Colombia seeks goals, with or without MLS star Ángel

This season's revelation in MLS, Juan Pablo Ángel hasn't suited up for Colombia's national team in more than two years. Ben Radford/Getty Images

MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Tim. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

For months there was speculation that Juan Pablo Ángel's form for the New York Red Bulls had been good enough to win him an international recall. His 19 goals in 24 games this past season certainly made a good case.

Colombia coach Jorge Luis Pinto had made it clear that he was following Ángel's progress. Last week, a day before the squad was announced for the upcoming round of World Cup qualifiers, the Colombian media even published unofficial lists which included his name. But in the end, Ángel was left out.

It must have been a close decision. Colombia has two vital games coming up, at home against Venezuela and Argentina. And if it's to make it to its first World Cup since 1998, it has to score more goals.

With a large, soccer-crazy population and plenty of urban centers, Colombia is the South American country with the most potential to mount a long-term challenge to Brazil and Argentina. Indeed, in the late 1980s and '90s it looked as if the process might already be taking place, especially when its outstanding team revolving around the midfield talents of Carlos Valderrama won an extraordinary 5-0 victory at Argentina in a World Cup qualifier.

On the back of that result, Colombia was picked out among the favorites for the '94 World Cup in the U.S. But history reveals it turned out to be a case of too much, too soon. Unprepared for the pressures of living on such a pedestal, Colombia plunged tragically off it -- and ever since it has had problems getting back on track and redefining its soccer identity.

Even so, the Colombians only narrowly missed out on a place in the last two World Cups. Both times they were just a fraction away from finishing in front of Uruguay and making it to a playoff against Australia. In the '02 qualifiers, they finished even on points with Uruguay, but had a goal difference that was just one goal inferior.

Four years later, goal difference was no problem: Columbia was a massive 13 goals better than the Uruguayans. The problem this time was that Uruguay finished one point in front.

This wouldn't have been the case if, at a vital moment in the proceedings, Ángel had demonstrated the coolness in front of goal that has captivated New York fans over the past Major League Soccer season.

In the penultimate game of the marathon '06 campaign, Colombia was tied 1-1 at home with Chile. Toward the end of the match, Ángel had a clean breakaway. Had he scored, Colombia would have been in the driver's seat for that playoff place. He struck wide, and Uruguay was in once again.

Two rounds into the current campaign, the Colombians are more confident -- despite what they see as a handicap imposed by the fixture list. The order of matches is exactly the same as for the previous two campaigns. Colombia tried to get this changed, but was outvoted.

The problem, from its point of view, is the difficult start: at home to Brazil and then away to Bolivia at the extreme altitude of La Paz in the opening two games, with Argentina then coming in the next pair of matches. Such a tricky schedule means the team runs the risk of playing catch-up right from the early stages.

This time, though, Colombia has gotten out of the blocks quite well. It was the superior side against both Brazil and Bolivia, and deserved better than two 0-0 draws. But therein lies the problem -- it failed to score both times.

It was then that the speculation began that the class and experience of Ángel might make a difference. But not being called up this time means that the MLS-based striker faces a real battle to resume his international career. He's already 32, and after this month's doubleheader, South America's World Cup qualifiers shut down until next June.

Instead, the baton has passed to a younger generation. All four strikers named in Pinto's squad came through Colombia's '05 Under-20 side that -- admittedly, with home-field advantage -- became South American champions.

There is the thoroughbred Radamel Falcao García of Argentine powerhouse River Plate, who has emerged over the past 18 months and looks set for global stardom. There is the strong, rangy Wason Rentería, impressive in both last month's matches. There is '05 hero Hugo Rodallega, a nippy, wiry attacker. And there is Dayro Moreno who, nowadays, is a taker of chances as well as someone who sets them up from the wing.

The pressure is on them Saturday, when they take on Venezuela in Bogota. In the last campaign, they lost this fixture 1-0 for their third successive defeat, which left their qualification hopes in disarray.

This time, with two points already in the bag, a win will leave them well placed in the table, and will also ease the pressure for next Tuesday's visit from Argentina. Providing they beat Venezuela, it won't be a disaster if they lose to Lionel Messi -- another graduate of the '05 South American Under-20 Championships -- three days later.

When the campaign started, the consensus in the Colombian media was that four points from this year's four games wouldn't be a bad start. Five points will make them happy; eight points will leave them feeling touched by the hand of an angel, if not the Red Bulls' variety.