Colombia has named a 26-man squad to begin its post-World Cup renewal. The team is training in Delaware, USA, for three friendly matches during the September and October FIFA windows, starting with a clash against Mexico on Saturday.
The national side enters this period in strong competitive form. Colombia sits top of its World Cup qualifying group with 7 points from two wins and a draw. The team is unbeaten in its last five outings, recording three victories and two draws. The most recent result was a goalless draw against Switzerland in July.
The goalkeepers
Three goalkeepers with contrasting recent fortunes headline the call-up. Álvaro Montero arrives in excellent form for Boca Juniors, having become a key player after a shaky start. In contrast, Aldaír Quintana bears the weight of the mistake that led to Independiente del Valle's elimination from the Copa Libertadores. Kevin Mier is also facing criticism after another error for Cruz Azul against Monterrey.
Defence and attack
In defence, Luis Javier Suárez has overcome a disappointing World Cup and an early-season conflict to regain his form with Sporting CP in Portugal. In attack, Camilo Durán brings experience from Celtic in Glasgow, while Kevin Viveros is breaking records with Atlético Paranaense in Brazil. The coaching staff believes this group blends experience and youth for the future.
Colombia's next official fixture is the match against Mexico on September 26. This friendly window serves to evaluate options for the ongoing qualifying campaign, where Colombia leads by two points over Portugal. Fans can track the squad's development on our squad page.
Background and full detail: El Tiempo
