New year, new technician. Finally, after several weeks of negotiations, Reinaldo Rueda left Chile to take over the technical direction of the Colombia National Team.
The Vallecaucano strategist, who in 2004 led the senior team, will have his second chance in the national team, with a single goal: to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Roda will not have an easy job, so, before the departure of Carlos Queiroz, the Tricolor was left in a sporting limbo, in which despite having players with continuity and experience in the major leagues in Europe, failed to consolidate an idea game and this was reflected in the latest results.
However, both for the Federation and for other sectors, the exatlético Nacional is the right man for the team to recover its identity and, therefore, resume, in addition to the prominence in the competitions, the path of the victory.
What does Colombia gain with the arrival of Roda?
Experience in Qualifiers: It’s no secret that South America’s Qualifiers are special. Of the ten teams fighting for four direct contingents and a play-off in the World Cup, seven or eight are of the highest level, with players who are protagonists in the best teams in the world and who undoubtedly have arguments to fight 01:00 quota.
To achieve the goal, a knowledgeable strategist is vital, and in this case Roda has it. With a past in the Tricolor and also a world champion with Ecuador in 2014, the Vallecaucano is able to lead the team in this type of direct clashes. Roda knows what he is up against and also knows his rivals.
World Cup: The big milestone of the Colombia National Team is to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. That is why a man with experience in the World Cup is supremely important, and it is here that the arrival of Reinaldo becomes more relevant. His work in two World Cups accredit him as a connoisseur of competition.
Colombian football: The arrival of Roda in the national team gives a new opportunity to the protagonists of the League to be taken into account in a call. The Caleño strategist knows the local competition perfectly, so, surely, several talents of the FPC will begin to be approached to the Tricolor.
Colombian technician: Not only being born in Colombia gives this ‘plus’ to lead the national team. Training professionally in the country and knowing the idiosyncrasies of Colombian players, is vital to guide a group and shape a structure on the field. Roda, with a long career in Colombia and South America, is an expert on the subject, so his arrival on the bench of the Tricolor would mean more than a new game idea. Working within a group is key.