Colombia national team: which forwards are on Néstor Lorenzo’s list of 26 for the Copa América?

Already in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the list of 26 became a standard and in the Euro Cup the teams will be able to take that same number of players, which is why Conmebol decided to follow that same line.

Colombia already has its base team since Néstor Lorenzo assumed technical direction in mid-2022, after the failure in the last qualifying round. However, there are three attacking names that some are beginning to ask to be part of the team, due to their good moment: Miguel Ángel Borja, River’s scorer in the Copa Libertadores; Edwuin Cetré, Argentine soccer champion with Estudiantes, and Duván Zapata, who got a second wind with Torino after leaving Atalanta.

Do those names have a place in the Colombian National Team? Lorenzo is not one to have many surprises on the lists. In fact, there are names that for the coach are immovable, even without having continuity in their teams.

The most notable case is that of James Rodríguez, whom he called when he had not played for six months and who Lorenzo’s technical assistant, Luis Amaranto Perea, has already hinted will be permanent.

Lorenzo’s lists for the knockout dates were already close to the limit number that Conmebol now established: he always called between 25 and 26 players. There were also 26 called up for the last friendlies against Spain and Romania.

Lorenzo already seems to have his forwards fixed. Rafael Santos Borré is the first: the attacker, today in Internacional de Porto Alegre, was always on their lists, except when he made alternate calls with players from the local environment. He is also the one with the most games at this stage: 15 appearances, 11 as a starter, with four goals scored and one assist.

After Durán comes Diego Valoyes, who was a permanent fixture until June of last year. He has not played since September 2023, due to a knee injury, which is why he is ruled out. Also injured is Luis Sinisterra, who has a hamstring problem. He was not called again either, since October.

Lorenzo’s recent bet is the two attackers from the Russian league, Jhon Córdoba and Mateo Cassierra. The first, a Krasnodar player, has 25 goals in 14 games. And Cassierra, with Zenit, scored 16 goals in 26 games.

The other forwards called up have had sporadic appearances in the National Team in the Lorenzo era, among them the team’s historic scorer, Radamel Falcao García, who does not have continuity in Rayo Vallecano.

Lorenzo’s squads do not usually have more than five forwards and many times, on the field, only on
e striker plays, because he gives priority to the wingers, like Luis Díaz. Furthermore, he has lately set up a team in which James plays as a false ‘9’. So, unless there is a last-minute change of mind, Borja and Zapata will hardly be able to arrive. And Cetré, who plays as a winger, has skills like Jhon Arias or Jorge Carrascal. The Copa América team, even with 26 players, seems ready.
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José Orlando Ascencio
Sports Deputy Editor
​@josasc