Noble Colombia

[puma182]

Colombia's captain Cordoba has stated that the playoff no longer holds any interest for his team:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/06/27/colombia_foe/

It shows a lot of sensitivity from them.

Also I haven't seen the Cameroon match where Foe passed away on TV, but from the photos it looked like the Colombian players were the first ones to attend to him and were shouting to the referee to have the game stopped.

I am also curious how "competetive" can Sunday's game be between France and Cameroon now that this has happened. On one hand things like your FIFA ranking are on stake if you are too softie and play with too much empathy chances are you could get some damage done to you, on the other hand how do you put on an agressive streak when there is so much mourning and nobody really wants to "beat" anybody. (not too aggressively anyway).

That's why I am having some doubts as to whether the competition should have gone on. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[andylovesoccer]

yeah, I have a thought

they should have postponed the final/3rd place matches at the least, if not just cancelled them altogether

[lfsr1544]

Originally posted by puma182
Colombia's captain Cordoba has stated that the playoff no longer holds any interest for his team:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/06/27/colombia_foe/

It shows a lot of sensitivity from them.

Also I haven't seen the Cameroon match where Foe passed away on TV, but from the photos it looked like the Colombian players were the first ones to attend to him and were shouting to the referee to have the game stopped.

I am also curious how "competetive" can Sunday's game be between France and Cameroon now that this has happened. On one hand things like your FIFA ranking are on stake if you are too softie and play like amateurs, on the other hand how do you put on an agressive streak when there is so much mourning.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

France will still play at their level. I think that they;ll realize that in order to pay proper respectt, they will both want to show that his death was not in vain and play an amazing match!

[Pibe#10]

Well I said on another post, that France and Cameroon should both share top honors, and for all teams to play but not for places, but in honor of Foe. Then in the next Confed Cup, for France and Cameroon to return as top finishers.

http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/GALERIAS/depo_galerias/copaconfederaciones/IMAGEN/IMAGEN-1147930-0.jpg

Patiño was first to come to his aid after Marc-Vivien collapsed. Then Yepes and Patiño started shouting for Medical help.

[Jon Pall]

I don't want to come across as unfeeling, but I think FIFA was right in not canceling the game. Death is a risk in any sport. Some more than others. Sure Foe's death was tragic, but the game transcends just one player. Someone must take his place and the Final must go on. Cameroon can go and use his death as extra motivation and the French team will play for their country. Just like it should be.

[cl_hanley]

The input I read coming from the Cameroon team was that they felt like they could best honor Foe by playing in the Final. That's good enough for me. Besides, if by some miracle Foe could weigh in on this topic, and he is half the competitor that folks say he is, then he himself would probably say that the show must go on.

As for the Colombian players, they did indeed appear very concerned and distressed by the situation. I had no positive or negative feelings about the Colombian team prior to the tournament, but they showed real class out there.

[Fender playa]

Columbia are probably the most sportsmanlike team i ever saw..what they did...i have to honour them...knowing portugal joao pinto would have probably bitched at the ref for stopping the game...sad aint it..and i support that team..

[burning247]

Originally posted by Fender playa
Columbia are probably the most sportsmanlike team i ever saw..what they did...i have to honour them...knowing portugal joao pinto would have probably bitched at the ref for stopping the game...sad aint it..and i support that team..

yes no offense to South American teams (central American for that matter) but they don't always show much class cough Argentina cough but Columbia are becoming a new favorite of mine not just for their fair play but for their fantastic football they played in the tournament. If they had a better first touch and finishing technique then they'd be giving Brazil a run for their money for Copa America.

[Excape Goat]

It was right for Colombia not to play in a meaningless third place match.

However, for Cameroon, the Final is more important now that a death occurred. The game itself is a tribute to Foe. I still recalled what Loyola Marymount did for Hank Gathers in NCAA basketball? It is better for Foe that Cameroon wins it for him than walk out for him.

[Pibe#10]

Originally posted by Excape Goat
It was right for Colombia not to play in a meaningless third place match.

I think they will still have the match, it has been scheduled, but probably neither of the teams will play with the same intensity that they would had played under normal circustanses.

[trmbrasil]

"If they had a better first touch and finishing technique then they'd be giving Brazil a run for their money for Copa America."


Ummm...Isn't Colombia the reigning Copa America chamipon, hence their appearance at CC?

[graywolfe81]

I want to just echo the sentiments expressed in this thread. I also had no particular feelings for Colombia one way or the other, beyond sympathy for their country and the recent tragedies that have continued to cause so much harm to it's people and its development.

But in this tournament the team played terrific soccer, besting New Zealand, outplaying France, and playing a beautiful game against Japan as well. They were terrific against Cameroon as well, but when it came down to it and what mattered most, they were all class in dealing with the Foe situation, coming to his side when he fell, and then coming to the Cameroon players on the field and in the locker room after the game to express their sorrow and sympathy for Foe, his family, his teammates and Cameroon. They were world class, and deserve all the props in the world.