Miguel Borja’s present in River Plate, where he has accumulated 22 goals in 25 games during 2024, did not go unnoticed in the Colombian National Teamand the coach Nestor Lorenzo He called him up for the friendlies before the United States and Bolivia, prior to the America Cup.
This Monday, at a press conference, the Argentine technical director referred to the summons of Colibrí, who had not been called up in his entire cycle, which began in mid-2022: “I have known him since the time with José (Pékerman), since a long time ago. And I always said that he was not a player that I had to see or try because I knew him. Taking advantage of his good moment, we believe that he can contribute goals to the National Team, so he is going to compete, he has a lot of competition“.
“I always ask journalists, it is good for them to ask for players because I understand that it is part of managing public opinion, but it would also be good for them to say who is leaving, because one would like to have many more players here and be able to choose. If I call 40, 41 would be in disagreement. When a player comes in, another has to come out, keep that in mind because sometimes it seems that the one who is there is criticized to ask for the one who is not there,” he concluded.
The competition that the coach mentions is, neither more nor less, than Luis Díaz (Liverpool), Jhon Jáder Durán (Aston Villa), Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth), Rafael Santos Borré (Internacional) and Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar), who They also make up the list of 28 for the matches prior to the continental competition.
The one born in Tierralta 31 years ago, who has just scored a hat-trick against Tigre in the Monumental, accumulates 8 goals in 27 games in the senior Colombian National Teamwith whom he has not played since March 2022, with Reinaldo Rueda as coach.
In River, the former Deportivo Cali, Cúcuta, Cortuluá, La Equidad, Livorno, Olimpo, Independiente Santa Fe, Atlético Nacional -they were champions of America in 2016-, Palmeiras, Junior and Gremio accumulate 45 goals in 87 games (50 starts).
Upcoming friendly games
“We are in a process where the beginning was fundamental in assembling the group, the players know it. So as we said years ago, we are going to face these games calmly, the first match is against the United States and we are going to play with the greater seriousness and serious preparation as before the Copa América”.
Those summoned for the friendlies
“Here we have a microcycle prior to the Copa América that is two games and we always have to be prepared for any eventuality, God willing that something doesn’t happen with the issue of injuries. If I say that there is overpopulation in some positions I don’t want them to reach be speculations. I want the players to compete, to show themselves and obviously we will choose the best, those who can perform in various positions. There are many variables that will make the final decision on that list complex.”
The list of those called up for the Copa América
“With respect to the group, everyone knows well that the final list for the Copa América has not yet been defined, precisely that same day that we play against Bolivia we must give the list of 26 and in case of any eventuality we are going to wait until the last minute. group knows that being here is already a source of pride for them. There are other guys who could have been there quietly who are out for different reasons, because of the physical or technical aspect and because of the competition that exists in a position.”
The challenges of the Colombian National Team
“The way to compete is to go game by game, not to think that what we already did was enough, no, here we are not satisfied. As long as the team continues to grow in its performance, in its variants and the possibility that we have to choose the different players, we do not live from the memory, nor from what has not happened in terms of the result.
The high competition of Colombian players
“There is a lot of competition, the regulation happens because the squads are larger. You have to put together well, especially in a team due to the number of competitions. As for the National Team, it was always the same. The South American teams run with the disadvantage that the Players have to cross the ocean, 6 or 7 hours of time difference, play on Sunday, then on Tuesday It is not easy, it is for all of South America, we have it a little digested But it is true that sometimes the player gets it. in many aspects, it is also asked in terms of performance.
