With their most and their least finished the qualifiers for Colombia, with the satisfaction of duty fulfilled, the direct quota to the 2026 World Cup, and an ñapa: the third place of the classification, above Brazil.
The complaints, the bump, the six games with the consolidated goal, the complaints, the regrets are left behind. Now it’s all, as coach Néstor Lorenzo said, the very hard carpentry work that is to build a competitive team for the 2026 World Cup.
Five positions that require intervention in Colombia
1. Side
It has been said that on the right side is Daniel Muñoz and someone else for cases of extreme urgency. It turns out that when you play in the Premier League and you are a FA Cup figure and champion with the modest Crystal Palace, there is no greater discussion. But the reality is that the Antioqueño has not recently offered a round game in brand and attack. In addition, these emergency situations are common by sanction, as happened against Bolivia. The DT pleases Santiago Arias, but the intensity of a World Cup does not resemble anything local in Brazil and can cost him. Andrés Román was sent to the DT to the gallery, which suggests that he does not like. A C Plan? There is time to look for it.
And on the left side the matter is clear: neither milean, nor Borja, nor mourning can be considered indisputable and that is why Álvaro Angulo, a very clear man when he goes to the attack, but leaves a hole in brand. There were two of Venezuela’s three goals. Without wanting to condemn him only for a party, it must be said that Juan David Cabal returns (Juventus), who, among other things, was seriously injured with selection. Recovering it is everyone’s duty.
2. Defensive midfielder
The Colombian National Team went from ‘Lerma and ten more’, what happens to Lerma? The answer is that, no matter how much he is in a Premier League team like El Palace, he plays little and that can be noticed. That is when they take strength from the local medium such as Jorman Campuzano or Rafael Carrascal. You do not have to rule them out, then Ríos and Castaño have different profile and an alternative to height will be needed in the World Cup. And Gustavo Puerta is not option? He has been wandering between First and Second Division and that plays against him, but it is the flywheel of the future.
3. Offensive midfielder
Here the matter is nice: for Lorenzo is James Rodríguez and another ten, as is. But it turns out that he is playing drops in León and that, to finish off, he has a contract until December 31, which is six months of adaptation and a few minutes in another club before the World Cup. A player with a very similar profile is Juanfer Quintero, because for the DT they should not play together. That is why a door opens for a man with a great club World Cup, who is now in the First Division of Spain (with Betis) like Nelson Deossa. It closes, it must be said, that option for a player who never gave the size: Jorge Carrascal. A third way would be Yaser Asprilla, the natural replacement for the current captain, but who is close to descending in Spain. It looks like a bad moment …
James Rodríguez marked Bolivia
Photo:
LUIS ACOSTA / AFP
4. Extreme right
While in some positions there is surplus, in others there is a worrying shortage. The right end was always in discussion and Lorenzo seemed to give it peace of mind to bet on Luis Sinisterra, although the injuries and the way back from the Premier League to Brazilian football will undoubtedly weigh. He does not want the DT that Jhon Arias plays in his natural position, as an attacker, although he could be the one who moves the band to band. So uncertainty is total. They have already tried Andrés Gómez, but it is another who left Europe to have minutes in Brazil and take their time. Marino Hnestroza? It is another bet thinking about the replacement but that of 2024 is far from the one we have seen this season. Hard panorama.
5th front
What is a fact is that, after the four goals to Venezuela, Luis Suárez will hardly come out of a call. The other fixed is Jhon Córdoba, which fulfills more functions to the DT. So the discussion is a quota for several candidates. If Jhon Durán wants the post can be his, because it is a Top attacker who seeks revenge. But the head has had it elsewhere lately and that generates doubts.
The DT tried Dayro Moreno but seemed a call populist, since he barely gave him minutes. In addition, it will be close to 41 in 2026, is it really a letter for replacement in the future? Rafael Santos Borré seems further, another that has been relegated due to lack of continuity. Will it return? The DT loves it. But the World Cup is not governed by affections … Fortunately.
