastic capabilities.
Current Form And Condition
His form is indeed unquestionable after coming through a spectacular treble-winning season with FC Porto. Falcao even broke Jurgen Klinsmann's record for the most number of goals in a UEFA Cup/Europa League campaign with 17 strikes last season. However, his condition could be a key factor since Porto were heavily involved in all fronts until the end of the season. His lethargic body could prove to be troublesome but again, great strikers can do their job anytime, anywhere.
