Colombia vs. Paraguay | Copa America Centenario Match Preview

Over the last several years, Colombia has dramatically risen to the cream of the international team crop, reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever in 2014. Since then, the team’s seen a generational shift, with a new crop of rising talent who could prove dangerous under head coach Jose Pekerman. Paraguay, meanwhile, boast a skilled striker in the Seattle Sounders’ Nelson Valdez, but they couldn’t top an obviously stronger Mexico in a pre-Copa America friendly.

Fresh Blood

A huge chunk of stars from Colombia’s last World Cup turn – and the latest qualifying cycle – are out. This time around, there’s no Radamel Falcao, no Teofilo Gutierrez, no Freddy Guarin, no Jackson Martinez. Instead, there’s a new crop of rising stars, among them Inter Milan’s Jeison Murillo. Still, the final roster reflects a balance between veterans and younger players—don’t worry, Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado is definitely part of the picture, and still in fine form.

Fight for Air

Colombia’s got serious offensive game, favoring a pressing style, precision in passing and in shots on goal, and attacking down the wing. However, even they admit they’ve a specific weakness: defending in the air. In a pre-Copa warm-up friendly against Haiti, Colombia came up 3-1 against Haiti – but that one opposing goal came courtesy of a Wilde-Donald Guerrier header.

That could prove to be a problem against Paraguay, a scrappier team some 41 spots down the FIFA rankings from Los Cafeteros. Valdez stands just five-foot-ten, but he’s still got the aerial knack of taller strikers—in fact, he made a perfectly placed header for his first goal for the Sounders.

Holding Their Own

Paraguay’s previous big international stunner, in last year’s Copa America, shouldn’t be discounted. Facing an Argentina side boasting no less than Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, Paraguay refused to roll over and die. In fact, instead they masterminded a second-half comeback leading to a 2-2 draw. That was the first time since 1966 that a team in the tournament had come back from two goals down to bag a draw.

Paraguay goalkeeper Antony Silva proved especially crucial, too, with a number of dramatic saves. He figures on this years Copa squad.

The Player to Surprise

Nelson Valdez, Forward, Paraguay

Well, his attacking skills won’t surprise anyone who follows his club team, the Seattle Sounders. But casual fans might have underestimated him when the MLS side signed him this past summer to a Designated Player contract. A seasoned vet with a decade-plus international career, he’s appeared in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, as well as the 2011 and 2015 Copa America. In fact, in last year’s Copa go-round, he scored for his country in the comeback draw against Argentina. Valdez's ball control and ability in the air make him especially potentially deadly.