James Rodríguez celebrates his 100 games with the Colombian National Team and remembers his promise that with that shirt he plays until he is lame

James Rodriguez He continues to celebrate his 100 games with the Colombian National Team, a figure he reached last Saturday in the friendly against Bolivia, before the Copa América.

James, currently a player for Sao Paulo in Brazil, debuted with the national team in 2011, precisely in a match against Bolivia and since then he became a reference for the team.

With Colombia he already went to the World Cups in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018 and now he leads the team to try to win the Copa América.

While the National Team trains in New York, James spoke with the official press channels of the Colombian Football Federation, and reviewed his history of 100 games with his country’s team.

“It’s a coincidence, it’s a new beginning. The first game against Bolivia, the 100th too, so many matches in national teams and precisely… it’s a new beginning, I trust that. I’m happy to reach this important number, not everyone plays 100 games for your country, I join a very select group and I am happy to be in this very special group and with the coaching staff that has helped me, they know that I love this shirt like no one else, that it gives me good feelings,” said James.

“In the clubs I have done things well, I have good numbers, but when you play for your country it is something else, you have to give more than in the clubs, because you play for a country, for your people”added the national team midfielder.

James remembered his first game and talked about what it means to play for Colombia. “I remember in 2011, I had incredible nerves, but I was sure that things were going to go well, my dream was to play many games with the National Team, now I have reached 100 and I hope there will be many more, remember that in each game I gave everything for this shirt, and that they remember me as an excellent person, those who know me know what I am, in football I give everything for this shirt A while ago I said that with Colombia I played on one leg until I was lame, and that’s how it was. always”.

James Facts

-James has worn the Colombian National Team shirt 100 times.

-Second top scorer of the national team with 27 goals.

-Participation in World Cups: Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.

-Participation in the Copa América: Chile 2015, Brazil 2019 and United States 2024.

-Participation in four qualifiers: Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and –Mexico/United States/Canada 2026.

-James Rodríguez completes seventeen years with the National Team shirt, including lower divisions.

-Best player of the 2011 Toulon Hopes Tournament.

-Best goal, Golden Boot and in the ideal 11 of the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

Puskás Award 2014.

-Two nominations for the Ballon d’Or in 2014 and 2015.

PABLO ROMERO

SPORTS journalist

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