COPA AMÉRICA
Colombia closing in on unbeaten record as Uruguay await in Copa América
The semifinal game between Colombia and Uruguay has more than just the ticket to the final on the line.
This edition of the Copa América is reaching its climax. After Argentina’s 2-0 against Canada, coach Lionel Scaloni’s side is expectant to know who will face them in the final at the Hard Rock Stadium on July 15.
Uruguay and Colombia will face off in what is sure to be a breath-taking match that goes beyond getting a place in the final: Uruguay is looking to reach a Copa América final after 13 years and break the tie with Argentina for most titles won (15); on the other hand, Colombia puts its unbeaten streak on the line and dreams of reaching a final after 23 years!
The stakes are high on both sides, and Colombia’s team knows there is no better moment to make a statement. Néstor Lorenzo’s team has done an outstanding tournament, qualifying first in Group D ahead of Brazil, trashing Panama in the quarterfinals with a 5-0 win, and extending an unbeaten streak close to being historic.
When did Colombia’s unbeaten streak start?
Paradoxically, the Cafeteros’s good form started at their worst moment, during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. On March 25, 2022, Colombia defeated Bolivia 3-0 on matchday eight, with Reinaldo Rueda as the head coach, and far from thinking this was the start of something special. Despite a victory against Perú in the last game, Colombia finished sixth and failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.
Afterward, Rueda was sacked, and in June 2022, Néstor Lorenzo was appointed Colombia’s new trainer. However, his arrival caused mixed opinions among some fans, who argued that Lorenzo’s inexperience would not benefit the team. The Argentinian’s first match as Colombia’s head coach would be a friendly game against Guatemala in September 2022, which the Colombians won 4-1.
How long is Colombia’s unbeaten streak?
Néstor Lorenzo’s era has not only boosted the country’s confidence ahead of this Copa América but also created special memories for the national team enthusiasts, one of them being the historic 2-1 win against Brazil in November 2023; Colombia’s first-ever victory against the Canarinha in World Cup qualifiers. Moreover, Lorenzo’s incredible run has included memorable victories against Germany (2-0) and Spain (1-0).
Colombia is unbeaten in 27 games! Meanwhile, Néstor Lorenzo has a personal streak of 24 matches without a loss. With the 5-0 win against Panama during the Copa América quarterfinals, the team equaled former coach Francisco’s Maturana historic unbeaten streak between 1992 and 1994, which saw one of Colombia’s most ever gifted generations of soccer players.
When was the last time Colombia lost a match?
If looking for the last time Colombia lost a game, we have to set the time machine back to February 2022, during those same Qatar World Cup qualifiers, when Argentina defeated Reinaldo Rueda’s side 1-0 with a solitary goal from Lautaro Martínez.