Colombia will play the most important match of their qualifying campaign when they take on Bolivia in a crucial CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier.

Colombia currently have four points heading into week five of qualifiers. The team has fallen far in its most recent games. Despite having a major chance to win at home over Argentina, the team struggled mightily and wound up blowing a key opportunity to move into a coveted top five spot.

Wrong Strategy for Colombia

Colombia's main problem is a questionable system that has focused heavily on possession soccer instead of the quick transition game that made the team so effective in the 2014 World Cup.

Colombia's daring offense, known for its quick creativity and lightning counter, has slowed to a crawl. Opposing teams have packed their defensive areas to impede Colombian progress. The Colombians, for all their talent, simply do not have players capable of playing in tight spaces the way a Spanish or Argentine team can.

Trouble With James Rodriguez

James Rodriguez is at the center of this issue too. Despite his best efforts, he is not the player he once was in 2014-15. Since the Copa America, he has looked confused on the pitch. He lacks any support from the attackers. This has also impacted his performance at Real Madrid, where he has now been relegated to the bench. His future with the mighty club hangs in the balance.

Rodriguez is the heart and soul of Colombia, and it is absolutely essential that he get back into a rhythm for his national squad if Colombia has any hopes of proceeding to the World Cup in 2018.

For a while Colombia was seen as a favorite to lift the trophy in that tournament, but poor performance might demand a new coach who is willing to revert to the team's old strategies that were so successful. Jose Pekerman has not shown himself to be such a coach.

Bolivia poses an impressive threat, as the team will get to play at high altitude in La Paz for this match. Bolivia trails Colombia by one point in this competition and could easily overtake the Colombians with a win on home pitch. Colombia has a record of one win, three draws and one defeat in World Cup qualifiers that take place in Bolivia.

Prediction: Colombia manages a 1-1 draw. Rodriguez has some success setting up the lone goal for Los Cafeteros.

Start Time: 4 p.m. ET

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