C stands for Colombia and control. C is also for Cote D’Ivoire and capitulation.
Group C was one of the unheralded groups of this World Cup, but it will go down as the tightest and it will be unmatched for the drama that it produced at the very last moment.
History was created as a defensive Greece side crept into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time after the most dramatic of finales against Ivory Coast as Georgios Samaras converted an injury time penalty to send the jubilant Greeks through at the expense of Ivory Coast, who were set for their first foray into the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Runaway favourites for the group Colombia lived up to their billing. Opening with a comprehensive 3-0 win against a poor Greece side led by the energetic Juan Guillermo Cuadrado paved the way to an easy route to a tricky last 16 tie against Uruguay. They followed this victory up with a tight, but deserved win against Ivory Coast to secure qualification before wrapping up events with a comfortable 4-1 win against Japan to deservedly win Group C at a canter.
Japan, considered outsiders for the group opened with a spirited display against the Ivorians but ultimately fell short after two quick-fire goals turned the game on its head. A dour and turgid goalless draw against the ten men of Greece all but ensured their journey home from the tournament as only a remarkable turn of events would have saved them before they were seen off by the Cafeteros in their final game.
Ivory Coast were widely tipped to progress from the group as their ‘Golden Generation’ looked to make their mark on the international stage, but it was not to be as they fell at the very last hurdle. After a less than convincing win over Japan they succumbed to the Cafeteros and knew a draw would be enough against Greece would be enough, something that looked to be more than likely; more about that later.
As for an ageing Greece side, a highly organised defensive outfit started poorly and were blown away by the Colombians before holding on to, what eventually was, a crucial point against Japan with ten men for over half the game.
Second place hinged on the result of Greece-Ivory Coast, and though, at times, it lacked quality it made up for in pure theatre and drama. A first half mistake from Cheick Tiote enabled the Greeks to take the lead and put Greece in line for qualification. With just fifteen minutes to play substitute Wilfried Bony stroked the ball home to turn the table on its head and once more it was Ivory Coast in second until the most dramatic of endings.
In stoppage time, Giovanni Sio brought down Samaras in the box and the veteran forward, who had failed to score in two years for his country, planted his penalty past Boubacar Barry to ensure wild Greek celebrations, leaving the Ivorians crestfallen, and a last 16 tie against surprise Group D winners Costa Rica.
