まもなく開幕する、サッカーワールドカップブラジル大会。日本が入るグループCの最大のライバルと目されているのが、3試合目に戦うコロンビアだ。
コロンビアの選手の中でもっとも日本の脅威になると思われていた、南米予選で9得点の絶対的エース、ファルカオが怪我のためコロンビア代表から落選した。1月に所属クラブの試合で左膝を負傷し、ワールドカップに間に合わせようと懸命の治療が続いたが、回復が間に合わなかったためだ。
落選の日、ファルカオはTwitterに自らの笑顔の写真を公開した。
彼は、こう書いている。
「こんな日でも、僕は笑顔でいられるよ。なぜなら、最後の最後まで諦めなかったから」。
ラダメル・ファルカオ写真集
Colombia v Senegal - FIFA Friendly Match(01 of29)
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - MAY 31: Radamel Falcao of Colombia looks on before the International Friendly Match between Colombia and Senegal at Pedro Bidegain Stadium on May 31, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-WC-2014-COL-PEKERMAN-FALCAO(02 of29)
Colombia\'s national forward Radamel Falcao Garcia (R) speaks next to team coach Jose Pekerman (L), and teammates Amaranto Perea and Luis Muriel (not in frame) during a press conference to announce that all three of them will be out of the list of 23 players for the FIFA World Cup, in Cardales, on June 2, 2014. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Colombia v Senegal - FIFA Friendly Match(03 of29)
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - MAY 31: Radamel Falcao of Colombia runs before the International Friendly Match between Colombia and Senegal at Pedro Bidegain Stadium on May 31, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Colombia v Senegal - FIFA Friendly Match(04 of29)
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - MAY 31: Radamel Falcao of Colombia cheers to the fans before the International Friendly Match between Colombia and Senegal at Pedro Bidegain Stadium on May 31, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Colombia v Senegal - FIFA Friendly Match(05 of29)
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - MAY 31: Radamel Falcao of Colombia looks the ball before the International Friendly Match between Colombia and Senegal at Pedro Bidegain Stadium on May 31, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Gabriel Rossi/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-POR-COL-FALCAO(06 of29)
Colombia\'s President Juan Manuel Santos (R) chats with Colombian football player Radamel Falcao at the Trindade Hospital in Porto on January 25, 2014. Monaco\'s Colombian striker Radamel Falcao requires surgery on the left knee injury picked up in a clash with a school teacher playing for an amateur side in a French Cup tie on January 22 which almost certainly rules the star out of the World Cup. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-POR-COL-FALCAO(07 of29)
Colombia\'s President Juan Manuel Santos (C) chats with Colombian football player Radamel Falcao (L) and his surgeon Jose Carlos Noronha at the Trindade Hospital in Porto on January 25, 2014. Monaco\'s Colombian striker Radamel Falcao requires surgery on the left knee injury picked up in a clash with a school teacher playing for an amateur side in a French Cup tie on January 22 which almost certainly rules the star out of the World Cup. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL RIOPA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-CUP-CHASSELAY-MONACO(08 of29)
A picture taken on January 22, 2014 shows Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao being treated on the pitch after being injuried during the French Cup football match between Chasselay and Monaco at the Gerland stadium in Lyon. Falcao requires surgery on the left knee injury picked up in a clash in the French Cup tie which almost certainly rules the Colombian star out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. AFP PHOTO PHILIPPE MERLE (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE MERLE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-CUP-CHASSELAY-MONACO(09 of29)
Monaco\'s Columbian forward Radamel Falcao (C) is lifted away from the pitch after being injured during the French Cup football match between Chasselay (MDA) and Monaco (ASM) on January 22, 2014 at the Gerland stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE MERLE (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE MERLE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-TOULOUSE-MONACO(10 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao controls the ball during the French L1 football match Toulouse vs Monaco on January 19, 2014 at the municipal stadium in Toulouse. AFP PHOTO / REMY GABALDA (Photo credit should read REMY GABALDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL - FRA - LIGUE1 - TOULOUSE -MONACO(11 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao controls the ball during the French L1 football match Toulouse vs Monaco on January 19, 2014 at the municipal stadium in Toulouse. AFP PHOTO / REMY GABALDA (Photo credit should read REMY GABALDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-TOULOUSE-MONACO(12 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao runs after the ball during the French L1 football match Toulouse vs Monaco on January 19, 2014 at the municipal stadium in Toulouse. AFP PHOTO / REMY GABALDA (Photo credit should read REMY GABALDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-MONTPELLIER-MONACO(13 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (R) vies for the ball with Montpellier\'s French mifielder Morgan Sanson during the French L1 football match Montpellier vs Monaco at Mosson stadium in Montpellier, southern France, on January 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-MONTPELLIER-MONACO(14 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao runs with the ball during the French L1 football match Montpellier vs Monaco on January 10, 2013 at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier, southern France. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-TOULOUSE-MONACO(15 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (R) warms up with team mates before a French L1 football match between Toulouse and Monaco on January 19, 2014 at the Municipal Stadium in Toulouse. AFP PHOTO / REMY GABALDA (Photo credit should read REMY GABALDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AS Monaco Vs Valenciennes In Monaco(16 of29)
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - DECEMBER 20: Monaco\'s foward Radamel Falcao (R) obtains a penalty on Valenciennes\'s defender Saliou Ciss (L) during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco vs Valenciennes at Louis II Stadium on December 20, 2013 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Didier Baverel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-MONACO-VALENCIENNES(17 of29)
Valenciennes\' French goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau saves a penalty kick by Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (back-L) during the French L1 football match between Monaco and Valenciennes at the \'Louis II Stadium\' in Monaco on December 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-MONACO-VALENCIENNES(18 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (R) takes a penalty kick that was saved by Valenciennes\' French goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau during the French L1 football match between Monaco and Valenciennes at the \'Louis II Stadium\' in Monaco on December 20, 2013. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-NANTES-MONACO(19 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao (R) runs with the ball on November 24, 2013 during a French L1 football match against Nantes at the Beaujoire stadium in the western French city of Nantes . AFP PHOTO / JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD (Photo credit should read JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-NANTES-MONACO(20 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao reacts after missing a goal during the French L1 football match Nantes against Monaco on November 24, 2013 at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-NANTES-MONACO(21 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao kicks the ball on November 24, 2013 during a French L1 football match against Nantes at the Beaujoire stadium in the western French city of Nantes . AFP PHOTO / JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD (Photo credit should read JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-NANTES-MONACO(22 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao controls the ball during the French L1 football match Nantes against Monaco on November 24, 2013 at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-NANTES-MONACO(23 of29)
Monaco\'s Colombian forward Radamel Falcao gestures during the French L1 football match Nantes against Monaco on November 24, 2013 at the Beaujoire stadium in Nantes, western France. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER (Photo credit should read DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-WC2014-COL-FALCAO(24 of29)
(FILES) This file picture dated November 14, 2013 shows Colombia\'s forward Radamel Falcao running with the ball during the friendly football match between Belgium and Colombia at King Baudouin stadium in Brussels. Colombia coach Jose Pekerman maintained hopes that star striker Radamel Falcao could make the World Cup finals by naming him in his 30-man provisional squad on May 13, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-WC2014-BEL-COL-FRIENDLY(25 of29)
Colombian\'s forward Radamel Falcao gestures during the friendly football match between Belgium and Colombia at King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-WC2014-BEL-COL-FRIENDLY(26 of29)
Colombia\'s forward Radamel Falcao runs during the friendly football match between Belgium and Colombia at King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2013. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Belgium v Colombia - International Friendly(27 of29)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 14: Radamel Falcao of Columbia celebrates scoring their first goal during the International Friendly match between Belgium and Columbia at King Baudouin Stadium on November 14, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-BEL-COLOMBIA-FRIENDLY-MATCH(28 of29)
Colombian\'s forward Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring during the friendly football match between Belgium and Colombia at King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2013. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / YORICK JANSENS (Photo credit should read YORICK JANSENS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Belgium v Colombia - International Friendly(29 of29)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 14: Radamel Falcao of Colombia (R) celebrates the first goal with Juan Cuadrado (L) during the international friendly match between Belgium and Colombia at King Badouin stadium on November 14, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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