Colombian national team coach Nestor Lorenzo hopes his players will be in top condition when they face world champions Argentina in the 2024 Copa America final, which will be held on Monday (15/7/2024).
Colombia advanced to the final after beating Uruguay 1-0 with only 10 players, after Daniel Munoz received a red card from the referee just before the first half ended.
The 2024 Copa America final will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, United States and Lorenzo is enthusiastic about facing Argentina, which is his homeland.
“It will be very exciting, I will compete with players I have met during my career and whom I really admire,” said Lorenzo, who once served as Argentina’s assistant coach.
After Daniel Munoz’s absence from the final due to a red card suspension, Lorenzo is worried that other Colombian players could also be absent due to medical problems. He wants Tricolor (Colombia’s nickname) to play with their best strength when facing Argentina.
“We have to recover and arrive in the best condition. We hope there is no news from the medical team, because there are always bumps (on the pitch), pain that must be treated, but I think we will arrive (in the final) in good condition,” said the 58-year-old coach, as reported by AFP.
The victory also extended Colombia’s unbeaten record to 28 matches, 25 of which were under Nestor Lorenzo, breaking the previous record of 27 matches set between 1992 and 1994 when players such as Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincon were still strengthening the team.
“As we said, we take it game by game. We did not surpass (the Colombian national team of the 90s), they left the basics. So, we did not leave that, but added to it, so that Colombian football develops,” said Lorenzo.
“But this is a group of players who want to be protagonists, who want to win something, who are hungry and who are improving. We are making progress,” he added.
However, Argentina’s achievements in the Copa America are far more impressive than Colombia’s. Argentina has won the Copa America 15 times. Colombia only once.
Image source: kompas.tv
