Colombia in search of their second CONMEBOL Copa America title

In 2001 los cafeteros won their only major international tournament as they lifted the CONMEBOL Copa America on home soil. Twenty years later they hope to repeat this triumph in Brazil.

To speak of Colombia is to inspire thoughts of stylish, charismatic, technical, joyful, pass and move football. The great generation Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama introduced the world to this great collectaitve style of play, a side which finished third place in three Copa Americas (1987, 1993 and 1995).

El Pibe’s national team career and this great generation came to an end with the 1998 World Cup. Following this came the rebuild. Despite winning the CONMEBOL Copa America in 2001 at home, Colombia took a step backwards and missed out on three consecutive World Cups.

Then came an encouraging youth generation and new boss José Néstor Pékerman who together not only restored the joy to side but also the nation. With a quicker more vertical style of play, the Argentine helped return Colombia to their position amongst the world’s best.

A fifth place finish at Brazil 2014 and quarterfinal qualification in Russia 2018 confirmed the resurgance of Colombia who now look to star players such as Juan Cuadrado and David Ospina.

Improvements in World Cup qualifying performances haven’t always translated to an upturn in Copa America form. Inconsistent form in the continental championship mean that a third place finish in 2016 is the standout since their 2001 win.

The last Copa America in Brazil in 2019 gave newly appointed Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz a chance to send a message to the continent. However, despite an excellent group stage which included an impressive win against Argentina, Colombia were beaten by Chile on penalties in a fairly flat showing in the second round.

World Cup qualifying performances in the months that followed were again inconsistent with a serious drop off towards the end of 2020. Humiliating defeats against Uruguay (3-0) in Barranquilla and Ecuador (6-1) in Quito brought an end to Queiroz time in charge of the national team and a change of direction.

Reinaldo Rueda: a new awakening

New boss Reinaldo Rueda is a familiar face and a popular local. His first experience in charge of the Colombia national team came between 2004 and 2006. During this period he achieved a fourth place finish at the Copa America in Peru but ultimately failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

15 years later he returns to lead the national team with greater experience and a more impressive CV. He managed three national teams (Honduras, Ecuador and Chile) and he won the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores with his dominant Atletico Nacional in 2016.

His return to Colombia has already brought some promising signs. In World Cup qualifiers his team won convincingly away against Peru (3-0) and came back from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 at home against Argentina. Picking up four important points that have rejuvenated Colombia’s 2022 World Cup hopes and built confidence for the Copa America.

The great absence for Colombia will be inspirational playmaker James Rodriguez, who was left out of the tournament with the Colombian Federation of Football publicly concluding he was not in the «good physical condition» required following an injury hit season in England.

Despite this, Colombia now have a consistent, quality group of players to call upon. They have the quality, they have the big names and they are capable of impressive, stylish football. They now only lack the authority and big game mentality which has at times been lacking in recent years. Reinaldo Rueda is the man in charge of repeating the glory of 2001.

Will he be able to do it?