Pre-match: 2024 Copa America: Colombia vs. Paraguay (6/24/24, Monday - 6:00 PM EST)

The tapete raro

Sounds like the stupid turf fields that they love using here

 

Biggest worry from this game is our defense coughing up the ball so many times, Paraguay really caused us some problems pressing us in our own half and we had too many turnovers. Good teams are going to press us even more and they'll use those turnovers better then Paraguay, unfortunately I don't think Mojica is gonna become better on the ball over night, we really need to find alternatives because he's not offering us much.

 

Davinson was also terrible on the ball. The ball went right under his foot a couple of times, and his first pass to Mina was a 50/50 like 20 feet ahead of him. But more than their passing and ball control, Mojica and Sanchez were terrible in their positioning, especially in the play that led to Paraguay's goal.

The other area that worries me is the subs, and how high in the pecking order Matheus still is. When Lerma got injured, I expected Castaño to come in but Lorenzo sent Uribe, and that's when we completely lost the middle. Also, while Cordoba played well, I expected the faster Duran to try to exploit a tired Paraguay defense, and I think towards the end Lucho needed a breather, so Sinisterra should have gone in, but at that time our middle needed to be shored up, so Castaño went in for the added time.

Overall, I'll take the win, but it looks like there are several issues that need to be addressed before the next game.

 

We got the three points so I am happy for that

We have our best defensive player injured so I do not like that. And neither of our youngsters played so I do not like that either.

Paraguay showed some pride and had a decent game plan. I know Costa Rica will be difficult too.
Hopefully we can make some adjustments and improve.

 

Any official updates on Lucumi? All I found was a report on twitter that his injury is not as serious as previously thought. I hope it’s true because watching Mina smile and get ready to come in made me a little queasy.

 

Nothing official but from what I am hearing he may just miss the Costa Rica match.

 

I was worried because it looked like he started crying and punching the bench when he walked off the field.

Either way hope he is ok and would start Cuesta vs Costa Rica just in case.

I mean it was an ugly win. I would have been happy with the 2-0. Annoyed at the end we were begging for the game to end(Very like Colombia of old).... and super super late subs. James was down for 5-6 minutes at minute 80 but Quintero comes on on minute 90......

Uribe(like killed killed the MF) we completely lost it. Borre did interesting things at the begging of the game but we need a target man. Arias and Diaz look to cross and Borre is never there. Dude plays the false #9 role. Cordoba wasnt much better but at that point we had 0 MF so him getting 0 chances wasnt really his fault. Also felt he played a Falcao game style where its like hey start from MF and score

 

The field looked AWFUL. That ball bounced even when a simple pass was made. Looked like the players were getting stuck on the seams of the field. I think this had a major part in how we moved the ball.

That being said that Paraguay goal started with Uribe kicking the ball to the opposition that started the counter. Poor positioning on Sanchez. And yes, Mojica was really poor today.

 

Did not help that Mexico played Jamaica on that field just a few days ago.
Hopefully the grass in Arizona will be better on Friday. They usually have grass well-suited for their stadium. They even take it out to be in the sunshine during the week before each game.

 

Mojica was way out of position

 

The shuffling of the CBs did not help either. Lucumi would have been LCB on that play if he were healthy while Davinson would have played more of his natural RCB position. Once Mina came in he had to play RCB and Davinson just is not as good on the left in my opinion.

 

Have any games been played in AZ or will we be the 1st?

 

It will be the first.

 

Mojica is our weak link. I do not like his style of play. I do not like attitude/ way he grimaces and shows lack of confidence on even the most simple of mistakes or errors. I do not like his positioning.
It is part of the reason I have been harping on the LB position this whole cycle. We need someone else. Machado is not much better but at least he adds more offensively and may take more of the load off of Diaz's shoulders on left wing interchanges.

 

It is amazing that in Houston we outdrew Mexico when they played there. Did not think that would happen. Great attendance.

 

For sure Mojica deserves criticism for being out of position

He's played with Mina in that position for most of his career with us and made the same mistakes over and over, and he's never been good on the ball. It's getting to the point he's a liability, too many unforced errors defensively and he's always been a liability on the ball.

Wish we took Mosquera rather then 4 strikers who for 1 position, as now if Lucemi is injured we have Mina who can't play every game and are forced to use Davinson probably all tournament which is liable to be exposed especially beside Mojica, the whole left side is going to be targeted with and without the ball and it just doesn't make sense to keep going back to them.

 

1st half he was making some overlap runs but not getting the ball to his feet. 1st goal started on Mojica's side. Not defending him but I don't know if Machado is that much better. He has his ups and downs as well. I wouldn't mind having him play vs CR.

Mojica was NOT all to blame in the Paraguay goal. This is a defensive tactical blunder by Sanchez, Arias, Uribe and Mina, Mojica slotted in Mina's position as Mina was way off his line (Which he does often like a nut) even though Munoz and Uribe eventually had that position already covered.

Mojica slots in to CB and Sanchez goes wide and Uribe doesnt cover the space that the Paraguyan MF is running into. Arias and Uribe are caught ball watching.

This goal doesnt happen with Lerma on the field.

 

I don't have too many complaints other than I think the team gets a little too much Lucho fog that sometimes create a missing pass to an open player.

 

This, but especially the bold parts. I was surprised to see Uribe going in for Lerma when the natural replacement is Castaño. Uribe is caught going forward and he does not spring back because he plays like a lazy 8, not as the 5 he was replacing; if Castaño was in, he'd be marking the PK spot, and Mojica would have been closer to his natural position, making it more difficult to find Enciso in between two Colombian players.

 

The biggest take away from this game is the 3 man midfield we can play with Rios that we haven't been able to play because its usually Uribe who is a waste on the ball and can't overlap and make runs out of midfield like Rios did. Arias and Rios as 8's gives our game a huge upgrade and make it really difficult to defend abasing us with those 2 switching with James who drops deep on the ball.

 

Why is our CENTERBACK Mina so out of position. that along with Uribe's awful covering is what started this mess. The initial cross where you have THREE guys marking is pointless if you're going to let the ball be serviced into the box for the assist.

Hopefully Lorenzo learns and next time has Castano replacing Lerma.