The beginning of the new cycle of the Colombian National Team 🇨🇴 facing the next international competitions has brought with it a strong revelation about the preparation of the squad list. According to information released by the Colombian sports press, the strategist Néstor Lorenzo would be obliged to include midfielder and captain James Rodríguez for friendly matches scheduled on the next FIFA dates.
The demands of businessmen
According to what was revealed by journalist Javier Hernández in Blog Deportivo, the continuity of James Rodríguez in the ‘Tricolor’ for the preparation duels in September and October would not be due in the first instance to a strictly football decision, but rather to a contractual and commercial commitment.
- economic condition: The promoters in charge of organizing the friendly matches in the United States established as a requirement the presence of the Colombian ’10’ on the field to pay a greater amount to the Colombian Football Federation (FCF).
- Environment pressure: Although Rodríguez’s presence has been the subject of debate due to his pace of play and his club contractual situation, the commercial attractiveness that the Cucuteño represents for the organizers is decisive.
The sporting context after the World Cup
After the participation of the Colombian National Team in the World Cup in North America – where the team lost in the round of 16 on penalties against Switzerland -, Néstor Lorenzo’s coaching staff plans the restructuring of the squad.
Although within the sports project it is evaluated the generational change and the continuity of several veteran figurescommercial obligations with the organizers of international events impose an extra condition for the Argentine coach in putting together his immediate calls.
