TO less than one week from the debut of the Colombian National Team in the Copa América 2024, the atmosphere in the team is positive and full of optimism, with 23 consecutive games without losing and having won the last friendlies by a landslide against the United States and Bolivia. Fairly, In the meeting with those from the highlands, James Rodríguez reached the centenary of matches and has received all kinds of tributes and recognitions.
Since the publications and details from the Colombian Football Federation, through messages from FIFA, having a t-shirt and a special captain’s band with the 100receiving ovations from ‘la Tricolor’ fans and messages on social networks from family, friends, colleagues and people who know his football process closely.
AND In a recent interview he gave for the official channel of the FCF, he told what he feels, after more than a decade with the Colombian National Team., wear the shirt, be the leader and have the performance that many demand in clubs. But to enhance his undeniable commitment to the country, he said that phrase that did not go down well in Real Madrid and that reflected that the priority was his national team and not the club to which he belonged.
“I play here until I’m lame”, James Rodríguez’s phrase that is revived in the Copa América 2024
There are many coincidences when hearing this phrase, since in that month of June 2016 the Colombian National Team was also in the United States to face a Copa América, at that time it was the centenary edition. And after that His presence for the second game, against Paraguay, was in doubt due to a shoulder injury that seemed serious.he played and scored a good goal.
Before the Colombian media, when he left the field, with the satisfaction of the 2-1 victory, he explained:
Look, here (in the Colombian National Team), I play until I’m lame. I play lame, I always want to play and I am happy here. I want to help and the goal was scored, we must continue on this good path
For Those who don’t remember, at that time James was not having a good time at Real Madrid, which was managed by Zinedine Zidane, and a controversial event had already occurred in which he traveled to play with ‘la Tricolor’ despite not being fit. Well, that June 8, 2016, with the attention of the Spanish media and the club on him, the left-hander responded without filters and seemed like a challenge.
Well now, 8 years later, just before facing the Paraguayans for a new edition of the oldest national team competition in world football, Rodríguez remembered that episode and reaffirmed himself:
I said a couple of years ago that with this shirt I played even on one leg, even lame, and that’s how it’s always been.
James Rodríguez’s excitement for his 100 games with the Colombian National Team
Leaving aside that memory, which showed that James Rodríguez’s plus with the national shirt was natural and he had looked very good from the first time he wore it, James referred to the coincidence of playing against Bolivia in game 1 (October 11, 2011) and game 100 (June 15, 2024).: “It’s a coincidence for me, it’s a new beginning, the first game was against Bolivia and the 100th game too. There are so many games in the National Teams and, precisely, that happens. I said it before, it’s a new beginning and I’m trusting that”.
David Ospina (129), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (116), Carlos ‘el Pibe’ Valderrama (111), Radamel Falcao García (104) and Mario Alberto Yepes (102), they receive James and He refers to that feeling of pride:
My feelings are unique, I am very happy to reach this important figure, not just any player plays 100 games for his country. Now, I join a very select group, in which only 6 players have been, happy to be in this special group, with great players and excellent people. Completing 100 games with this type of players is something nice
Just as in past processes they did not take Rodríguez into account, due to the lack of rhythm and problems in their clubs, Néstor Lorenzo and his work team have given support to the ’10’ and for that there is a special thanks: “With the coaching staff, who has helped me since they arrived, they know that I love this shirt like no one else. It is a shirt that gives me a lot of good feelings”. Yes indeed, In a controversial and direct response, James himself said that in the clubs he has met expectations:
In the clubs I have also done things well, I have very good numbers, but when they play for your country it is another ‘feeling’, something else, you have to give a little more than what the clubs are. You are playing for your country, for your people
To close and in one of the strongest messages to talk about the future and his legacy in ‘la Tricolor’, James said what he wants to leave with the Colombian fans: “Let them remember that in every game I wanted to give my all for this shirt, I wanted to give everything and, above all, remember me as an excellent person. Those who know me, know what I am like. And in football, I gave everything for this shirt.”.
