Colombia will arrive in the USA this summer season considered the fourth favourites to elevate the Copa America trophy, however ought to extra individuals be keeping track of Néstor Lorenzo’s males?
Los Cafeteros are one of many hottest nationwide groups on the planet at current as they’re undefeated in 23 matches and have gained their final eight in a row.
That continued all through their pre-tournament friendlies as Colombia hammered each the USA and Bolivia respectively, placing 5 previous America and netting three in opposition to their South American counterparts.
Lorenzo’s group additionally sit third in CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying, successful three and drawing the others after six video games. All this makes Colombia darkish horses to elevate Copa America this summer season.
The largest impediment in Los Cafeteros’ approach of reaching that is their potential run to the ultimate. If issues play out on paper as individuals would anticipate, the 2001 winners must overcome the three different favourites to win the South American match for simply the second time.
That will make issues additional particular for the nation and are value watching all through the approaching month.
Earlier Copa America end
In 2021, Colombia got here very near successful Copa America because it could possibly be argued that Argentina’s Emi Martinez is what stopped them from lifting the trophy for a second time.
Los Cafeteros began the match slowly, ending third of their group with only one win out of 4 matches, which got here throughout their first match in opposition to Ecuador. That created a tricky path to the ultimate for Reinaldo Rueda’s group and so they virtually overcame it.
The quarter-finals pitted Colombia in opposition to Uruguay, which they gained 4-2 on penalties following a cagey 0-0 draw. Their reward? Argentina, and after working very onerous to earn a 1-1 with the eventual champions, the Coffeemakers had been knocked out on penalties after some Emi Martinez heroics.
A 3-2 win over Peru of their last sport of Copa America 2021 earned them a third-place end, which is the least they deserved for his or her efforts.
Colombia’s 2024 Copa America squad
Colombia aren’t a squad affected by well-known stars however they’re better than the sum of their elements.
Names similar to Luis Diaz, David Ospina, Yerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez, Daniel Munoz, James Rodriguez, Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Duran and Luis Sinisterra can be recognized to Premier League followers; nonetheless, most of those gamers aren’t lighting it up each week at their golf equipment.
Liverpool’s Diaz is definitely the principle man for Colombia, however control Crystal Palace’s Munoz, who has been electrical at Selhurst Park since transferring to the South London membership this yr. The total-back has the identical affect along with his nationwide group and is an enormous risk in a group with plenty of verticality.
Goalkeepers
David Ospina (Al Nassr), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), Alvaro Montero (Millonarios)
Defenders
Carlos Cuesta (Genk), Jhon Lucumi (Bologna), Santiago Arias (Bahia), Yerry Mina (Cagliari), Johan Mojica (Osasuna), Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace), Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray), Deiver Machado (Lens)
Midfielders
Kevin Castano (Krasnodar), Richard Rios (Palmeiras), Jorge Carrascal (Dynamo Moscow), James Rodriguez (Sao Paulo), Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Mateus Uribe (Al Sadd), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing), Yaser Asprilla (Watford)
Forwards
Luis Diaz (Liverpool), Miguel Borja (River Plate), Jhon Duran (Aston Villa), Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth), Rafael Santos Borre (Internacional), Jhon Cordoba (Krasnodar)
Anticipated beginning 11
Colombia have been lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation underneath Néstor Lorenzo and that didn’t change throughout their pre-tournament friendlies.
The 2001 champions can be sturdy defensively and depend on Liverpool’s Luis Diaz to offer a spark up high, much like his position within the 2021 version of the match.
The beneath line-up is how Colombia might begin the match in opposition to Paraguay, with one or two positions open to vary.
Key participant
Luis Diaz
A variety of Colombia’s hopes relaxation on the shoulders of their largest star, Luis Diaz. The Liverpool man had a combined season at Anfield however will all the time be a risk given his pace and tenacity. The winger completed the marketing campaign with 13 targets and 5 assists to his identify throughout 51 matches, however followers of the Premier League membership would have anticipated extra.
A giant motive for this could possibly be attributed to a serious second within the footballer’s life as his dad and mom had been kidnapped mid-season in October. It’s unknown how a lot that situation affected the 27-year-old and if Colombia do win Copa America, it will likely be much more particular given what Diaz has been by means of.
The winger was distinctive in the course of the 2021 version of the competitors as he completed joint high goalscorer with 4 targets, nonetheless, the Colombian achieved this having performed solely 5 video games – two lower than Lionel Messi and Gianluca Lapadula.
Diaz is predicted to have an identical affect this summer season in the USA and received on the scoresheet final day trip in opposition to Bolivia.
This summer season has the potential to be a particular one for Colombia and in the event that they go on to win their second Copa America, Dias will virtually definitely be the protagonist.
Predicted end for Colombia
Ought to Colombia stay as much as their darkish horse tag to win Copa America this summer season, Lorenzo’s males can have a really robust run to glory ought to every thing play out the way in which it’s speculated to on paper.
Los Cafeteros are in a gaggle with Brazil, Paraguay and Costa Rica, which they’re anticipated to get out of. Profitable it might make an enormous distinction to Colombia’s marketing campaign, however they’re prone to end behind Brazil.
Ought to that occur that may arrange a possible repeat of their 2021 Copa America quarter-final conflict with Uruguay. Marcelo Bielsa’s group are very sturdy and will get revenge for his or her defeat three years in the past inflicting Colombia to exit the competitors on the quarter-final stage. That will be an enormous disappointment for the Coffeemakers, however that’s how the draw is typically.
Ought to they proceed down this route, they may face Brazil once more within the semis and can then have to beat the defending champions Argentina within the last. As beforehand talked about, Colombia’s path to glory could be very tough, however Lorenzo’s males have the potential to attain this and are definitely the darkish horses in the USA this summer season.
