The Colombian National Team faced Spain in the first friendly match of the year. Néstor Lorenzo’s team thus began its preparation for the Copa América and for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers that will be played in the second half of the year.

The coach took the field with a team similar to the one he uses in World Cup qualifying, but with two important changes. Cassierra by Rafael Santos Borré and Jorge Carrascal by James Rodríguez. The two regular and experienced starters of the national team remained on the bench.

The rest of the team was made up of Camilo Vargas, Daniel Muñoz, Carlos Cuesta, Jhon Lucumí, Johan Mojica, Kevin Castaño, Jefferson Lerma, Jhon Arias and Luis Díaz. With that payroll, which is what, to a large extent, is what the coach will use in official matches, 2024 began.

Spain, for its part, played with Raya, Porro, Vivian, Laporte, Grimaldo, Zubimendi, Merino, Sarabia, Moreno, Oyarzabal and Joselu. Mostly young players that coach Luis de la Fuente wanted to try against Colombia, since he left the most experienced players for the match against Brazil.

The first half belonged to the Spanish National Team. They had possession of the ball, they managed a medium-high block, they recovered after a loss and from the start with their defenders they looked more compact and stronger than Colombia, which entered without confidence and lacked order to be able to advance lines and create danger.

Something different from the rival who came through Zubimendi with a header that went slightly off course. He also arrived with Sarabia, Moreno and Joselu. As the minutes passed, Colombia settled in better, but they did so to work on defense. It was tactical to reduce Spain, but it had no depth.

Colombia tried to create options through the counterattack and also with a still ball, thus disturbing the Spanish defense with an armed play from a free kick and with an overflow on the left by Díaz. Neither of the two options bore fruit in the opposing net, but this way the national team was able to shake off the Spanish dominance a bit.

Despite the good performance of Grimaldo, Spain’s left back, who not only had an outlet in his sector, but also placed accurate crosses for his teammates in attack and was the best partner for his midfield, Colombia was able to counteract his rival and He finished well in defense the first half that ended goalless.

Second half: Great victory for Colombia
In the second half, James Rodríguez came on for Carrascal and Richard Ríos came on for Kevin Castaño. But the game began as in the first half, with the rival team on top of Colombia, high pressure and forcing fouls very close to Camilo Vargas’s area, who saved Colombia in the 48th minute after a shot by Gerard Moreno.

After the Spanish attack, Colombia began to feel James’ entry onto the playing field. The 10 of the National Team had two clear ones to unbalance the match, one from a medium distance crossed from the right sector and another that Díaz left in the center of the area.

In addition, Rodríguez had more volume of play and attack on his feet, which changed the panorama of the match and allowed the goal to arrive for Colombia. Luis Díaz made a fantasy run on the left where the young Dani Vivian was marking him, but against whom he could do nothing, the Liverpool player saw Muñoz on the right, made a perfect change of front and the winger finished off volley without dropping it. Great goal.

After the goal, De la Fuente brought on Álvaro Morata for Joselu, Nico Williams and Yamal also came on. He tried to have more presence in the Colombian area with a more experienced player among the central defenders of the national team and with others from the youth, but with more matches in the National Team.