LOS ANGELES -- After kicking off Copa America Centenario with a 2-0 victory over the US in the opening match last week, Colombia’s status has been elevated to one of the clear favorites to win the tournament.
Thanks to the productivity and talent of their players, for many, there is a sense that Los Cafeteros will win Group A with little trouble and could be in line to win the Copa itself.
However, the players and coaching staff prefer to manage expectations very carefully, preventing the tag of “favorites” from going to their heads and ultimately ruin the goal set when entering the tournament.
"We are very calm, focused on what we came to do in Copa America, which is to go game after game, going slowly," said Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez at Sunday’s press conference.
"What happened [vs. the United States] is in the past, we are now thinking about the next game against Paraguay and we have to prepare well and try to win."
Certainly because of what the next rival Paraguay, represent as an opponent, Colombia are not overconfident. While Ramón Díaz’s squad features some new faces, the style of play of the Guaraníes remains the same: a strong defense, strength in the air and aggression.
"The Paraguayan gene remains the same in their aggressiveness, the pace in their game and in the defensive fast transitions," said Colombia assistant coach Nestor Lorenzo.
“Maybe what has changed in Paraguay are some young players with other characteristics, which forced the coach [Diaz] to change the scheme in attack. They have skilled players,” he added.
Although Paraguay obtained a dull 0-0 draw against Costa Rica in their opening match, Colombia are not expecting this game to unfold the same way.
For Edwin Cardona, Monterrey’s midfielder and possible playmaker if James Rodriguez is confirmed out of the game due to injury, Colombia must take all the necessary precautions against a team that will look for a good result from the beginning.
"It was a match with a lot of intensity [between Paraguay and Costa Rica] and all matches are different. We do not know how they are going to face the game against us, but we know that Paraguay always plays the same: running, good speed and the aggressiveness that make them play the game they want and we need to counteract that and make the game for us," Cardona said.
The last time Colombia faced Paraguay was on October 15, 2013, with a 2-1 win for Los Cafeteros thanks to two goals from Mario Alberto Yepes.
While the statistics are favorable for Colombians -- seven wins, two draws and one defeat in the last 10 games played -- Cardona predicts a rough and highly competitive game as the ticket to the next round is in demand for both teams.
"It's a different game," said Cardona. "We want to be first [in the group], we want to win the game, we know it will be a very difficult match, we have to go out and win."
