The selection would go with changes

Juan Fernando Quintero, figure of the Colombian National Team.

Photo: AFP – Luis Acosta

The Colombian team arrives on Tuesday at the close of the South American qualifiers with the peace of mind of having secured its classification to the 2026 World Cup.

After the overwhelming 3-0 victory over Bolivia in Barranquilla, the team led by Néstor Lorenzo fulfilled the goal and cleared the doubts that accompanied him in the last dates. Now, in Maturín, he will face Venezuela, a rival who plays life to achieve repechage and converts this commitment into a character of character for the tricolor.

This Tuesday's game will be played at 6:30 pm and can be seen in Colombia by Gol Caracol, Caracol Channel and the Free App haswhich will offer the live signal on all devices. Although the quota is insured, the need to add still present: a victory would allow Colombia to reach 28 points and improve its position in the table.

APPROVED TABLE, BUT THE REPECHAJE IS ONLY DEFINES

Opposite will be a Venezuela with the illusion on. The Vinotinto, seventh in the table with 18 points, depends on itself to keep the repechage and keep the dream alive to play for the first time a World Cup. A victory against Colombia would ensure that possibility, while a stumbling block would open the door to Bolivia, which with 17 units receives Brazil in El Alto.

The definition promises drama: Venezuela trusts Solomón Rondón's leadership and the creativity of Jefferson Savarino to give the historical blow, while Bolivia needs to win and expect that those of Fernando Batista do not add. Colombia, without proposing it, becomes a direct judge of that dispute, a role that gives the match more spicy in Maturín.

Colombia already thinks about the World Cup

For Lorenzo, the meeting is also an opportunity to adjust pieces and try variants for the World Cup. The coach said at a press conference that he will take the game with total seriousness, although he could introduce controlled changes in the alignment. The fundamental thing will be to keep the team base and give confidence to footballers who can win prominence in the immediate future.

The return of Daniel Muñoz after sanction is one of the novelties in defense, while in attack the main commitment will be in Luis Javier Suárez, who will occupy the place of Jhon Córdoba as a centrodlanterero. The speed for the bands, in charge of Luis Díaz and Jhon Arias, will be one of the offensive keys, in a scheme that will seek to hit in transition and take advantage of the spaces left by a rival needed to add.

Another point to consider is disciplinary risk. Thirteen players of the National Team arrive at the yellow card commitmentso a new warning would leave them suspended for the debut in the World Cup. This situation forces an intelligent handling of the party, avoiding unnecessary offenses and taking care of fundamental pieces of the campus.

Néstor Lorenzo's XI: these is the most likely alignment

Beyond the result, the meeting represents a mental challenge. After a classification with ups and downs and negative gusts, Colombia needs to close with good feelings, consolidate confidence and demonstrate that it can sustain a competitive level even when it already has the assured objective. Preparation for the World Cup begins from now on.

The historical context also adds weight to the party. Venezuela has always been an uncomfortable rival for Colombia in qualifiers, with a history that remind painful defeats or draws that complicated previous campaigns. In that sense, the tricolor must maintain concentration and humility, without falling into the temptation to underestimate the adversary.

The most likely eleven of Colombia against Venezuela would be a 4-3-3 with Camilo Vargas in the arch; Daniel Muñoz, Dávinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí and Johan Mojica in defense; a midfield composed of Jefferson Lerma, Richard Ríos and Juan Fernando Quintero; and an offensive trident led by Jhon Arias, Luis Javier Suárez and Luis Díaz.

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