The numbers support the Colombian team that wants to remain unstoppable and reach the quarterfinals against its rival today (5:00 pm), a Costa Rica that He gained confidence and announced that he will play without fearon the second day of Group D of the Copa América. The meeting between the nationals and ‘la Sele’ is scheduled at the State Farm Stadium, in Glendale (Arizona, United States).
Colombian center back Jhon Lucumí, from Italian Bologna, will not be in the game, as he is recovering from a muscle injury, so Cagliari’s Yerry Mina will once again partner Dávinson Sánchez in defence.
In the midfield Richard Ríos, from Palmeiras, will follow and a great performance against Paraguay, who came out beaten in the last match, just like Jéfferson Lerma and James Rodríguez, but none without major complications.
Colombia seeks to consolidate its position in first place in Group D, remain undefeated and advance to the quarterfinals, something that Gustavo Alfaro’s team wants to prevent at all costs, as they hope to pull off another upset and stay in the competition organized by Conmebol.
The team of Néstor Lorenzo has gone 24 games unbeaten with 19 wins and five draws, while Costa Rica has gone four games without losing and has drawn against rivals of the caliber of Brazil and Uruguay.
Costa Rica’s best results in the Copa América were the quarterfinals reached in 2001, when Colombia was champion, and in the 2004 edition.
In quadrangular D, those led by Lorenzo lead with 3 points and ‘the Ticos’ are third with 1, like Brazil, which will also face Paraguay today at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (8:00 pm).
Colombians beat ‘La Albirroja’ 2-1 in Houston and ‘La Sele’ drew a historic 0-0 against ‘La Canarinha’ in California and became the second Concacaf team to keep a clean sheet against the five-time world champion.
Costa Rica promises to play without fear against a rival that it has only beaten once in four Copa matches. That 0-0 draw with Brazil gave it wings and it dreams of beating the team of James, Luis Díaz and company that has nine consecutive victories.
With a new squad, Alfaro prepares the new ‘Tica’ blood for the Concacaf Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup that will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. His figure, Manfred Ugalde, forward for Spartak Moscow, is their highest-value player on the market, valued at 7.5 million euros.
In the last 60 years, Colombia has only lost one match against Costa Rica, when it fell 2-3 in the 2016 Copa América del Centenario that was played in the United States. Now everything is focused on knowing if Alfaro’s ‘La Sele’ will do its thing again in the competition or if it is Lorenzo’s Colombia that wins without any excuses.
The data
The temperatures felt in Glendale will be essential in the game, as they exceed 40°.
A yellow tide is expected on the stage with the presence of Colombian fans.
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