Neiser Villarreal, figure of Colombia in the U-20 World Cup

Neiser Villarreal celebrates one of his three goals against Spain.

Photo: EFE – Benjamín Hernández

Colombia had a special day in Talca this Saturday. The U-20 team beat Spain 3-2 and qualified for the semifinals of the 2025 World Cup in Chile, repeating the feat achieved in 2003 in the World Cup of the category that was held in the United Arab Emirates.

In a vibrant and changing match, César Torres' team found its great figure in Nirser Villarreal: the striker scored the Tricolor's three goals and led an epic comeback that sealed its place among the four best youth teams on the planet.

Villarreal was the heart and soul of the team. He scored the first before the break, tied the game in the second half and sealed the final 3-2 in the final minutes with a definition full of power and coldness. With his hat trick, he became the hero of the day and the top scorer of the tournament. After his feat, he spoke about the unforgettable match in Talca.

In video: Neiser Villarreal's goals and the match between Colombia and Spain

“We came for seven finals and now there are five”: Villarreal

“I'm very happy for the classification,” said Neiser Villarreal, incredulous and with emotion on his face after the final whistle. The scorer, author of the three goals against Spain, was clear in his message: the team still does not consider that it has made history.

“We have not made history, as teacher César Torres said the other day. That is going to happen when we take the Cup home,” he added.

The forward, who has become a symbol of this U-20 generation, also highlighted the collective value of the achievement. “Very happy with the group and with the classification. We came for seven finals and now there are five,” he said, remembering the motto that the coaching staff has repeated since the beginning of the tournament: every game is a final. For Villarreal, the competitive mentality and the unity of the group have been the keys to getting this far in the 2025 World Cup in Chile.

Despite his great performance, the attacker remained humble and focused on what is to come. In the next match, due to the accumulation of yellow cards, he will not be able to play. “Now, I'm happy. It's time to rest and think about the next game. There are players who will do better than me or just as well,” he said.

Finally, Villarreal highlighted the atmosphere within the locker room, which he considers one of the strengths of the squad. “We are a family and we are united as a group,” the scorer concluded, making it clear that the collective spirit is what drives the team to continue dreaming of the final.

This will be Colombia's rival in the World Cup semi-final

Colombia's rival in the semifinals will be Argentina, which beat Mexico 2-0 in the second round.

The match, for a place in the grand final of the U-20 World Cup, will be played on Wednesday at 6:00 pm. The national team is already awaiting that challenge with the intact hope of reaching, for the first time, the decisive match.

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