Time is now for Colombia

Colombia star Fredy Guarin believes the time is right for his nation to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1998.

Leonel Alvarez’s team do not play on Friday due to Brazil’s absence from the competition and will open their quest to qualify for the tournament in 2014 against Bolivia in La Paz on Tuesday.

And Porto star Guarin is confident that the side can end their lengthy exclusion from football’s showpiece event.

“Our time is now,” Guarin told El Espectador. “We are already living the World Cup, right from this debut.”

“It is a process which will give us the confidence to say that it has been positive, but Brazil 2014 is on the horizon right from this first match. The illusion, desire and the dreams are shared by everyone.”

Alvarez will coach his first competitive game on Tuesday after taking over for Hernan Gomez, who quit in controversial circumstances last year.

But Guarin was at pains to point out that the change of coach has not been accompanied by any upheaval in the squad.

“We have not noticed any changes. Leonel has the same knowledge that Hernan left us and we understand him well,” Guarin said.

“It is simply a case of accepting what he wants and taking it on the pitch.”

Colombia’s last competitive outing was in the Copa America, where they went down 2-0 after extra time to Peru after topping Group A.