Colombia and Ghana fight for the last ticket to the round of 16

The teams of Colombia and Ghana face each other this Friday, early Saturday morning in Spain, in the round of 32 of the World Cup that is being played in the United States, Mexico and Canada, an unprecedented matchup with no margin for error between the reliable and solid ‘coffee’ team that is seeking the round of 16 for the third consecutive participation, against an African team that is also serious at the back and that wants to be among the 16 best teams in the world for the first time since 2010.

On paper, the team coached by Néstor Lorenzo is a favorite in this match that will close the round of 32 phase of the tournament. The all-or-nothing round begins, those games that are played without a net and that Colombia, in the World Cups, are not very good at. And they have only won one tie in their entire history in a World Cup; It was in 2014, with an excellent James Rodríguez who scored a double to eliminate Uruguay in the round of 16.

In addition to Brazil 2014 and the current edition, the South American team advanced to the first phase in Mexico 1990 and Russia 2018, and in neither of them were they able to advance in the tournament, so they have a good opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the fruitful generation of 2014, with the bar of the quarterfinals as an objective to beat.

Colombia fulfilled and even performed above expectations in a Group K that it led after beating Uzbekistan (1-3) and the DR Congo (1-0), with more suffering than expected, and drawing without goals against Portugal, the other favorite in the shortlist of four, to advance as leader and avoid the part of the table with the majority of European teams.

Néstor Lorenzo’s men must demonstrate on the pitch the favoritism imposed in the run-up to the duel, thanks to Luis Díaz in great form and fixed on the left, with veteran and captain James Rodríguez in the midfield. The two big doubts are those of Luis Suárez, who could lose his place for Jhon Córdoba; while Daniel Muñoz and Johan Mojica would return to the sides, unless Déiver Machado continues in the eleven.

For its part, Ghana lands in the qualifiers for the third time in its history, after advancing as one of the eight best third parties in the group stage. The initial victory against Panama 1-0 was key to getting the ticket, since they later tied (0-0) against England in an exercise of resistance and lost 2-1 against Croatia on the last day.

The main strength of the ‘Black Stars’ is their defensive solidity, since the two goals conceded against the Balkan team were the first they conceded in five games leaving a clean sheet, so beating the defensive framework designed by coach Otto Addo will be the challenge for the ‘coffee’ team. Furthermore, Colombia faces a team that gives up the ball, averaging 36% possession, the second lowest figure in the round of 32 behind Paraguay.

Now Ghana has the opportunity to advance to the round of 16 of a World Cup for the first time in 2010, with fast players like Mohammed Kudus, Athletic Club’s Iñaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo, to try to add their second victory after a streak of only one victory in the last nine games. Addo has doubts in goal, and in the companion of Thomas Partey and Sibo in midfield.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:

COLOMBIA: Vargas; Muñoz, Davinson, Lucumí, Mojica; Lerma, Door; Jhon Arias, James, Luis Díaz; and Luis Suárez.

GHANA: Affected; Senaya, Adjetey, Luckassen, Mensah; Sibo, Yirenkyi, Partey; J. Ayew, Semen and Suleman.

–REFEREE: Clément Turpin (FRA).

–STADIUM: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas (United States).

–TIME: 03.30/DAZN.