Everything is ready for the debut of the Colombian team in the 48th edition of the Copa América, which is being held in the United States. The Tricolor, under the guidance of Néstor Lorenzo, will have a tough test against its counterpart from Paraguay at the NGR Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The coffee team arrives at the oldest national team competition in the world with great expectations, since he is undefeated in 23 games, 21 of them in the Lorenzo erawhich has led the press to put Colombia among the candidates to win the title.
Now you can follow us on our WhatsApp Channel
Likewise, fans of the yellow jersey are very excited about the role that the team can play on North American soil, where Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay start as favorites along with Colombia, which dreams of lifting its second Copa América.
In the memory of Colombian fans there still remain memories of Colombia’s only consecration at the continental level in 2001. That team led by Francisco Pacho Maturana brought joy to the country that was going through difficult times at the expense of the armed conflict.
That Colombia team, which conquered America at the beginning of the 21st century, was facing a renewal process after the golden generation that marked an era in the 90s. With players like Mario Alberto Yepes, Elkin Murillo, Totone Grisales, Iván Ramiro Córdoba, Jairo Tiger Castillo, Iván López, among others, the Tricolor made history.
The presentation of the Colombian team in the 2001 Copa América was not only historic for the title, it was also historic for the numbers that supported the Colombian team. Pacho Maturana, who won all the games without conceding goals and left Víctor Hugo Aristizábal as the top scorer of the tournament with six goals.
One of the outstanding figures of that Colombian team, champion of the continent, was Iván López, a right back with a starting point and a great technical gesture, who due to life events took place in the starting line-up against Mexico after Jersson González’s injury; However, the Bogota native did not look out of place and was equal to the situation.
At about 65 minutes, Paraguayan referee Ubaldo Aquino called a foul for Colombia on the right side, which Iván López was in charge of executing at the express request of Maturana. The 23-year-old player complied with his coach’s order, and he did so with solvency, given that he launched a formidable charge for his namesake, which he combed with his head to overcome Oscar’s resistance. Rabbit Perez.
Almost 23 years after that feat, the former player, who in addition to Santa Fe, defended the shirts of América de Cali, Millonarios, Atlético Bucaramanga and Deportivo Azogues of Ecuador, referred to Néstor Lorenzo’s Colombia team.
During the presentation of the book Great Infographic History of the Copa América 2016-2024, written by sports journalist Pablo García, Iván López chatted with Infobae Colombia about his expectations regarding the Tricolor and shared some anecdotes about the title won in 2001.
First of all, López called for calm and assured that Colombia must go game by game, lowering the pressure a little for those who consider the Colombian team as a candidate to win the Copa América. Likewise, he highlighted the team that Néstor Lorenzo has, which does not prevent him from getting excited.
Regarding the Copa América title in 2001, he said: “The feeling at that moment of a match and a rival as strong as Mexico was hard, because when we scored that goal we rested a little, because the pressure and desire we had at the time of playing it and being able to achieve it was enormous.”.
And he added: “I couldn’t rest that day, normally one takes a nap, but I couldn’t do it because of the feeling I had, because of the adrenaline I had at that moment, because of what was at stake. Apart from the joy, it was satisfaction not only for us as players, but for the Colombian people, for what we were experiencing (…) it only remains to tell the boys that the wishes are the best and that they can achieve something for Colombia.”
