Teofilo Gutierrez
With Radamel Falcao out, Colombia need Teofilo Gutierrez to show the sparkling form he displayed in the qualifiers and shun an impetuous streak that led him to walk out on teams in Turkey, Argentina and Mexico.
Gutierrez was a perfect foil to Falcao, scoring six goals as Colombia finished second in the South American qualifying group.
Gutierrez, who is gradually finding his scoring touch with River Plate in Argentina, will be under extra pressure if Falcao does not recover from surgery in time, even if there are able reserves in Jackson Martinez and Carlos Bacca.
Falcao was the man his country was banking on for success in their first finals since 1998 and he had struck up a good partnership with "Teo" under Argentine coach Jose Pekerman.
Perhaps Gutierrez's bad behaviour can be blamed on homesickness as he appears far more settled when back in his home town of Barranquilla on Colombia's northern Caribbean coast, where his first club Atletico Junior and Colombia play their home matches.
That is what Colombia fans dream of seeing from him in Brazil as Gutierrez looks to add to his 11 international goals, starting with the group matches against Greece, Ivory Coast and Asian champions Japan.
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