Colombia Copa America 2024 squad guide: Will fearsome form translate into a championship mentality?

Colombia’s livewire winger Arias won the Copa Libertadores in 2023 (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)Strengths

Lorenzo has carried out some tactical adjustments, making Colombia more direct. This team still wants to keep the ball but with Diaz always ready to run and two aggressive attacking full-backs, Colombia has a dimension of verticality that had been missing previously. 

Additionally, Colombia is scoring again. Having gone nearly 700 minutes without a goal during the 2022 World Cup qualifying cycle, in recent friendlies they have scored three against Mexico and Romania, and five against the USMNT.

Colombia is also stronger defensively. A younger and more agile center-back pairing of Carlos Cuesta (Genk) and Jhon Lucumi (Bologna) have adjusted well to the pressure of being their country’s last line of defense. 

Meanwhile, Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace) has become one of South America’s most consistent full-backs. The 28-year-old is a relentless defender, with the stamina that’s needed to attack an opposing team’s left side. His goal against Spain in a March friendly played in his new hometown of London was a testament to that. 

Munoz joined Palace in January (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)Weaknesses

Despite a national team replete with European-based players (only one player from the squad plays in the Colombian league), Colombia still battles against its history at major tournaments.

The previous Copa America in 2021 was yet another example of them coming up short on the big stage, as they finished third after losing to eventual champions Argentina in a semifinal penalty shootout. The lack of a championship mindset continues to leave Colombia in the second-best category among South America’s top teams.

Tactically, they can be exposed in central midfield. Lorenzo believes 32-year-old James Rodriguez can still be Colombia’s talisman a decade on from his starring role at the 2014 World Cup but the playmaking No 10 will not be counted on to track an opposing midfield runner. 

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The thing you didn’t know

Last November, Luis Diaz’s father was released by left-wing guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN) following 13 days in captivity. After he was liberated, Luis Manuel, affectionately known as Mane, became a symbol of hope for Colombia.

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One week after being reunited with his family, Mane attended Colombia’s pivotal home World Cup qualifier against Brazil. Inspired, his son scored two goals and willed Colombia to a 2-1 home win in Barranquilla.

Images of Mane’s tearful celebrations flooded social media.

It was a touching moment that quickly became the meme of choice throughout Colombia. Mane nearly collapsed from the joy of his son’s performance. The image of Mane being held up by family members after Diaz’s 79th-minute winner took on a life of its own. 

El éxtasis de Santa Teresa / Mane Díaz pic.twitter.com/zRkxQtjqz8

— Diam (@DiamandDM) November 17, 2023

The majority of the memes were based around Colombian pop culture but in the end, it solidified the elder Diaz as another star of this national team. 

Expectations back home

There’s a lot of optimism about this team. Diaz (Liverpool) is a true global star and a game-changing presence any national team would covet. Rodriguez still has the ability to open up a defense with this vision and clinical passing. When he wears the Colombia shirt, the former Real Madrid No 10 plays at another level. 

Overall, Colombia is a solid side from top to bottom. Their harshest critics back home have issued an ultimatum: either win the Copa America or accept a role as a second-rate side when compared to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Again, history is not on Colombia’s side when it comes to elevated expectations. The scars from the 1994 World Cup, also in the U.S., in which Colombia was deemed favorites but finished last in their group with two defeats in the three matches, remain unhealed. Colombia won its lone Copa America in 2001, as the hosts against a weakened field (Argentina withdrew late on over security concerns). They reached the semifinals of the 2016 and 2021 tournaments.

The time is now for Colombia to showcase the talent it possesses and lift a trophy against the best in the region.

Colombia’s Copa America squad

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Al Nassr), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), Alvaro Montero (Millonarios)

Defenders: Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray), Santiago Arias (Bahia), Yerry Mina (Cagliari), Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace), Johan Mojica (Villarreal), Jhon Lucumi (Bologna), Carlos Cuesta (Genk), Deiver Machado (Lens)

Midfielders: James Rodriguez (Sao Paulo), Mateus Uribe (Al Sadd), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing Club), Jorge Carrascal (Dynamo Moscow), Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Kevin Castaño (Krasnodar), Richard Rios (Palmeiras), Yaser Asprilla (Watford)

Forwards: Luis Diaz (Liverpool), Rafael Santos Borré (Internacional), Miguel Borja (River Plate), Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth), Jhon Durán (Aston Villa), Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar).

(Top photos: Getty Images; design: John Bradford)

Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5549480/2024/06/16/colombia-copa-america-2024-squad-guide/

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Publish date : 2024-06-16 06:25:09

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