The postponed day has arrived, the one that begins to define the path to Qatar or the return to limbo as in 2001.
We are at a juncture, because there are still intact possibilities to go to the World Cup but losing the next two games to Peru and Argentina we would settle in that dreadful place of the eliminated.
After the date that in October when we received the nine goals with Queiroz, we began to live with uncertainty. Confidence was lost in a campus that nominally not only has potential and present, but is one of the most prominent in the region. Despite the fact that with the Portuguese we never found consistency, with the exception of a couple of round victories, not even the most pessimistic man imagined such a disaster. It was clear that a turn of the wheel was needed and that is why we applaud the arrival of Rueda, who knows us much more than the “mister” could even manage to do.
The long-awaited first call for DT from Valle del Cauca received few objections, perhaps the absence of natural full-backs on the left and a couple of retreads that seemed lost for the national team, but otherwise it was successful. The problems appeared last week with the problems of Quintero and James. The coach and his coaching staff were able to foresee both situations and avoid soap operas. With Juanfer, it seems incredible that there was not full knowledge of the Chinese league’s restrictions on lending to its players due to a pandemic. With the James David, the issue is as long as it is wide.
First, even though he is our maximum reference and captain in the absence of Falcao, he should not have summoned him. We all understood that he was not exactly in shape and then if he had already accepted his conditions to be for one of the two meetings that I do not particularly share, calling him off was not the most appropriate. Now the reaction of 10 through that famous statement was absolutely unfortunate. It was as what I know is not, with overtones of pride and little solidarity with the group and the coach. Relaxation could be avoided from every point of view. It was mishandled.
But let’s get to the ball. How to play Peruvians, in need of results but much more work as a team?
The first fifteen minutes are going to be essential. If Colombia passes unscathed and begins to control the game, a good result can be achieved. They are going to attack and probably form a trident of respect above with Carrilo, Lapadula and Guerrero. They are going to rush from the start and with good pressure and intelligence their life can be complicated. I trust in a Rueda always balanced, that also takes advantage of the good moment of Borré, Cuadrado, Muriel and Zapata. We cannot hide under the table from anyone with these cards. The dilemma is how to use them, if for example to put Juan Guillermo in Juve mode, that is to say from behind, Rafa as second striker and Lucho as mid striker behind Duván. It seems from training that Tesillo would mark the left, in the best style of his European predecessor. Yairo Moreno more closely embodies the side that fits with our DNA but it may be that he does not want to risk for both bands. Overall, it will not be easy to win and defeat mistrust, but if it is achieved, the emotional blow may be enough to push two victories in a row and lead the journey. Hopefully the good game will also recover, but it would be very demanding to ask that everything be aligned so quickly and easily, also with such a chapter that we have just experienced in the previous one. Strength we will do and a lot, it is our beloved tricolor.
