Daniel Muñoz of Colombia celebrates with teammate Luis Díaz after scoring the team’s first goal during the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024 Group D match between Colombia and Paraguay at NRG Stadium on June 24, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
Photo: Getty Images via AFP – LOGAN RIELY
Colombia’s national team, coached by Néstor Lorenzo, will be looking to qualify early for the quarterfinals of the Copa América and extend its streak of 24 consecutive games without losing when it faces Costa Rica on Friday, motivated after causing Brazil to stumble.
An eventual victory in the sweltering heat of Glendale, Arizona, would not only send the tricolor into the next round, but would also leave them well positioned to seal the first phase at the top of Group D, above the light-coloured ‘Seleção’.
But it has been proven that making happy predictions against the Ticos is not a good idea. Owners of the youngest squad in the United States 2024 and in the process of renewal, they used the usual ultra-defensive formula of their coach, the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, to ruin the debut of the five-time world champions (0-0) of Vinicius Jr.
Will James Rodriguez, Luis Diaz and company be able to blow up the Central American wall? At State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the final word will be given this Friday starting at 5:00 pm with Gol Caracol broadcast.
Doubt in the tricolor defense
With some suffering in the final stretch of the game, Colombia beat Paraguay 2-1 in its debut on Monday in Houston, Texas, its first barrier on the way to its second title in the oldest national team tournament in the world, after the erected at home in 2001.
However, they paid a high price for getting closer to their record of invincibility (27 games, between 1992 and 1994): centre-back John Lucumí suffered a muscle injury in his left leg and is a serious doubt for the match that will open the second day of Group D.
Between Yerry Mina, who replaced him against the Paraguayans, with a weak performance, and Carlos Cuesta, the new piece of a defense that showed shortcomings would emerge.
But as long as James’ left foot is connected to the mischief and speed of Díaz, Liverpool star, Colombia promises to cause problems at the State Farm Stadium, with capacity for 63,400 spectators, which has air conditioning to cope with the high temperatures of Arizona .
“James is always crouching to get there. Apart from having the power to make the route, he reads the game well,” Lorenzo highlighted. “Lucho is a player whose ideal is to go one-on-one with an opposing player.”
For another surprise
The Costa Rican mission to neutralize Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Endrick on Monday in Inglewood, California, was successful, especially due to superlative performances from little-known names: goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira, who plays in the Spanish third division, and promising defender Jeyland Mitchell, from Alajuelense.
But Lorenzo’s Colombia has more filming than Dorival Júnior’s ‘Canarinha’, which is currently under construction.
The strategy of defending the zero at all costs and coming out alive can hardly be successful again, recognized Alfaro, aware that he needs to play with his most advanced lines and oil his attack to try to hurt the coffee growers.
“We have to focus more on the offensive part because line by line we are good,” defensive midfielder Jefferson Brenes said.
Now without the men who put it on the international radar, Costa Rica needs to add to reach the last day, in which it will clash with last-place Paraguay, with good chances of advancing to the quarterfinals in its sixth Copa América, the first since 2016.
Brazilians and Paraguayans will also close the second date of Group D on Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada at 8:00 p.m.
Probable lineups:
Colombia: Camilo Vargas – Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Yerry Mina, Johan Mojica – Richard Ríos, Jefferson Lerma – Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz – Rafael Santos Borré. DT: Nestor Lorenzo.
Costa Rica: Patrick Sequeira – Haxzel Quiros, Jeyland Mitchell, Juan Pablo Vargas, Francisco Calvo, Ariel Lassiter – Orlando Galo, Jefferson Brenes, Brandon Aguilera – Alvaro Zamora, Manfred Ugalde. DT: Gustavo Alfaro.
