Falcao, who is a key player for Colombia and scored nine goals in 13 matches in qualifying, damaged an anterior cruciate ligament in January, while was playing for Monaco in the French Cup. He had a surgery but a recovery in time for the finals was always likely to be a long shot and medical staff had decided that he is not fit enough to play any meaningful part in the tournament. Falcao said, according to the Colombian newspaper El Pais: “I was very excited but now I’ll have to support the team from afar and I wish them well, hoping they play a good World Cup.”

After taking the tough decision José Pékerman called it “the saddest day I’ve had, since I became Colombia coach”.