Coach Reinaldo Rueda said at a press conference on Tuesday that fortune this time “did not favor” Colombia in the penalty shootout against Argentina in the semifinal of the Copa América-2021.
“I told the players to raise their heads, that we did not have to reproach each other and especially they who did a job with all the mystique. We hope that football will pay us back at another time, “said the coach at a press conference after the game played at the Mané Garrincha stadium.
“It was a difficult group. Of the four semifinalists, three were from our group. That shows how difficult it was to qualify, that shows the positive of all the work,” he added.
In the quarterfinals, Colombia achieved the pass against Uruguay in the shots from the 12 steps. This time, he could not overcome that instance against Argentina.
However, he indicated that this participation “invites us to dream, to think that we are on the right path”, in relation to the process that has been carried out since he assumed leadership of the coffee selection in January.
According to Rueda, he told the players: “That we raise our heads, that we look into each other’s eyes, that we did not have to reproach ourselves for anything. And above all they, who made a full delivery “.
“This tournament is super competitive. It is a good assessment for us, and first of all we are very proud of the group of players, of the way in which in such a short time they have assimilated” the game that has been proposed, said the coffee DT .
He also pointed out: “We faced this tournament with great motivation, with the purpose of reaching the final; it was not easy (…). The step that was taken. Everything has been positive.”
