Copa America 2024 Team Previews: Colombia
The 2024 Copa America begins on June 20th in the U.S., with 10 CONMEBOL and six CONCACAF teams set to compete in the tournament. Over the next couple of weeks, we will preview every team playing in the competition. Next up is Colombia.
Colombia is hotter than any team entering the Copa. They are unbeaten in 23 games and have won their last eight games leading up to the tournament, including a 5-1 dismantling of the U.S. earlier in June. After losing to eventual champions Argentina in penalties in the semifinals of the 2021 Copa America, Los Cafeteros will now look to use their red-hot form to propel them to Copa America glory.
Copa America Appearances
This will be Colombia’s 24th Copa America appearance. The first came in 1945.
Best Finish in Copa America
Colombia won its sole Copa America title in 2001 when they hosted the tournament. They also reached the final in 1975.
Key Players
While Colombia might not have as “flashy” of a roster as Argentina or Brazil, this Colombia team is incredibly stacked. In attack, Luis Díaz (Liverpool), Rafael Santos Borré (Internacional) and Jhon Arias (Fluminense) offer dangerous options. The easily recognizable James Rodríguez (São Paulo) will captain Colombia in the midfield while Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace) will also be a key component in the center of the park.
Defensively, Davinson Sánchez (Galatasaray), Yerry Mina (Cagliari) and Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace) will be counted on while Camilo Vargas (Atlas) appears to have beaten out David Ospina (Al Nassr) for the starting goalkeeper job.
Manager
Néstor Lorenzo will be Colombia’s head coach during the Copa America. The man who was capped 13 times by Argentina is only in his second head coaching job, with his first coming as the manager of Peruvian side Melvar. However, he is the man who has orchestrated Colombia’s impressive unbeaten run, so any concerns over his inexperience have been squashed thanks to the form Los Cafeteros is in.
Biggest Game — vs Brazil on July 2nd
This is as exciting of a matchup as you can find in the group stage. Brazil are the big boys in CONMEBOL, but they are not the same Brazil team of old. With the form Colombia is in, this is definitely a game that the Colombians can win. With wins expected against Paraguay and Costa Rica, whoever wins this match will likely win Group D, so this is by far Colombia’s biggest matchup in the group stage.
Prediction
This Colombia team has the potential to win the Copa America for the first time since 2001. While the roster might not be full of players playing for flashy European giants, Colombia plays like a team and is ruthless in front of the net. I think this Colombia team will reach the semifinals, and while I do not think they will ultimately win the 2024 Copa America, I would not be surprised at all if they did.
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