After being removed as co-hosts just weeks before the start of the tournament, Colombia now have a very tall mountain to climb if they are to win their first Copa America title in 20 years this summer.
With the Andean country all set to host the competition alongside Argentina this year, violent civil unrest in a number of major cities in Colombia was enough for CONMEBOL to offer the hosting of the tournament to Brazil instead at the last minute.
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In what was a huge disappointment for Colombia, a nation in love with the national sport, the team will now have to do it all without the support of their home fans.
There is also now a whole generation of Colombia fans who have not seen the national team, known as La Tricolor, win a major trophy, with the nation's last title coming in 2001 when they beat Mexico 1-0 in Bogota in the final of the Copa America.
There will undoubtedly be many in the country that will now look to the national team to offer hope and unity to a nation that has been scarred and divided by a spate of social issues this year.
Here, Sports Mole previews Colombia's chances at this summer's Copa America.
GROUP
The big test for Colombia will be their match against Brazil, who are by far the favourites in Group A, but with that being their last game in the group, the chances are that La Tricolor could well have sealed qualification by the time they face the Selecao.
In any case, Rueda's men will still have to pick up points against Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru, all of whom can be particularly dangerous on their day.
Ecuador, in particular, have become a very compact and resolute team in recent years, and back in November 2020 they actually beat Colombia 6-1 in a World Cup qualifier.
FIXTURES
June 14: Colombia vs. Ecuador (1am GMT, Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba)
June 17: Colombia vs. Venezuela (10pm GMT, Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiania)
June 21: Colombia vs. Peru (1am GMT, Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico, Goiania)
June 24: Brazil vs. Colombia (1am GMT, Olympic Stadium, Rio de Janeiro)
RECENT FORM
Colombia have been a mixed bag in recent years, often balancing honourable tournament displays with long periods of inadequacy in international friendlies and qualification campaigns.
In recent qualifiers against Peru and Argentina, La Tricolor appeared to be getting back to their best, picking up four points against the two nations, including a huge point against Argentina.
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In what looked to be a dismal performance from Colombia, Argentina were 2-0 inside 10 minutes, with Christian Romero and Leandro Paredes both scoring for La Albiceleste, however after Luis Muriel pulled one back just after the break, Miguel Borja equalised in the dying moments of added time.
This performance completed La Tricolor's 3-0 victory over Peru earlier this month, where Yerry Mina, Mateus Uribe and Luis Diaz all found the back of the net.
SQUAD
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Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Napoli), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), Alvaro Montero (Deportes Tolimo), Aldair Quintana (Atletico Nacional)
Defenders: Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham), Yerry Mina (Everton), Jhon Lucumi (Genk), Jeison Murillo (Celta Vigo), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca), William Tesillo (Leon), Pablo Ortiz (America de Cali), Yairo Moreno (Leon), Johan Mojica (Girona), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus), Daniel Munoz (Genk), Stefan Medina (Monterrey)
Midfielders: Wilmar Barrios (Zenit), Mateus Uribe (Porto), Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth), Gustavo Cuellar (Al Hilal), Luis Diaz (Porto), Jhon Vazquez (Deportivo Cali)
Forwards: Duvan Zapata (Atalanta), Luis Muriel (Atalanta), Santos Borre (River Plate), Alfredo Morelos (Rangers), Luis Suarez (Granada)
STAR PLAYER - Gustavo Cuellar
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From Carlos Valderrama to Radamel Falcao, the Colombian national team has always revolved around the emergence of generational talents.
In the absence of megastar James Rodriguez, who was dropped by Rueda due to fitness qualms, this Colombia side finds itself devoid of a singular talent that shines brighter than the rest.
Yet, cometh the hour cometh the man and into the fray steps the country's newest cult hero and all-round hard-nut, Gustavo Cuellar.
Cuellar, a defensive midfielder who earned his stripes at Deportivo Cali, has won plaudits for his stoic determination to protect the defence and his aptitude for shutting down opposition attacks, often utilising his superior upper body strength. Oh, and he's a decent passer of the ball too.
Although the 28-year-old lacks the flash and flair of the likes of Falcao and Rodriguez, Cuellar offers Colombia steel and bite in the centre of the park, providing a platform for the side's more forward-thinking players to build an attack.
Who knows, Cuellar may be just the type of player Colombia need to grind out results this summer.
MANAGER - Reinaldo Rueda
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Having managed the international teams of Honduras, Ecuador and Chile during his 27-year stint in management, it is fair to say that Rueda knows the ins and outs of international football more than anyone else on the continent.
However, his experience at the top level has not always translated into international prestige. In fact, the 64-year-old has never won any major honours on the international stage, a fact that has attracted criticism in the past.
Originally from Cali, a large metropolitan area in Colombia's southwestern reaches, Rueda's recent appointment as the head coach of the country's national team is just the latest development in a relationship that spans around two decades.
After managing the country's U17s, U20s, U21s and U23s, Rueda first took charge of the senior team in 2004, however the appointment proved to be a misadventure on the whole with Colombia failing to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
This misstep on behalf of Rueda would of course cost him his job.
Around 15 years later and Rueda is back at the helm of the country's international setup and the task at hand will once again test the nerve of the Cali-born coach.
Only time will tell if Rueda is better suited for the job now.
COPA AMERICA RECORD
Best finish: Winners (2001)
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Despite being one of the continent's most recognisable nations in terms of footballing pedigree, Colombia have frequently failed to compete for major honours and take their seat among the best in the region.
However, during their stellar Copa America run 20 years ago, Colombia shocked the continent when they grasped the opportunity with hands and lofted their first and only cup high above their heads.
Back then, Francisco Maturana was the man in charge of the national setup and the squad was made up of a modest array of professionals that were more blessed in defensive solidity than attacking flair.
With the likes of skipper Ivan Cordoba and defensive mainstays Mario Yepes and Ivan Lopez forming an impenetrable wall in front of the goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba, Colombia managed to win the tournament without conceding a single goal, an incredible feat for a side who had never won the competition before.
Given the team's defensive qualities, it made sense that Ivan Cordoba was the man that sealed the victory in the final against Mexico, with the captain netting the only goal of the game in the 65th minute.
PREDICTION
Colombia have regressed a lot since their era of promise in which they reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2014, and without their key players available, it is difficult to see how the national team will be able to compete with the likes of Argentina and Brazil.
We think Colombia will reach the quarter-finals and go no further, but we do not expect La Tricolor to go down without a fight.
Expect tricks, flicks and an overabundance of referee swarming from this cohort of Colombians.
VERDICT: Quarter-finals
Francis Buchanan
