On July 12, Spanish newspaper AS wrote an article commenting on the scorching form of Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez.
For some players, nothing is more invigorating than playing for their country, and James Rodriguez is one such player. At club level, Rodriguez has played 22 games for Sao Paulo, contributing only 2 goals and 4 assists, but at the national team level, he is a fierce predator displaying his attacking prowess.
In this Copa America, Rodriguez has already provided 6 assists, making him the player with the most assists in a single Copa America since 2011. In addition to this, he has delivered 12 key passes and 17 final third passes, and completed 23 shots while creating 8 goals, making Rodriguez once again the center of attention in the football world. He is the undisputed core of Colombia.
We have every reason to anticipate that with such outstanding statistics, Rodriguez could become the game-changer in this final and ultimately lead Colombia to the golden championship badge.
It’s worth noting that Rodriguez’s performances at club and national team levels are worlds apart. A player adept at delivering the final pass, Rodriguez has previously played for top clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Now reborn, can he return to one of Europe’s top five leagues? In modern football, which places greater emphasis on physicality and speed, will there still be room for traditional number 10s like Rodriguez in the top five European leagues?