COMMENT: If the absence of hit man Radamel Falcao was a worry for Colombia, James Rodriguez has made his AS Monaco teammate a distant memory for his nation at this World Cup.
The Colombian attacker scored both goals in his country's 2-0 victory over Uruguay in their round of 16 match to secure their date with Brazil in the quarter finals.
James broke the deadlock with a moment of magic that is being celebrated by many as goal of the tournament. He would double his side's advantage five minutes into the second half as compatriot Juan Cuadrado's reverse header provided an easy finish.
The performance turned in by the former FC Porto star shows he has become the figurehead of Colombia's World Cup voyage. It is through his creativity and unpredictability on the field that Colombia are now in the final eight. He can both finish and create chances - currently sitting as top scorer in the World Cup with five goals as well as having made four assists in his four appearances. His speed and agility when on the ball is what makes him dangerous, as he flies past defenders and stings the goalkeeper like a hornet.
Although he is the poster boy for his nation, James' recent rich vein of form has also rubbed off on teammates Juan Cuadrado and Jackson Martinez. Cuadrado and Martinez have both made a significant impact along with James in Brazil. Together the trio spearhead a Colombian strike force as good as anything in Brazil.
At the age of 22, James Rodriguez still hasn't reached his potential. This is terrifying, as in his first World Cup he is proving an exciting trailblazer.
Felipe Scolari will no doubt have his Brazil defence focused on the Monaco attacker in their quarter final clash, but given his current mood, James will not be tamed easily.
