Colombia end a 16-year wait for a World Cup appearance with what should be a hard-fought match against defence-minded Greece, who will be looking to catch los Cafeteros on the break and enjoy a positive start to the tournament.

Colombia may have missed the last three World Cup finals, but they qualified for the 2014 tournament in style, finishing the campaign just two points behind leaders Argentina.

Jose Pekerman and the entire nation were then left to rue season-ending injury to Radamel Falcao, who had scored nine goals during the qualifying campaign.

The Monaco star were eventually ruled out of the tournament, with midfielder Aldo Ramirez later forced to withdraw as well.

Nonetheless, with so much talent in all areas of the squad, los Cafeteros arrive in Brazil in confident mood, and they have not been made group favourites by mistake.

Colombia will not have an easy job in their opening fixture against Greece, but they are available at 1.91 (10/11) to emerge victorious.

Los Cafeteros are unbeaten in last seven games and they will be eager to extend the good run of results at Estadio Governador Magalhaes Pinto.

Boss Jose Pekerman has no fresh injury worries, but key midfielder Fredy Guarin misses out through suspension.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-2-1): Ospina – Zuniga, Zapata, Yepes, Armero – Aguilar, Eder Alvarez, Sanchez – Rodriguez, Cuadrado – Gutierrez.

Greece have come a long way since their maiden appearance at the World Cup back in 1994, when they not only lost all group games, but failed to register a single goal while conceding ten.

Ethniki have since won the Euro 2004, while reaching the quarter-finals at Euro 2012, but they could not get past the group stage at the 2010 World Cup.

It is, therefore, not surprising they hope to go one step further this time out and Greece do look a good bet to progress from Group C at odds of 3.20 (11/5).

Goalless draws in friendlies against Portugal and Nigeria went to suggest Ethniki would again be extremely difficult to beat, and they are 3.75 (11/4) to prevent Colombia from scoring as well.

Greece managed to beat Bolivia in their final warm-up fixture and everything suggests most players that started the game will feature against los Cafeteros as well.

Only Kostas Mitroglou is likely to be recalled, while Sokratis Papastathopoulos should start as well after missing the Bolivia clash with a back problem.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-2-1): Karnezis – Torosidis, Manolas, Papastathopoulos, Holebas – Maniatis, Katsouranis, Kone – Salpingidis, Samaras – Mitroglou.