James Rodríguez reveals what gave him chills before Colombia’s opener: “It was something unique, as if it were my first game”

It was not one of James Rodríguez’s most influential performances for Colombia, but the captain still played his part as Los Cafeteros opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a victory over Uzbekistan.

The Colombian playmaker found little space to dictate the game and was closely marked throughout the match at the Estadio Azteca. Even so, the national team secured its first three points of the tournament and moved to the top of Group K after a successful opening outing.

Following the final whistle, the veteran midfielder reflected on the significance of the win, the support from Colombian fans, and his own journey back to the sport’s biggest stage after a challenging period.

Speaking about the atmosphere created by Colombia supporters in Mexico City, Rodríguez admitted the experience was emotional.

“It was something unique, as if it were my first game. It was unique to see all of that when the anthem played. It’s a unique feeling. I’m happy because of that.”

The 34-year-old also discussed the path that brought him to the World Cup, highlighting the difficulties he faced in recent months.

“It has been a long journey, especially over the last three months, which have been tough. With the help of my teammates and the coaching staff, I’m happy. We played a good game.”

Rodríguez explained how Uzbekistan’s defensive setup forced him to adapt his role during the match.

“They are tactically strong and were sitting deep. I tried to drop back to play through balls and help build the game. Puerta and Jhon Arias attacked the spaces I left. It’s easy when you have players with this kind of quality.”

With the opening hurdle cleared, Colombia will now turn its attention to the next challenges in Group K, hoping to build on a winning start and continue its return to the World Cup stage after an eight-year absence.

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