Fifa World Cup 2014: Colombia coach urges calm after group win

Cuiaba, Brazil: Coach Jose Pekerman urged caution on Tuesday when asked whether his side could be the best Colombia team ever after they stormed into the World Cup knockout phase and set up a last-16 tie with Uruguay.

The South American side beat Japan 4-1 in Cuiaba to add gloss to a successful group stage that also included a 3-0 win against Greece and a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

Pekerman, who led his native Argentina to the quarter-finals in 2006, said Colombia — featuring at their first World Cup since 1998 — were a “tight group”.

“My players know that they have to play at a very intense pace. They need intensity, they need to concentrate on very little details. They must be able to play together, and they all have to be ready,” he said.

Uruguay stand in the way of the best-ever showing at a World Cup for Colombia, whose last-16 performance in Italy in 1990 was the only other time they have made it out of the group stage. That flair-packed team boasted the likes of Rene Higuita and Carlos Valderrama.

When asked whether his side could be the best in the country’s history, Pekerman said he did not like comparisons.

“People remember that time because it was wonderful, it was beautiful, it was something very special and it proved what Colombia can do,” he said.

“Our team is playing well, is playing at the World Cup after a long time. But I think we have to concentrate on what we do.

“We still have to improve, we still have to keep working hard. What’s important is that we have very young players, and that’s important in my opinion for a World Cup, because that means we have more potential for the future.”

Pekerman said Uruguay would be a tough team to beat even though they could be without Luis Suarez, at the centre of a new biting storm.

“I haven’t really analysed what we’re going to do against Uruguay but I know we’re going to face one of the biggest and most important teams in South America and in the world,” he said.

“They always play well. They have a very good and rich history.”

The teams will meet at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Jackson Martinez’s two second-half goals broke Japanese hearts after the Blue Samurai had equalised on the stroke of half-time to keep their hopes alive.

Colombia took the lead against the run of play when Adrian Ramos was upended by Yasuyuki Konna as he burst into the penalty area, earning the defender a booking. Juan Cuadrado converted from the spot in the 17th minute to put Colombia 1-0 in front.

Japan responded when Shinji Okazaki scored with an impressive diving header from Honda’s teasing left-footed cross.

Pekerman brought on Carlos Carbonero and James Rodriguez to replace Cuadrado and Juan Quintero at the start of the second half. Monaco forward Rodriguez, who has shone in Brazil in the absence of his club teammate Radamel Falcao, immediately looked dangerous and after 10 minutes helped Martinez fire Colombia in front.

With just eight minutes to go of normal time, Martinez kept his composure in the box after a rapid break, firing past Eiji Kawashima for his second goal.

Rodriguez then burst into the box with seconds to go, producing a deft left-footed chip over the goalkeeper to seal an emphatic win.