James Rodriguez has targeting helping Colombia record their best-ever FIFA World Cup™ finish in Russia and salivated over a potential clash with Germany in the knockout phase.

A Rodriguez double – decorated by the that mind-blowing FIFA Puskás Award winner – powered Colombia past Uruguay and into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time at Brazil 2014, where they lost 2-1 to Brazil despite the goal that won their No10 the adidas Golden Boot. And the attacking midfielder sees no reason Colombia can’t go at least one better in Eastern Europe.

"I want to have a good World Cup and help my team-mates get to the semi-finals or the Final,” Rodriguez told the Bundesliga’s official website. “Why not?"

Colombia face Japan, Poland and Senegal in Group H. The prospect of facing Germany, where Rodriguez has been based in 2017/18 with Bayern Munich, excites the 26-year-old who has already played club football in six countries. Colombia and Germany could potentially meet in the quarter-finals or Final.

“It would be great, said Rodriguez. “But that's a long way away – we need to take things step by step.”

Rodriguez’s 21 goals in 62 internationals have him third on Colombia’s list of all-time leading marksmen, behind Falcao (29 goals) and Arnoldo Iguaran (25).

Rene Higuita, who kept goal for Colombia at Italy 1990, recently hailed Rodriguez as “the complete player” in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

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