Everton agreeing terms with Carloz Sanchez - but ...........

There is nothing spectacular, nothing jaw-dropping about Carlos Sánchez. His contributions to Colombia’s progress to Saturday’s quarter-final with Brazil have been as understated as James Rodríguez’s have been amazing.


But by quietly shutting down the attacks of Greece, Ivory Coast and Uruguay he has been fundamental to Colombia’s success.


Sánchez closes off angles, he spreads the ball wide, he is the pivot in the middle to switch the ball from defence to attack. He has lived up to his nickname of “The Rock”.


The defensive midfielder, now 28, moved to Spanish club Elche from Valenciennes last year and has interested Seville. But his path to international success has not been smooth.


When then-coach Jorge Luis Pinto called up Sánchez to the national side in 2007, many in the press asked one question: “Who is he?”


The Quibdó native is one of the few players of his generation not developed in Colombia and his emergence in the national team was one of the biggest surprises of the past few years.

Sánchez left Colombia at 17 and headed to a club known for developing talent in the southern cone of South America, Uruguayan side Danubio.

In his two years there, he was unable to break into the squad and saw another youngster emerge and then end up as an international superstar – Edinson Cavani.

Sánchez then headed to another Uruguayan side, River Plate, where he started to earn status in a side who quickly became league and cup contenders.

His performances earned him the chance to head to French side Valenciennes, where he immediately made an impact with the team.

From that point he became better known in Colombia and, alongside Edwin Valencia and Fredy Guarín, was seen as one of the pillars of the midfield in the team’s recovery.

He became one of José Pékerman’s go-to players from the beginning of his tenure back in 2012.

During this time The Rock has become much smoother. He is more polished and flowing in his play and has simplified his game to make it much easier for his team to come out from the back.

That was why there was no hesitation for the Argentine coach to bring in his destroyer in the middle to play alongside Abel Aguilar as part as one of the most solid spines in this World Cup.

Sánchez will be the man Colombia will want to slow down Neymar and Brazil.

At the Arena Castelao Sánchez will earn his 49th cap for Los Cafeteros but is ready to help the Colombians get to even higher ground and reach his half-century while still in Brazil.