James and Falcao set to continue with Colombia
At a recent press conference, the Colombian National Team coach confirmed the importance of historical players within his project.
In the chat that Néstor Lorenzo had with the press department of the Colombian National Team, the coach referred to the positive contribution that “older” players give to a team. He valued young players who seek to open a space in the squad for themselves, but is of the opinion that they should have the company and leadership of the experienced - in his case players such as Radamel Falcao, James Rodríguez, David Ospina and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado.
“Those of us who have been in football for many years know that youngsters are important in a team because of their energy, freshness, ability, but also the older ones because of their experience, because of their way of managing time. Labruna said that they win games and the great championships”, Lorenzo replied when asked about his relationship with the historical players of the National Team.
The coach gave an example of when he was a player for Argentinos Juniors in the 1980s, beginning his career and had Ángel Labruna as coach, who many criticised for having players over 30 years of age. “I had a very nice experience in Argentinos with a winning squad where I was a substitute, but with 34, 35-year-old players like Holguín, Vidallé, Pavoni, Lemme, J.J. Lopez, Moret. When they came, they said: ‘look at Labruna, the old people he brings from River’. But they laid the foundation to win together with the youngsters who appeared like Borghi, Batista, Videla and the younger ones that we were at that time”.
“So I believe in that, that you should take advantage of the experience of those who are physically fit to compete and they know that they have a greater responsibility for the fame, for what they have won. They have a greater responsibility than the rest, they use it and that is part of the commitment we mutually acquire”, Lorenzo added, referring to the deal he closed with Falcao, James, Cuadrado, Ospina and other players who have been with the National Team for more than 10 years and are closer to finishing their careers.
“Falcao dreams of playing in the next World Cup”
In a recent interview with El Alargue on Caracol Radio, Silvano Espíndola, a personal friend of Falcao and who was his first representative, said that EL Tigre is excited and is working to reach the 2026 World Cup and that “[Falcao] would do it at 40 years old.” He said that the Rayo Vallecano striker has all the physical and mental attributes to achieve that goal.
“Falcao dreams of playing in the next World Cup, so let’s wait and see. It can be said that there are better players or with a better future ahead, but it is very difficult to overturn the hierarchy and when you have a player like that, you need positive leaders in the group and moreso when you have young people as good as the ones you have now or in the future”, explained Espíndola.
Radamel Falcao has played 12 times for Rayo Vallecano this season, scoring twice; James Rodríguez has 8 league appearances for Olympiacos, and also has two goals to his name.