The good news is that there will be a laboratory: the Colombian National Team will play a friendly match on January 16 against Honduras, in Fort Lauderdale (United States), in preparation for the games at the end of the month against Peru and Argentina for the World Cup Qualifiers of Qatar 2022.
That encourages the illusion many of putting themselves on the radar of Reinaldo Rueda. But how much is the product of the emotion of the moment and how much are there of real solutions for the critical goal problem suffered by the ‘tricolor’? That is the real question.
The looks point to a Deportivo Cali that this weekend was confirmed in the grand final of the Betplay II 2021 League, and a list of names to consider: Teófilo Gutiérrez, Jorge Marsiglia, Harold Preciado, Andrés Colorado and Andrés Balanta, among others .
But are they really names with the possibility of reaching the National Team or is it just the fever of seeing him as a finalist, with so much advance and such authority? Both options are valid. We review case by case:
Teófilo Gutiérrez and ten others?
Even the most skeptical have ended up accepting it: Teo left Junior and in Deportivo Cali he shot up, he empowered his teammates and today he is the most outstanding player in the League. So, without further ado.
The 36-year-old Barranquilla has played 20 games, starting 17, and in his record there are 2 assists and 6 goals (one every 269 minutes), and an average rating of 7 points on Sofascore. Nothing bad.
And no less detail: he played the 2014 Mundialazo in Brazil as a fundamental piece, he knows and is known by almost all the players who are currently in Reinaldo Rueda’s calls and yes, as the figures confirm, he has the experience and influence offense it would take to get out of the scoring fast in Playoffs.
Do you think that Teófilo is the solution for the Colombian national team’s goal problems?
Harold Preciado, guaranteed goal?
It is difficult to contradict the numbers: Harold Preciado has played 21 games, 16 of them as a starter, and in that period he has scored 11 goals (one every 125 minutes) and has given 2 assists, for an average rating of 6.9. With half of that he would already be summoned to the Colombian Selection!
Preciado is not that young anymore, he is 27 years old and has been the victim of physical problems. But it is very evident that he returned with more vigor and that is the current situation that should be looked at thinking about the final and the Rueda team.
From the Deportivo Cali payroll, who would you bring to the Colombian National Team?
Jorge Marsiglia, replacement in defense
It is one of the pleasant appearances of the League: he is only 22 years old, measures 1.83m and is left-handed, has played 23 games with Cali (all as a starter), has 54 percent of duels won in defense, an average rating in Sofascore of 6.99 and, as if that were not enough, he has 2 goals! In short, everything that should be in the letter to Niño Dios from coach Reinaldo Rueda.
Note that Yerry Mina is injured, that little is known about Carlos Cuesta’s recovery, that Dávinson is not living his best days … shouldn’t we think about strengthening the defense?
Andrés Colorado, the one at the start in midfield?
He will not have enough press, he will not be in the pools, but he does make a difference on the field with his sacrifice, his precision or the detail of the pass-goal.
Colorado is 23 years old and measures no less than 1.88m. Numbers? Take note: he has 24 games played, 20 as a starter, has scored 3 goals and has given no less than 5 assists, with an average rating of 6.8.
He read that right: he has half distance and goal but, more than that, he has the first pass, the quality touch to get the team out of the middle, just the mole of those led by Rueda despite having so many options in international football. Strictly speaking, it would give generational change and it is close, in case you have to travel.
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