The victory that was expected to close the double date of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 18 points was not achieved, but at least the Colombian National Team saved a draw in its visit to Peru, and now it is time to think about Argentina for this Tuesday.
The Incas opened the scoring with a goal by defender Alexander Callens in the 68th minute, but the national team, with a goal by forward Luis Díaz in the 82nd, tied the score.
With this result, Néstor Lorenzo’s team remains in third place, now with 13 points, while Jorge Fossati’s team remains last, with three points.
After the great Copa América in the United States, in which they finished second, Colombia was expected to maintain a good line of performance, but this was not the case and they suffered from a lack of rhythm and teamwork.
Lorenzo, who is not very keen on changing the starting line-up, made a few changes, specifically leaving James Rodríguez on the bench, but his absence was felt, so he was brought in for the second half, which increased ball possession and the generation of ideas.
In a duel in which Fossati set up a wall with five defenders and three midfielders, the only chance to score was through set pieces, which is how both goals came about.
In the first, after a corner kick, Colombia lost its markers and Callens took advantage to beat Camilo Vargas. In the goal for the national team, James took a corner kick, Jhon Durán headed it and Díaz appeared at the second post and saved the unbeaten streak in the qualifying round.
It’s not revenge
Colombia’s next challenge in the quest for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup is Argentina, this Tuesday in Barranquilla starting at 3:30 p.m.
Although both teams are coming off the Copa America final in the United States, with the Albicelestes winning 1-0 in extra time, Tuesday’s game is not a rematch, it cannot be taken as such, but rather it must be seen as a demanding test and if won, the national team will open the doors to the United States, Mexico and Canada, at least through the result.
Argentina is coming off a 3-0 victory over Chile, a result that consolidates Lionel Scaloni’s team’s lead with 18 points, the result of six wins and one loss.
Their performance is backed up by great defensive work. So far, their goalkeeper, Maximiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, has only conceded two goals, while their forwards have scored 11 goals.
The Albiceleste, without Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team, and without Lionel Messi due to injury, have already shown that they are a very dynamic team, that presses and gives little space.
Colombia must not only take into account the strengths of its rival, but also avoid falling into provocations, into hard play and dedicate itself to playing its game.
You might think that playing at 3:30 pm is an advantage, but you have to take into account that the heat and humidity affect all 22 players equally, since none of the national team’s starting lineup plays in Barranquilla or in the country.
So Argentina must be deprived of the ball, made to run so that they wear themselves out and make mistakes that can be capitalized on. If they are given the ball, it will be very difficult to reach the ‘Dibu’s’ territory and therefore open the scoring.
The projection of the full-backs is one of the weapons used by coach Néstor Lorenzo, but the midfielders and centre-backs must be very careful to protect their backs so as not to leave gaps that can be exploited by the visitors.
The goal of winning the three points seems very difficult given the current situation in which Argentina, world champion and Copa America champion, is also in the lead, but it is possible.
Lorenzo and Scaloni know each other and must be studying strategies to surprise each other, but the reality is that it promises to be a very balanced match, in which Colombia has against it the fact that Messi will not be there, which makes the Albiceleste’s game slower.
Other results
In the first match of this Friday, Uruguay said goodbye to its idol Luis Suárez with a poor 0-0 draw against Paraguay at the Centenario.
The Celeste was rarely able to impose the fast-paced game that distinguishes coach Marcelo Bielsa, contained by a successful defensive strategy by his colleague and compatriot Gustavo Alfaro, who in his debut achieved what he went to Montevideo to look for: a draw to alleviate the complicated situation of the Guaraníes in the qualifiers.
Brazil then beat Ecuador 1-0 in Curitiba, ending three straight losses in South American qualifying.
A solitary goal from Rodrygo in the 30th minute, with a shot from outside the area that was deflected by Willian Pacho, gave victory to a very dull Brazil that ended up booed by its fans.
In the second half, the young Brazilian prospect, Estevao, made his debut with the senior team, although he was unable to improve the image of his team, where Vinicius Junior, once again, disappointed.
With the victory, Brazil moves up to fourth place in the table with 10 points, eight behind leaders Argentina, while Ecuador occupies the sixth and final direct qualification spot for the World Cup, with eight points.
Follow the minute by minute here: