5IVE: World Cup, Day 6

Things don't get much better for Norway. Philippines make history and land a huge below on the co-hosts, while Colombia impress...

Linda Caicedo shone on her World Cup debut. Image: FIFA

Colombia use their exciting front three to good effect

I wasn't surprised to wake up this morning and see Colombia had beaten Korea Republic.

In the build-up, Colin Bell's Korea Republic side hadn't inspired confidence with their results, despite a top 20 ranking in the world, and I'll come on to some of Bell's quite public post-match comments.

But this is about a Colombia side who were brave, exciting and while offering their opponents moments of hope, fully deserved the three points they took away.

I really like the team's front three, comprising of the experienced Catalina Usme, superstar Linda Caicedo - both of whom were on the scoresheet - and the quietly underrated Levante forward Mayra Ramirez, who admittedly didn't have her best game.

After riding out some early Korea pressure, Colombia put the game to bed with a scinitilating spell before the break as Usme fired home from the spot and Caicedo dazzled some defenders, although her shot from the edge of the box should never have beaten the goalkeeper.

Caicedo was everywhere during an impressive performance, via OPTA

Real Madrid's new star Caicedo was one of the more talked about young players coming into the tournament. The teenager is playing well beyond her years and took to senior World Cup football like a duck to water.

I backed Colombia to get out of this group and while Germany next will be a whole different test, they've put themselves in a group position early on to be best of the rest.

---

Check out over 100 more unique stories in WFC’s Premium section, available for just £45 for 12 months, paid in one go, or a £6 a month rolling subscription.

All subscriptions come with a 7-day free trial to allow you to explore our full archive.

Plus, guarantee you everything that is to come over the next 12 months…

---

Colin Bell makes his frustration clear

Not for the first time this year, Korea Republic coach Colin Bell called on the Korean Football Association to do more to help the national team succeed on the world stage.

A team which has several key players starring in Europe, as well as former Chelsea legend Ji So-yun, Korea Republic is the second seed in this group and a team as mentioned ranked in the top 20 in the world, but Englishman Bell made his frustrations clear at the build-up his team has had to the tournament, and he's not the first head coach to do so.

As he did when I spoke to him in an exclusive interview for WFC earlier this year, Bell discussed the lack of intensity in training and matches in Korea's domestic league, where a large percentage of his players play their football.

"People need to start listening in South Korea" was a comment which bore the frustration of a coach who clearly feels his constant pleas for improvements are falling on deaf ears.

Korea Republic weren't bad necessarily. They enjoyed good swathes of possession and created chances, ending the game particularly strong, but they did appear to lack the intensity of their opponents as Colombia scored twice in 10 minutes to put the game beyond Bell's side.

There appears to be a disconnect between the national team and domestic sides and one which they will need to fix if they are to fulfil their potential on the world stage.