By Sportswriter Michael Place
KAZAN, Russia, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Maybe Colombia supporters knew what was coming as they cheerily sang and danced to the rhythm of a Latin-flavored marching band outside Kazan Arena before kickoff.
That salsa-infused revelry was soon on display by fans inside the stadium as Colombia put their World Cup campaign back on track with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Poland on Sunday.
It was nothing less than Colombia needed after a 2-1 loss to Japan in their opening match of the tournament.
By no means have the Cafeteros secured a place in the round of 16; they will likely need to win their final group match against Senegal on Thursday to do that.
But suddenly Colombia resemble the effervescent side that reached the quarterfinals in Brazil four years ago. And perhaps even a little more.
It must be said that Poland provided feeble opposition. It was revealing to hear their talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski, who cut a forlorn figure throughout the game, tell Polish TV afterwards that "fighting is not enough to win World Cup matches when you don't have quality."
Even so, there is plenty for Colombia coach Jose Pekerman to be pleased about.
For a start, James Rodriguez showed that he is no longer troubled by a calf problem that forced him to begin the match against Japan on the bench.
The Bayern Munich playmaker, who won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup, was at his best here, laying off two sublime assists and providing the midfield drive that was lacking in the tournament opener.
Juan Cuadrado, benched early against Japan in a sacrificial move after Carlos Sanchez was sent off, also showed his worth. The Juventus winger's presence along the right flank posed a constant threat to Poland's defence and he was rewarded for his efforts by scoring Colombia's third goal.
Juan Quintero, considered lucky by some to have been included in Pekerman's squad, continued to vindicate the coach's faith in him. The River Plate midfielder followed up his impressive outing against the Blue Samurai with another influential performance in an advanced playmaking role alongside Rodriguez. His through pass that set up Radamel Falcao for Colombia's second goal was of the highest quality.
Which brings us to Falcao. The Monaco striker's cool finish was his first World Cup goal and the emotion-charged celebration that followed - as he looked skyward before being mobbed by teammates - showed just how much it meant to him. Falcao cruelly missed the 2014 World Cup because of a serious knee injury and even Poland fans could not have begrudged him his moment here.
Throughout the second-half, television cameras repeatedly panned to former Colombia stars Carlos Valderrama and Rene Higuita, all high-fives and hugs in the stands.
One senses that after a slow start here, the feel-good story of the 2014 World Cup is about to acquire a new chapter.
