The Colombian team started its participation in the 2024 Copa América on the right foot. The eleventh team led by Néstor Lorenzo beat Paraguay 2-1 with goals from Daniel Muñoz and Jefferson Lerma, in a new exhibition by James Rodríguez, who was the great figure of the game after assisting on both occasions.
Although the Paraguayans managed to create uncertainty with Julio Enciso’s goal in the 69th minute, the national team maintained the advantage and even came close to scoring the third goal, after the Argentine central judge Darío Herrara sanctioned a maximum penalty, before reversing his decision a few minutes before the end of the game.
Now you can follow us on our WhatsApp Channel and in Facebook.
So things, The next challenge for the Tricolor will be next Friday, June 28, when they face Costa Ricain a duel that, if won, could leave the Colombian team practically installed in the next round of the continental competition.
However, in the run-up to the match with the team led by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, the national team could face a problem. The curious thing about the case is that the situation is not at all related to the football field.
And since the Copa América began in the United States, The organization decreed that a small vehicle will be “in charge” of carrying the ball to the center of the field of play seconds before the referees call the match to start. However, in one of the matches already played in the competition, that “car” faced a technical problem that prevented it from leaving the field when everything was ready for the start of the tournament.
It was in the duel between Mexico and Jamaica, corresponding to the first date of group B, which The vehicle in question, which is also part of an advertising campaign, could not leave the field of play because it became “stranded.”
According to a video that went viral on social media, thousands of fans were waiting for the start of the match when the car was unable to continue its journey. The situation forced one of the Jamaican national team players to load the car until a Conmebol delegate came to receive it so the match could begin.
So things, The same situation could occur in the duel between Colombians and Costa Ricans on Friday, June 28, a crossing in which the entry of the vehicle would also be agreed upon seconds before the initial whistle.
The closing of the first phase for Colombia will be a stellar duel against Brazil, the five-time world champion. The match will be held at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Tuesday, July 2, starting at 8:00 pm (Colombian time). It is important to highlight that the Tricolor has just beaten Brazil in a qualifying match, held on November 16, 2013 in Barranquilla (2-1).
Regarding the structure of the tournament, the first two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played between Thursday, July 4 and Saturday, July 6. The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10, with the grand final on Sunday, July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Colombia’s group D is made up of Brazil, Paraguay and Costa Rica, posing a competitive scenario to advance to the next phase. In group A are Argentina, Peru, Chile and Canada. Group B includes Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica. Finally, group C is made up of the United States, Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia.
