The Colombian National Team fulfilled its debut in the Copa América 2024 and with goals from Daniel Muñoz and Jefferson Lerma added its first three points in the group D. The national team defeated a brave Paraguay with a score of 2-1. The result is essential to achieve first place and advance to the next phase. Coach Néstor Lorenzo turns the page and his eyes are placed on the Costa Rica National Team led by Gustavo Alfaro, rival of the second date.
On paper, he is a tough rival. and it seems that Alfaro is going for the victory against Colombia. The draw against Brazil in the debut (0-0) gives encouragement to Costa Rica and now they dream of taking away the undefeated record from the Colombian team, which in addition to preparing for the game with the Central Americans, is suffering another problem in the United States that is seriously affecting to the players.
In the last hours, Some players from the Colombian National Team reported that they live “hell” in the United States due to high temperatures. For example, Jhon Durán revealed that the climate is much stronger than the heat that occurs in the city of Barranquilla. For example, in Phoenix, site of the match against Costa Rica, A high of 40°C is expected on June 27.
Excessive heat is presented as a problem to be solved in the Colombian National Team. The players hope to adapt as soon as possible to avoid problems of this type before and during the game that will be played at State Farm Stadium. On Friday, June 28, 2024, match day, a maximum temperature of 44° is expected.
Colombian national team complains about high temperatures in the United States
“The temperature here is very high, even higher than in Barranquilla and we have worked very well to move this forward, this here is hell, I have never felt so hot before,” Jhon Durán told reporters.
According to reports, training had to be postponed until late at night due to excessive heat in this area of the United States. According to journalist Lizeth Durán, even being 7:00 pm, the temperatures are quite high.
“I have never experienced such heat. Not even in Tierra Alta at 1 in the afternoon”
Miguel Ángel Borja.
It should be remembered that a linesman collapsed during the match between Canada and Peru last Tuesday due to intense heat. The Colombian team is awaiting the measures provided by Conmebol for this crucial commitment for group D and prepares all possible adaptation to avoid further inconveniences.
Lucumí’s injury, one of Colombia’s problems in the Copa América
During the game against Paraguay, the only bad news around the Colombian team was the injury of a fundamental player in the defensive zone. Jhon Lucumí is a key footballer in defense and maintains a great projection in international football. He joined the Colombian National Team after having a great season in Italy’s Serie A with Bologna.
He started against Paraguay in Houston, but had to leave due to injury in the first half. In the midst of tears and anger, the center-back left the field and now the alarms are going off, Well, the situation with Jhon Lucumí could escalate.
Fire alarm in Houston that affected Colombia
Journalist Sebastián Vargas from Caracol Radio was one of the people who recounted the scare that the Colombian players went through. on the night of June 25 at the hotel where the Colombian National Team was staying in Houston.
“The fire alarms went off. The firemen, who here (in the United States) are very agile, arrived very quickly because someone in the hotel decided to push the button and, obviously, the players were already resting in their rooms. Those who were sleeping were stuck to the ceiling and those who were resting were scared. And even more so the national team security, because any problem with the players they run immediately. That was the scare for the players,” said the journalist.
James and Lorenzo reveal the problems with the United States courts that affect Colombia
Midfielder James Rodríguez in the mixed zone, after the game in Houston, revealed the hard inconvenience that the team endured at the NGR Stadium against Paraguay. A complaint that was also echoed by coach Néstor Lorenzo in the press conference.
“The pitch wasn’t helping much, it was dry, they put down a strange mat. I don’t know. The conditions of the pitches aren’t very good and that also influences the game being very friction-filled,” said James Rodríguez in the mixed zone.
Everything happens due to the poor condition of the grass, not only from NGR Stadium, but from several fields in the United States. It is worth remembering that Emiliano Martínez and Lionel Scaloni, in the midst of their Copa América debut, revealed the problem that was harming the Argentine National Team against Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“Today’s problem was because of the playing field, the players complained that the ball was not running. In some spaces the ball bounced and in others it did not bounce. They planted the grass panels 4 or 5 days ago, the synthetic is still below and it is a strange thing,” Lorenzo pointed out at a press conference.
