It took more than two years for the Colombia selection play a game without the presence of their two Premier League central defenders, Yerry Mina i Davinson Sanchez. The last time was on June 3, 2019, when Carlos Queiroz started Cristian Zapata and John Lucumí in the 3-0 victory over Panama in El Campín.
This Thursday, Reinaldo Rueda you will have to look for alternatives. There is a player who earned the trust of the coach, Óscar Fabián Murillo, whom he already directed at Atlético Nacional and who already had very good performances in Asunción and, especially, in La Pau. Murillo not only replaced Mina very well, but he became a serious candidate to keep the position.
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Who will play in Murillo’s band? The two defenders called up by Roda who play for this profile have not made their debut with the Colombia National Team.
one is Carlos Costa, of 22 years, player of process of youthful selections, that was in the South Americans Sub-17 of 2017 and Sub-20 of 2019 and that also disputed the World-wide youthful one in Poland two years ago.
Player Genk of Belgium, has been making the line since the era of Carlos Queiroz and Roda summoned him to the Copa America, where he did not play a minute.
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The other option is Andrés Llinàs, of 24 years and player of Millionaires. Central defense of right profile, had patience to wait for its moment to arrive at the first equipment, had a passage by the B in Valledupar and, after the game of Matías of the Saints, it remained with the place of titling. Roda called him to the morphocycle to prepare for the game in La Paz and, when this was learned of Mina’s injury, he was called to the emergency room.
“They are players with different characteristics, with different years of experience. Llinàs has been projecting well and Costa already has experience in Europe and worked well in the Copa America. Both have done very good things in their clubs and the issue is in deciding what the best complements are, ”Rueda said.
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However, the DT usually has surprises in the starting lineup and in the payroll has two other players who have acted as sides in his team, but also often act as central in their teams: Stefan Medina, in Monterrey, and William Tesillo, in the Lion.
“The idea is to look for the best complement for Oscar, the best defensive security both at the start of the game,” said the DT.
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