The “Cafeteros” debut in the 2024 Copa America with a victory. The left-handed playmaker made two assists and was one of the protagonists of the match.
In a match in which Luis Diaz (27) could have scored a brace (and even a hat-trick), magic, precision and quality met again with a player questioned for his irregularity, for his attitude in some moments of the his career and for his defensive work. James Rodriguez, player of Sao Paulo in Brazil and former midfielder of European teams such as Real Madrid, Bayern, Porto or Everton, was thetasked with changing the image of the Colombian national team in the first half hour of the match.
Guarani pressure
Although the “Cafeteros” started better, Paraguay, with a high pressing that suffocated the Colombian central defenders, managed to disturb the maneuver of the team led by Néstor Lorenzo. Luis Díaz, author of an illusory dribble during a counterattack, had too many ‘Guaraní’ shirts on, while James, in an isolated play, broke free, threw a pass behind the opposing defense and assisted Daniel Muñoz (28) to 32nd minute.
The goal was a watershed moment for Colombia’s match. The “Cafeteros” relaxed, even if Paraguay continued to do their typical things: pressing, hitting, biting but, equally, without worrying the goal defended by Camilo Vargas (35).
Not content with having provided the assist for the first goal, Rodriguez, on a cross from the right, passed the ball to Jefferson Lerma (29) in the 42nd minute to make it 2-0, so the Colombians went into halftime with a convenient advantage.
After the break, Paraguay improved. The Guaraní took advantage of the Colombians’ “relaxation” and scored in the 69th minute. Julián Enciso (20), the best of the Paraguayans, made it 2-1 after a defensive error by Johan Mojica (31).
Towards the end, the referee awarded a penalty. He thought there was a foul on Yerry Mina in the penalty area. VAR later helped him change his decision.
Accidents
Regardless of the result, two injuries worry Colombia fans. On the one hand, Bologna defender John Lucumí (25) came off with a muscle soreness in the first half. Yerry Mina from Cagliari came in to replace him. On the other hand, Jefferson Lerma, scorer of the second goal and one of the pillars of the cafetero midfield, also had physical problems in the final stages of the match. Matheus Uribe, a former Porto player who currently plays for Al-Saad in Qatar, has come in to replace him.
Néstor Lorenzo has a number of substitutes in the team. Lucumí, however, is perhaps Colombia’s best central defender. Lerma is an experienced player who had minutes at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and has established himself as an important player in the “Tricolor”.
