Coach John Arias mentioned he “goals and believes” that Colombia has an opportunity to achieve the World Cup finals after Colombia beat Ghana on Saturday.
Arias’ 14th-minute aim from substitute Luis Suarez was sufficient for Nestor Lorenzo’s facet to win 1-0 within the Spherical of 32 encounter in Kansas.
The win towards Ghana was Colombia’s second within the World Cup finals, having defeated Uruguay within the last-16 stage 12 years in the past, establishing their subsequent match towards Switzerland.
Argentina or Egypt will await him within the quarter-finals, however Arias, who dissatisfied at Wolves earlier than being bought to Palmeiras this season, is assured of constructing historical past for Colombia.
“We’ve the dream, we imagine and we’ve what it takes to achieve the ultimate,” he mentioned. “Step one is to dream and imagine that it’s potential.”
Colombia will probably be hoping to not less than match their greatest World Cup efficiency in 2014, once they misplaced within the final eight to hosts Brazil.
They achieved three clear sheets for the primary time in World Cup historical past, holding Portugal to a goalless draw and shifting forward of Roberto Martinez’s Group Okay, defeating the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0.
Lorenzo might play towards his native Argentina if Colombia defeats Switzerland in Vancouver on Tuesday.
“This implies quite a bit,” mentioned Lorenzo, who was a part of the Argentina workforce that misplaced within the 1990 last.
“It’s a really robust event with various temperatures and a variety of journey, making the logistics very troublesome for everybody.”
Ghana had a lackluster efficiency and by no means acquired to check Camilo Vargas, whereas solely Iraq (two) had fewer photographs heading in the right direction than the 4 on this yr’s last.
Questions could also be raised about Carlos Queiroz’s defensive strategy, however some could argue that the sense of accomplishment in reaching the World Cup finals for the primary time since Ghana misplaced within the final eight in 2010 was too nice.
“The standard of our passes was not what we anticipated. We made a variety of errors and allowed counter-attacks,” Queiroz mentioned.
“They scored in a second when the workforce wasn’t collectively.”
Queiroz solely took over on a short-term contract in April, and all eyes are on his departure after main Ghana via the group phases.
“What I must do subsequent is have a glass of water, calm down, refresh myself for the subsequent morning and begin making different selections,” concluded the previous Manchester United assistant, who coached in his fifth World Cup.
