Pre-match: 2026 R-18: Colombia vs Venezuela (9/9/25, Tuesday – 7:30 PM EST)

another W

once the bad juju is off after a convincing win vs Bolivia. Hope we demolish venzeulea right after

we should have been qualified 4 games ago. these should have been a B/C team at this point

pathetic we are where we are and that 7 spots saving us and getting Venezuela to a WC

 

There's a mentality issue right now.

 

I would go with mostly benchers.

——————Mier—————

Roman—-Mina—-Yerson—-Angulo—

————-Portilla—Castano——
———————JuanFer———-
Marino———Suarez———-Campaz.

 

I'd go with the same lineup from Bolivia except Suarez for Cordoba and Castano for Lerma and Mier as well. Would make a lot subs at 60 minutes tho. We won't have a real competitive game until the World Cup so feel like we need to take the chance to build momentum and get the guys more time together because I think we need it.

 

I don’t think Roman is an option or makes the wc so him starting really to me I’d pass on

we also need to win this game we haven’t had a convincing game of omg we are a good team in over a year

so starters

I’d bench Mojica, Vargas, Lerma, Lucumi

Vargas did fine not like they attacked but Mier needs minutes.

Mojica and Lucumi were hot garbage and could have cost us points with some of their passing.

if James gets benched use a 2nd striker

Quintero when pressure is on and is actually needed doesn’t do much. Too much of a classic lazy 10.

Portilla and the back up options need to make their minutes count as final roster spots need to be given minutes to

really hope Carrascal finally gets dropped

 

Some good points. I am just looking at things simplistically and with caution. We are in. We are not obligated to win.
Venezuela is going to play with urgency and intensity. Would be a real shame if one of our key starters gets a massive injury in a physical war like this.

 

Not 100% needed change

1. but Mier for Vargas. Give him his 3rd cap and use him in friendlies Oct/November with no Ospina or Vargas.

2. Munoz for Arias - He is the starter and he didn't come from England for no reason

def needed they played like shit last game
3. Yerson for Lucumi
4, Angulo for Mojica (who is the new Uribe)
5. Castano for Lerma
6. Suarez for Cordoba .... he missed like 4-5 scoring opportunities that Venezuela will not give us.
7. If we don't start James which is doubtful I want to see us use 2 strikers. Maybe Cordoba won't be utter garbage with a partner up top.

——————Mier—————

Munoz—-Sanchez—-Yerson—-Angulo—

————-Rios—Castano——
———————James———-
Arias———Suarez———-Diaz

Friendlies I'd drop James, Vargas, Ospina, Davision, Munoz, Arias, Diaz, Cordoba from the team. Doubtful because the US marketing agencies probably require us to bring James and Diaz to sell tickets but Canada/Mexico should not require us to bring our main team. Test out alternatives. Hope we get December/January friendlies on non fifa days as well

 

cucho wasn't even called up lol

I would love to see Yerson start, I think he's a great CB as long as he doesn't become injury prone

 

Juan Cabal hopefully gets loaned in December to get playing time was great for Verona

Mojica is the weak link but better options aren’t appearing

Lucumi form is really bad but doubt he doesn’t make the final roster even if Yerson and Cabal make the team. Just mean Mina gets dropped

lerma needs to get a transfer for playing time. Hopefully Castano and others get chances

also starting #9

so 3/4 out of 11 spots should be up for grabs

bench feel it’s anyone’s game so hope they have non fifa games to try guys locally, from
Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and MLS

 

Cabal will be playing for Juve, they have no depth now and actually really need him. Not that you would know anything about that though of course

 

Exactly. That's why I'd be careful putting mosquera in there who is just coming back from an injury. Remember when Lorenzo returned Yaser injured to Girona, he didn't return for months after that I think.

I guess this is the moment for Mier but I'm not a huge fan after seing his recent screwups for his club. All GK screw up at times but his are on another level (a Gazaniga/Higuita level), and it also feels like it happens more constantly and in big games. He made 2 screwups in the same game. Its enough with one Milla moment in our WC history.
So I guess it's the perfect arena for Mier to see if he can handle it. We are already in so if he makes a brainfart it's enough to discard him as a starter in the WC.

Other than that I agree with suarez to start and castaño in for Lerma. And obviosly muñoz back.

 

btw, Castaño started off excellent for River Plate and now he's suddenly not doing very good at all. I've heard it seems like he's just all over the place, something somewhat similar thats happening to Rios recently with Colombia.

could just be that River is a mess in general, I know most of you guys like to ignore club football but I personally hold more weight with their clubs seeing as they spend like 95% of the season over there and only play with Colombia like 3 times a year if there's no international competition

 

What happens if both Bolivia and Venezuela lose? Lol

 

im fine with that, I don't see Bolivia doing shit against anyone in a world cup, or even a playoff

 

I would not mind this strategy. Just being ultra-cautious in my thinking. I am trying to avoid injuries or suspensions.
This game is the most important match in Venezuela History. They are going to go all out in this battle. We need to just play calm and not risk too much.