Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Colombia could line up for Wednesday’s Copa America semi-final against Uruguay.
A first Copa America final in 23 years is on offer for Colombia in Wednesday’s semi-final showdown versus Uruguay in North Carolina, where the Tricolour could also set a new all-time record of 28 successive matches without defeat.
Nestor Lorenzo‘s men destroyed Panama 5-0 in the last eight to set up a date with La Celeste, despite missing Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma for the quarter-finals through suspension.
The yellow-card magnet was cautioned twice in two group matches to earn his ban, but he is now back at Lorenzo’s disposal and should step straight back in for Mateus Uribe in the centre.
Lerma’s return should be the only alteration to a settled 4-2-3-1 setup, where creative focal point James Rodriguez continued his renaissance with a goal and two assists in the first half of the Panama pummelling.
The 32-year-old is just the second player since 2011 to set up five goals in one Copa America tournament, and he joins Jhon Arias, Luis Diaz and Jhon Cordoba in the final third; his two assists in the quarter-final were for the latter two.
Lerma’s midfield partner Richard Rios was also among the scorers last time out and welcomes the Crystal Palace man back to the XI, while fellow Eagles representative Daniel Munoz struts his stuff at right-back.
Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta and Johan Mojica complete an unaltered defensive wall in front of 35-year-old Camilo Vargas, finally enjoying his spell in the spotlight after years in David Ospina‘s shadow.
Colombia possible starting lineup:
Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; J. Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
> Click here to see how Uruguay could line up for this semi-final
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