Lorenzo’s team can secure a place in the Copa America quarterfinals and face Brazil without pressure.
By:
Futbolred Editorial Team
June 27, 2024, 09:21 p.m.
The Colombian National Team faces Costa Rica this Friday (5:00 pm Colombian time), a tough and challenging rival that can clarify much about the future of Group D of the 2024 Copa América.
The last thing that can happen now is to get overconfident, despite the good debut against Paraguay (2-1): “We know that Costa Rica is a tough opponent and that they come with the need to win. We must be focused and play with intelligence to ensure the classification as soon as possible,” warned coach Néstor Lorenzo.
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Colombia selection
Rather than a team that looks threatening in its early stages, it will be a low block, a closed team that will have to be deciphered with patience so as not to have a bad time in hot Glendale, Arizona, and not arrive needing results at the close, on July 2, against Brazil.
Get out the calculator
What does Colombia need in this second day of group D? Basically win. With 6 points they will be in the quarterfinals of the Copa América without much regard for what happens in the last match, which is precisely against Brazil.
Of course, adding in that last duel will ensure first place in the area and that, knowing that the rival in the quarterfinals will leave group C, where Uruguay is presumed to be first classified, would be really convenient. Today the discussion would be between the United States and the surprising Panama.
And if they draw? Colombia would have 4 points and that would still be positive, but it would mean they would have to avoid losing to the Brazilians, a situation that would complicate a possible plan for Lorenzo to rest for some of the players.
Although you don’t even want to think about it, it must be said that a defeat would leave the tricolor with 3 points and the urgent need to add to Brazil, but depending on other people’s results. In this undesirable scenario, what would help is for Brazil and Paraguay to tie to maintain the option of being first until the end and for the goal difference to have some weight.
