TO 35 days before the Copa América begins in the United States, the South American Football Confederation announced a change in the regulations that expands the bouquet for all coaches who will lead in the tournament: participating teams will be able to register up to 26 players and not 23, as had happened in previous editions.
It is not the first time that Conmebol allows the payroll to be expanded. It had already happened three years ago, in the eventful Cup that Argentina and Colombia were going to organize jointly and that Brazil finally did. The covid-19 pandemic disrupted absolutely everything and, to give the managers room, it was decided that the rosters would be made up of 28 footballers and that the lists could even be modified in case of a positive.
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.
James Rodríguez (left) celebrates with John Córdoba.
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“This is a personal opinion, what is said here is my opinion and has nothing to do with Néstor (Lorenzo). “James today does not have to prove anything to anyone, he has earned a place, he has been playing, playing less and in the national team he has always performed,” Perea said in an interview on Teleantioquia.
Néstor Lorenzo’s fixed forwards
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.
Rafael Santos Borré
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Obviously, the presence of Luis Díaz is taken for granted: The Liverpool attacker missed the March 2023 matches due to injury, but he is a key piece for Lorenzo and in the last official appearance, the double knockout date against Brazil and Paraguay, he was the great figure.
Luis Diaz
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From then on is where the realm of speculation enters. Lorenzo has called up 19 forwards since he has been coach of the National Team. And Borja, Zapata and Cetré have not entered any list, despite the fact that the first two already have a long career: the River attacker, 27 games and 8 goals, and the Torino attacker, 24 and 4.
Duván Zapata celebrates one of his goals against Empoli.
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After the two ‘fixed’, the one who has been called up the most times is Jhon Durán: five times. He has played eight games and scored one goal, against Japan. But he has not been called up since October 2023.
John Duran
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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.
Mateo Cassierra
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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.
José Orlando Ascencio
Sports Deputy Editor
@josasc
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