World Cup 2018 is now just a matter of days away and several major contenders have already landed in Russia after they completed their final warm-up matches.

But how are they shaping up? Which players are in form and will the head coaches be forced into any last-minute tactical tweaks?

Here, we review where Colombia find themselves ahead of Tuesday’s Group H-opener against Japan at Mordovia Arena:

FRIENDLY RESULTS

Colombia’s preparations have been alarming. A flat 0-0 draw on June 1 against Egypt in Italy was meant to be followed by at least one more friendly. Yet, games with Greece and Uzbekistan fell through leading to a scratch match with Genoa’s Under-19s. This means 18 days will have gone by without a fixture, prior to Tuesday’s Group H-opener versus Japan.

WHO IS IN FORM AND WHO IS IN A SLUMP?

First-choice left-back Frank Fabra of Boca Juniors will be absent after suffering a serious knee injury. AC Milan centre-back Cristian Zapata and Deportivo Cali veteran Abel Aguilar also missed much of the camp. The 2014 quarter-finalists must hope a lack of activity doesn’t hamper stars such as Monaco striker Radamel Falcao, 32, eager to play his first World Cup.

TACTICAL TWEAKS

Coach Jose Pekerman’s faith in the old guard is being tested. Deportivo Cali’s Aguilar made seven starts in qualifying, but his spot in the centre-midfield pairing of the 4-2-3-1 formation alongside Espanyol’s Carlos Sanchez is threatened by Levante’s Jefferson Lerma. Barcelona’s Yerry Mina and Tottenham’s superb Davinson Sanchez should keep out Zapata.

BURNING QUESTION

Even though Falcao remains one of Europe’s most-lethal strikers, as 24 goals for Monaco attests last term, a dull air surrounds Colombia. A sterile stalemate against Egypt followed a qualifying run that contained just 21 goals in 18 matches – 2014 hero James Rodriguez scored six of them. Can the likes of Club America winger Mateus Uribe ease the burden?