SEATTLE - One of the main candidates to take the cup back home, Colombia arrives to Copa América 2024 as one of the most in-form national teams in not only the continent but the world, and will hope to make another deep run in the tournament.
Since José Pekerman left the job as Colombia manager after the 2022 Qatar World Cup, uncertainty reigned over the 'Tricolor's' future but Néstor Lorenzo has been able to put those doubts to the side and guide Colombia to a great present.
With six games gone, Colombia sits on third place in CONMEBOL's World Cup Qualifiers for 2026 four points ahead of Brazil. 'Los cafeteros' remain unbeaten since Lorenzo took over with 13 wins and five draws. Out of those 18 games, only six were against teams that will not participate in Copa América 2024.
Colombia's Copa América quick facts
Group: D
Best result: champions (once); the only time Colombia won Copa América (2001) was as hosts
Coach: Néstor Lorenzo (appointed on July 2022); 13-0-5 W-L-D record
Brazilian top scorer in Copa América: Arnoldo Iguarán (10)
Where is Colombia playing?
Colombia will make its debut in Copa América 2024 against Paraguay in the city of Houston. A few days later they will travel to Arizona for a clash against Costa Rica in Glendale and will close out Group D with a blockbuster game against Brazil in Santa Clara.
June 24: Colombia vs Paraguay - NRG Stadium, Houston
June 28: Colombia vs Costa Rica - State Farm Stadium, Glendale
July 2: Brazil vs Colombia - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
28-man list for Copa América (2 players will be cut)
Néstor Lorenzo submitted his provisional 28-man list for Copa Améria 2024 earlier than most other managers. Colombia will play two friendlies in the United States against the USMNT and Bolivia before debuting against Paraguay in Houston. The deadline to submit the final squad ahead of Copa América 2024 is June 15.
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Al-Nassr), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), Álvaro Montero (Millonarios)
Defenders: Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace), Davinson Sánchez (Galatasaray), Deiver Machado (RC Lens), Carlos Cuesta (Genk), Jhon Lucumí (Bologna), Johan Mojica (Osasuna), Santiago Arias (Bahía), Yerry Mina (Cagliari), Yerson Mosquera (Villarreal)
Midfielders: James Rodríguez (São Paulo), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Jorge Carrascal (Dynamo Moscow), Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing), Kevin Castaño (Krasnodar), Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth), Matheus Uribe (Al-Sadd), Richard Ríos (Palmeiras), Sebastián Gómez (Coritiba)
Forwards: Luis Díaz (Liverpool), Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar), Jhon Jáder Durán (Aston Villa), Miguel Ángel Borja (River Plate), Rafael Santos Borré (Internacional)
Notable absence
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado
Despite coming back from injury at the tails end of the season, the Inter Milan player wasn't able to earn a spot in Colombia's list for the summer. He missed most of the season due to an Achilles tendon injury. The veteran played 12 games for Inter in all competitions.
This will be the first time that Cuadrado misses a major tournament since making his debut for Colombia in 2010. He has managed to play in five Copa América tournaments including captaining Colombia to a third-place finish in 2021.
Player to watch
Luis Díaz
The Liverpool winger will be Colombia's biggest attacking threat during Copa América 2024. Díaz might not be the most clinical winger in the world but his impact in the game goes beyond goals.
Lethal with space to run and on 1v1 situations, Díaz scored double-digit goals for Liverpool during 2023-24 (13 goals), helping the team to another Carabao Cup win against Chelsea.
Díaz has played and started all six games for Colombia in World Cup Qualifiers and his two goals came in a win against Brazil.
Díaz was Colombia's best player in Copa América 2021 and finished as the tournament's top scorer with four goals. His fourth goal came in the 94th minute to give Colombia a third-place finish ahead of Peru.
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