"I wouldn't want to play against Colombia", said Gary Lineker earlier in the tournament. Another, even more prominent, figure in this World Cup has also praised the squad led by James Rodriguez. That was Luis de la Fuente.
The Spanish coach sees the Cafeteros among the favourites to win it all. He made this observation at the end of the group stage, and it’s safe to assume his opinion hasn’t changed since.
This Tuesday, Colombia, led by Bayern star Luis Diaz, faces Switzerland in the round of 16, a match that seems within their reach, especially as the path ahead looks fairly clear.
With a potential quarter-final against Argentina, the South American side is quietly advancing through the bracket. And ahead of their third-ever World Cup round of 16, the Colombians coached by Argentine Nestor Lorenzo seem to have everything going for them.
They have conceded just one goal since the tournament began on June 11 – in their opening match against Uzbekistan – and the Colombian squad is showing strong credentials as a very serious outsider.
Like Norway, but without a standout striker, the Cafeteros have played attractive football on North American soil. Above all, as the matches go on, they seem to grow more and more confident in their abilities.
The only possible cloud on the horizon is a flu outbreak in the squad: "There's a virus that hit me, as well as many of my teammates", James Rodriguez admitted after the win over Ghana last week.
Unbreakable solidity?
Four days have passed since then, and that could make a difference in the balance of power. More updates are expected in the coming hours before kickoff, but it's another challenge for Colombia, who will be hoping to have their best players available.
"Several players have shown similar flu symptoms, and we anticipate they may feel increased fatigue", Nestor Lorenzo said over the weekend.
He has been in charge since July 2022 and has built a high-performing squad. This was evident at the Copa América 2024, where they lost the final to Argentina after not reaching that stage since their 2001 triumph. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they performed very well, and the momentum has clearly continued.
By finishing top of their group, Colombia has given itself a great opportunity with a relatively open bracket. Ghana, then Switzerland – the round of 16 and quarter-finals look manageable. The win over the Black Stars confirmed it.
In terms of play, this is a team that controls its football. There is very little improvisation, and when there is, it’s clearly intentional, as shown by players like defender Daniel Munoz. Very active on the right flank, he is one of the Cafeteros who stand out. On the left, Johan Mojica has also been impressive, while in midfield, young Gustavo Puerta (22) has also caught the eye.
In attack, there are Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez, joined by Jhon Arias, making for a rather explosive mix. Verticality, intensity – that's what it takes to win matches. And the carefree attitude that comes with it doesn't make their coach overconfident.
"I prefer not to be in the position of favourite. It's a burden, especially since there are still excellent teams left and you can see how fine the line is between those who qualify and those who don't", Lorenzo pointed out. Good luck to the Nati!