The youthful, tear-filled face of James Rodríguez, comforted by Dani Alves and David Luiz in the starry night of Fortaleza following the elimination of Colombia by Brazil in the quarter-finals (2-1), had been the one of the strong images of the 2014 World Cup, of which the attacking midfielder will remain as the immense revelation. Almost ten years later to the day, the smile of the Colombian esthete replaced the tears, after the victory of his team (of which he was one of the major architects with two assists, on two delicious crosses) against Paraguay as an entry into the running of the Tricolor in the Copa America. However, in 2024, hearing about James Rodriguez’s left paw has almost become an event.
An eternal waste: this is what James’ club career seems to symbolize, since 2014 and his transfer from Monaco to Real Madrid. After leaving our radars at the same time as he deserted Everton, in 2021, he made a few leaps: Al-Rayyan (Qatar), Olympiakos and now Brazil, at São Paulo FC. A club which, a year after bringing him in, already wants to part with the 2014 Puskás prize (11 starts this season), by the admission of president Julio Casares. On the Colombian side, his non-selection for the Copa América in 2021 had caused a lot of ink to flow. Officially, according to the Federation, the playmaker had been left out for medical reasons. A theory that the player had swept aside on social networks.
« I am returning from a convalescence that is coming to an end. I have taken enough time to integrate myself in all the conditions for practicing football and thus not affect my participation in the next deadlines of our national team. The schedule of this process has meant that I have had to be careful to participate in the 7e day of the qualifiers, but will allow me to be recovered for the 8e day and of course at the Copa América 2021 », had assured the Colombian number 10, therefore contradicting the examinations carried out by the Fed. Eventually, the Bandit will miss 15 matches with the selection, between June and November 2021. Returned, but deprived of the captain’s armband, James Rodríguez then dragged his spleen – like the entire Tricolor – during World Cup qualifying. But since the arrival of Néstor Lorenzo at the head of the Colombian selection, everything has changed.
Never say James
After the Qatari World Cup non-qualification, coach Reinaldo Rueda packed his bags, and it was Néstor Lorenzo who sat on the bench in the summer of 2022. Still convinced of James’ talent, the former Argentinos Juniors defender gave back the captaincy and the keys to the Colombian game to the former FC Porto nugget, who he thus reinstalled in the axis, just behind the attacking line, in support of the attacker(s). This replacement allowed James to regain full freedom, and a real foundation in the deployment of the Colombian offensive game. Another important aspect: since his arrival at the head of the TricolorLorenzo is still undefeated (19 wins for 5 draws), Colombia having not lost since February 2022 (against Argentina, 1-0, during the qualifiers). After 6 matches out of 18, the Colombians are also well on their way to the 2026 World Cup race, as they currently occupy 3e position in the CONMEBOL zone ranking, behind Argentina and Uruguay – the first 6 places are qualifying.
The Argentine technician did not hesitate to say all the good things he thought of his captain, after the match against Paraguay (2-1): “On Jefferson Lerma’s goal, we can clearly see that James Rodríguez has velvet feet. » Named man of the match againstAlbirrojathe interested party has launched his Copa perfectly. Place now in Costa Rica, in the night from Friday to Saturday (midnight). And if he were to lift the trophy for the first time, on July 15, three days after his 33e birthday ?
Colombia Costa Rica Prediction: Analysis, Odds and Prediction of the Copa América 2024 Match
