Unnecesary Colombian suffering

I was quite excited yesterday, first time in a long time: I would be able to leave work early and go to the legendary Azteca Stadium to see Colombia versus Uzbekistan in the World Cup!

After a lengthy and crowded ride in public transport arrived at the immense and sold-out stadium: a vast crowd of Colombians that surely made it a home-match for the South Americans.

I had no expectations of the Uzbekis: I only know their Manchester City player, Abdukodir Khusanov, and their manager, the legendary Fabio Cannavaro. And I was disappointed: perhaps it was the nerve of the World Cup debut, but it was a team that entered the pitch not to win, but rather not to lose. A five-man defense, with Khusanov in the right, in order to stop the quick Luis Diaz.

Khusanov did not have an easy first half: he was soon booked for a foul on Luis Diaz, who was a constant threat, while James was constantly moving to confuse the defense. Colombia had basically all possession and even a Luis Diaz shot on the post, but relieve only came in the 40th minute when a deep high-ball into the area by Luis Diaz was caught with a high leg by the Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz. 1-0 was deserved.

Uzbekistan did not change much their second half despite them being behind. Colombia had possession, but it seemed nerves started hitting the Colombians - at least the fans were calling for a second goal as the Colombians passed the ball around facing the closed Uzbeki defense. 

Then what happened was unnecessary as well as historical (at least for Uzbeksitan). The first real Uzbeki attack and a high ball that appeared to go out landed with an Uzbeki striker who first timed a precise but weak shot straight at the Colombian goalkeeper, Camilo Vargas, at the near post. The ball hit Vargas in a way that it went straight up behind him, and straight to Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who could easily score Uzbekistan's first ever World Cup goal.

1-1 was so against the match!

But soon after Luis Diaz himself made it 2-1 on a shot towards the far Uzbeki post, in a ball that the Uzbeki goalkeeper Utkir Yusopov should probably have saved.

Thus we see that there is indeed some poor goalkeeping in the World Cup.

2-1 was well-deserved, and Colombia should be in control. Both Luis Diaz and James were substituted as Colombia pulled back to defend the lead, and the Uzbekis pushed forward. The end was unnecessarily nerve-wrecking for the Colombians, who had seen the Uzbekis score, and in the dying minutes they were suddenly in control.

But two of the substitutes saved the day: Cucho Hernandez had come on earlier and fought hard winning a ball during a counterattack, and made a perfect pass into the Uzbeki area where Jaminton Campaz (who had come on for James) could easily head the ball into the Uzbeki goal and make it to a deserved 3-1.

Still, - and this was the most admirable part about the Uzbekis -, Uzbekistan had an incredible shot on the  crossbar in the dying seconds (would surely have been the goal of the tournament!), but it was never enough to deny the Colombians, who despite all the suffering, deserved the victory.

Intense and great match, and most of all, happy to cheer on the Colombian team with all other Colombian fans! 

El Mundo de los Primeros?

The South American football Association CONMEBOL has published a video for the 2024 Copa America where they talk about how Latin America are "first" at football and life and that Latin Americans are firstly "brothers".

One would have been excused for thinking this video, made by and for the richest Latin Americans, is somewhat of a joke when looking at the "brotherhood" between Uruguayans and Colombians in last night's semifinal of the Copa America.

The match started well; Colombia was superior, attacking, and coming close on headers, and it was exactly on a header that Jefferson Lerma brought Colombia ahead, deservedly, and it looked like Uruguay had to show some style, but the few chances they created were shamefully wasted by one Darwin Nuñez.

Uruguayans are provocative, and it was perhaps a provocation towards the end of the first half that led the Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz to try to elbow a Uruguayan. He already had a yellow card, so he obviously got a red card for losing his head in such a stupid way. It is not that we like the Uruguayans, but you cannot lose your head like that.

And in the end too many were too close to lose their head on both sides. The second half was not elegant; it was dirty, as Uruguay tried to push forward in any way possible, and Colombians were too often losing their heads and the referee losing control amid fouls, dives and constant protesting (these are things the Latin Americans are truly "first" at). Only the entrance of veterans Yerry Mina and Mateus Uribe (who shamefully missed two big chances to seal the match) gave Colombia some stability to defend to the end of the match.

But the end of the match was the most shameful thing of an already dirty affair as players, instead of thanking one another for an intense contest, started fighting. At the same time something happened in the stands (allegedly Colombian fans attacked the Uruguayan player's families), and Uruguayan players, notably Darwin Nuñez, started fighting with the fans.

It was a sad sad spectacle of Latin American "Brotherhood"

Distrust is one thing that Latin Americans are first at. Even before the tournament starting they were saying that the tournament had been fixed for Argentina and Messi to win in Miami. Just like Uruguayans bitched about a conspiracy against them when they were eliminated in the 2022 World Cup.

I find it strange that you would bother watching the Copa America if you believe that it is fixed. But surely the Colombians have an excuse in case they lose on Sunday! In fact, I think they will lose because the players as well as the fans will enter the stadium believing that they match has already been fixed against them, and losing will be the best way to confirm that the corrupt world is against them.

Just await a boxing match between Latin American "brothers".

But no matter what, they will all be there as the "first ones" bitching and crying at the next tournament!