Reinaldo Rueda, coach of the Colombian National Team, analyzes in detail the duel this Thursday (7:30 pm Colombian time), for the Qualifiers to Qatar 2022.
Changes in defense
They are imponderable at the last moment, there was a follow-up for the case of Yerry, then that of Carlos and finally that of Óscar Murillo, or Medina that could be an alternative. Yesterday we did a practice and a line of four has been projected with the summoned: Dávinson, Yeimar, Tesillo … they are the alternatives we have, we have worked with two lines of four in the global practice in which only Cristian Arango was missing. An acceptable behavior, knowing that the evaluation will be done within the game, with all the virtues of the rival and his offensive vocation. We expect good behavior from the entire team in defensive solidarity when we don’t have the ball.
James
In the last game he gave the situation a sanction and be released, which made it easier to be here for a few days. Positive for the adaptation, reuniting with the teammates, with us as coaching staff, came with discomfort in that last game with his club, the issue of the ribs and a muscular issue. But he had been summoned and is considered to be in that process. Not at the ideal level for what they represent the discomfort but giving a very good response in each training unit. It is the subject to review with tonight’s practice to decide when it is important for the Selection.
We continue to learn from soccer and accumulate experiences. The case of James and others with other teams, other cultures. A bad result perhaps makes a subject of media impact without the depth of football analysis and adding things. What I say now is not valid. I cannot answer how they received it. Everything is so normal. Share at all times, the dining room or the practice, all with the maturity and professionalism that is very natural. It is the final day of the year, December and January are coming to finish off the qualifiers. I considered that it was time to invite James despite the difficulties of the football he is in, the situation, his, the blocking and what happened in the last game. But that is my task, to look for alternatives, solutions, to see, according to the last games, what happened against Ecuador, Brazil, to have Cantillo, James here, to look for options because it is the task, there is the loss of Uribe. We have to strengthen the payroll, hence the decision to have James with us.
Refereeing and Neymar weigh
They are specific topics that should be lessons learned. Just today a review of one of the rival’s last games was made and the two issues were touched, they are always management in these situations. It is the suggestion for the squad, to avoid this wear, to fall into those situations, to be distracted by the refereeing decisions, not to get out of the focus of the game that would give us good results. We agreed to that.
¿Tesillo lateral?
Yesterday a few minutes of specific work and specific tasks were done, these variants were made with the options we have. Tonight in the last practice we are going to decide what the formation is, the line that can best complement us not only because of the rival but also because of the characteristics of the men who go to that area in the rival. It will be an unpublished line of four.
Tite’s opinion
He is a very sensible man, he has great respect for Colombian football. If he praises us, he told us in Barranquilla, we have had differences in other games before, it is because he feels it. We do good football, Colombia has a competitive team, you have to know how to handle it, everything happens because of what we do on the field, counteract the virtues of the rival and not be distracted by any positive or negative concept.
The attack
History says so (52 years without a goal in Brazil), not only because of the goals but because of the situation of the result. We look at the statistical issues, all the details, it is the strength of Brazil, which generates a duel with us. To have a good result we must score, it is what will be sought, what has been induced, everything is possible to give the blow of authority, look for the three points, which we need to consolidate our position in the classification.
From the duel in Barranquilla to now
We came from a trip, we had a local commitment, but now we have to maintain that obligation because we need the points. We got some players back, we lost others. Before Yairo, Borja were not there, now we lost Matheus, Murillo … everything changes. Yesterday the group worked almost for the only time in full. We did two units of tactical training.
The coming duel
It is not easy, first it is Saturday than Sunday. I ask the players not to think about the second game but I must think about it. There are players in vital positions at risk, some could be replaced but we must see what Barranquilla demands, it is a matter to think about, I have given it many laps. I will take these hours, in addition to the last practice, forming an eleven with them and without them in positions where there is a greater risk of cards. Let’s hope good refereeing work and that we do not accumulate sanctioned men.
James, Muriel and Borré: together?
It all depends on who the complements are, on the training we do. Whether it is 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. They have played together, they can develop in different positions. I did rehearsals last night. Borré did it and they also in different teams, starters and substitutes, they have a very good response but everything will go through the demands of the rival.
Cantillo and your options
Unfortunately in Colombia sometimes people put aside that Victor stopped playing six games due to injury from August 1 to September, before the Copa América he had physical difficulties and even with the coach. We admired him, we wanted to share with Victor, he reappeared in the last duels, then he did not play but the call was already there, they are imponderable that the players must overcome. They remember Cantillo de Junior but today he plays in another position and in the last weeks he played a game, so he was not with us. And there were others more regularly. Comparisons here do not fit.
Will experience weigh on defense?
That has been a kindness of William (Tesillo), he is a player who will not have the halo but he is a super performer for every team, he has versatility of being central, being a winger, always with very high concentration. I think we have these alternatives in Oscar’s situation, he and Lucumí, who is doing very well with his club, competing at a good level, such as William’s experience and knowledge in the position. We work with both. The decision will be in the next few hours to go out with the best team. Communication with the other central, the goalkeeper, those who accompany on the sides is key. Everything is discussed and analyzed and in the end you want the best to have a good result.
The ideal module
Looking at the characteristics of the rival we have possibilities. You have to look for a team with control of the game, possession of the ball looking to unbalance the rival. Everything happens with whatever module it is. We have players who, to the extent that they interpret well, they can do it: pose a demanding match for the rival.
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