The first sports ground ever built was by the ancient Mayans amidst the pyramids of the astounding city of Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.
This Seventh Wonder Of The World, constructed in the year 600 AD, was unearthed with the Great Ball Court in remarkably preserved condition.
At 168x70m it remains the largest sports field in the Americas. Chiselled slabs of rock provided tiers of seating for fans. At each end stood a basketball ring through which goals were scored.
To the captains of winning teams went the supreme prize – that of being ceremonially beheaded on the centre spot.
James Rodriguez is a national idol in Colombia having won 74 caps
They happily accepted this honour in the belief that the health and fortunes of their future families would flourish from his blood in the sand.
A modern day World Cup football captain suffered a somewhat similar but less willing fate.
Andres Escobar was the idolised captain of Colombia at the 1994 finals in the USA as one of the favorites following a 5-0 victory over Argentina in qualifying.
An own goal by Escobar in shock defeat by the host nation in the Pasadena Rose Bowl was key to Colombia going out early.
The captain returned to his home town of Medellin, a hub of drugs trafficking. On the night of July 2 he was gunned down in the parking lot of a bar. The hit was thought to have been ordered by a drugs cartel boss who had lost a massive bet on the match.
Now, after a lengthy World Cup slump, Colombia come to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca chanting ‘we’re back.’
The revived optimism centres around their present captain and a superstar who both spent time on Merseyside.
Luis Diaz has struck up a productive relationship with Harry Kane at Bayern Munich
James Rodriguez has been the ball-playing leader of a pack of talented Colombians for the best part of two decades.
His dazzling skills and stunning goals have given him the idolatry of his nation despite an uneven multi-club career which included an erratic spell of just six goals in only 23 games at Everton.
Luis Diaz ended a somewhat underachieving time at Liverpool by leaving for Bayern Munich where, as goal provider in chief for Harry Kane, he has become one of the best, if not the best, wingers in the world.
Rodriguez admits: ‘At 34 I will have to assess how many minutes in a match I can give my best. Maybe the whole game. Maybe making an impact off the bench. My body will tell me.’
Either way he, Diaz and their team-mates should be far too strong for Uzbekistan on their World Cup finals debut. Even though they are managed by Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro.
