Copa America Centenario
Colombia Team Preview
Get To Know Los Cafeteros
By: Sean Murphy
FIFA World Rankings - 4
Odds to Win the Tournament Current 9/1 (Sky Bet) - (Opened at 6/1 William Hill US & 11/2 Westgate)
Odds to Win Copa America Group A 11/8 (Sky Bet)
Nicknames - Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers), La Tricolor (The Tricolor)
This will be the 18th Copa America Appearance for Los Cafeteros. They've won Copa America Once (2001), Finished Runners-Up Once (1975), & Have Three Third Place Finishes (1987,1993,1995). Colombia will only play one Friendly in the lead-up to Copa America and it will be on 5/29/16 vs Haiti in Miami. Colombia is coming off two CONEMBOL World Cup Qualifying Wins in March at Bolivia 3-2 & vs Ecuador 3-1. Those were Colombia's only two matches so far in 2016.
Colombia is placed in Copa America Group A where they will face Tournament Hosts USA 6/3, Paraguay 6/7, & Costa Rica 6/11. Expected to advance out of Group A, Columbia's opening match vs the USA could go a long way towards deciding who wins the Group. Colombia are led by World Class Superstar James Rodriguez. Other key players for Los Cafeteros include Carlos Bacca, Juan Cuadrado, and Cristian Zapata. Young Superstars who could burst onto the World Stage for this Tournament include Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Jeison Murillo (Inter Milan), Edwin Cardona (Monterrey), and Roger Martinez (Racing Club).
Star Players - Midfielder James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Midfielder Carlos Bacca (AC Milan), Forward Juan Cuadrado (Chelsea FC -Spent 2015/2016 at Juventus on Loan), Defender Cristian Zapata (AC Milan)
Potential Breakout Stars - Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Jeison Murillo (Inter Milan), Edwin Cardona (Monterrey-Mexico), Roger Martinez (Racing Club)
Big Names Left Home - Radamel Falco (Monaco Spent 2015/2016 at Chelsea on Loan), Freddy Guarin (Shanghai Shenhua), Jackson Martinez (Guangzhou Evergrande)
Manger Profile - Jose Pekerman has been the Manager of the Colombia National Team since 2012. In that time the Argentine has guided Colombia to a WC 2014 Quarter Final. Jose Pekerman is a tactial manager who's known to prefer players who fit his system rather then the most talented. Jose Pekerman is known as "Superman" by fans of Colombia.
Roster
Player Info, Age, & 2015-2016 Season Club Stats
Goal Keepers
GK Cristian Bonilla Age 22 (Atletico Nacional-Colombia) 34 Appearances 118 Saves
GK David Ospina Age 27 (Arsenal FC-England) 12 Appearances 34 Saves
GK Robinson Zapata Age 37 (Santa Fe-Colombia) 22 Appearances
Defenders
D Felipe Aguilar Age 23 (Atletico Nacional-Colombia) 30 Appearances
D Santiago Arias Age 24 (PSV Eindhoven-Holland) 38 Appearances 3 Goals 2 Assists
D Farid Diaz Age 32 (Atletico Nacional-Colombia) 38 Appearances
D Frank Fabra Age 25 (Boca Juniors-Argentina) 46 Appearances 3 Goals 3 Assists
D Stefan Medina (Monterrey-Mexico Spending 2016 at Pachuca on Loan) 27 Appearances 1 Goal
D Jeison Murrilo Age 24 (Inter Milan-Italy) 33 Appearances 2 Goals
D Oscar Murillo Age 28 (Pachuca-Mexico) 40 Appearances 2 Goals
D Cristian Zapata Age 29 (AC Milan-Italy) 19 Appearances 1 Goal
Midfielders
M Edwin Cardona Age 23 (Monterrey-Mexico) 35 Appearances 18 Goals 6 Assists
M Guillermo Celis Age 23 (Jumior-Colombia) 47 Appearances 4 Goals
M Juan Cuadrado Age 28 (Chelsea FC-England Spent 2015/2016 on Loan at Juventus-Italy) 39 Appearances 5 Goals 7 Assists
M Sebastian Perez Age 23 (Atletico Nacional-Colombia) 11 Appearances 1 Goal
M Andres Felipe Roa Age 23 (Deportivo Cali-Colombia) 10 Appearances 3 Goals
M James Rodriguez Age 24 (Real Madrid-Spain) 36 Appearances 10 Goals 10 Assists
M Carlos Sanchez Age 30 (Aston Villa-England) 23 Appearances
M Daniel Torres Age 26 (Independiente Medellin-Colombia) 39 Appearances 3 Goals
Forwards
F Carlos Bacca Age 29 (AC Milan-Italy) 42 Appearances 21 Goals 3 Assists
F Roger Martinez Age 21 (Racing Club-Argentina) 36 Appearances 10 Goals
F Marlos Moreno Age 19 (Atletico Nacional-Comombia) 26 Appearances 5 Goals
F Dayro MorenoAge 30 (Club Tijuana-Mexico) 34 Appearances 20 Goals 4 Assists