Colombia still needs to improve after defeating Poland – Jose Pekerman

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said his team still needed to improve despite the resumption of their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 defeat of Poland at the Kazan Arena. Sunday.

After a surprising opening in Japan, the emphatic victory revived memories of Colombia's sparkling style in the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago.

With James Rodriguez and Juan Quintero providing the midfield ammunition and the all-time leading scorer Radamel Falcao opening his World Cup account, the Colombians have dismantled a physical but limited team from Poland.

Pekerman however knows that there is still a lot of work to be done, with a win over Senegal at Samara on Thursday, necessary to guarantee the Group H pass to the round of 32.

"This victory will make us stronger," Argentina said at a press conference. "The level of our physical condition is improving and today, from beginning to end, we have remained faithful to this style.

"But we are not going to go crazy, mentally we are in a good position but we must continue to improve because we are ambitious and we want to continue in this World Cup as we hoped.

Pekerman paid tribute to the legion of fans in yellow shirts who screamed hoarsely in support of their team at the Kazan Arena, and many more in. Colombia.

He also took the time to remember defender Carlos Sanchez, whose third minute red card for a deliberate handball contributed greatly to Japan's 2-1 defeat.

"He's had a lot of trouble in recent days," said Pekerman. "We wanted to share this victory with him, I express it personally, but it's something everyone feels."

Echoing the assassination of Colombian defender Andres Escobar following his own goal at the 1994 World Cup, police in the South American country are investigating death threats against Sanchez.

"The player has been deeply affected by this affair and I think we all understand that football is really something else," added Pekerman. "These things should not even be said lightly, whether confirmed or not, it's something that is extremely painful."