“It’s another game but, as far as possible, (the idea is) to make the minimum of changes,” Rueda said at a press conference in Barranquilla before traveling to Puerto Ordaz, venue for next Tuesday’s game against Venezuela.
Colombia will be without winger Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, suspended for accumulating yellow cards, or striker Alfredo Morelos, who has been injured.
La Vinotinto, which is now led by the former Colombian coach, the Argentine Néstor Pekerman, poses serious difficulties for Rueda’s pupils, despite the fact that he occupies the last position in the classification.
“It has always been a difficult rival,” emphasized Rueda, who praised the contribution of coaches Rafael Dudamel and Richard Páez to the growth of the Venezuelan team.
It is up to Colombia, said Rueda, to play a game “always aware of how complicated the rival is” but with the conviction of “getting a good result”, and waiting for the other markers to also favor them.
The teams from Peru, Colombia and Chile will play on the last day for fifth place in the classification, which is occupied by the Blanquirroja, and which gives them the right to play a World Cup playoff.
While Colombia will visit Venezuela on the eighteenth and last date, the Blanquirroja will receive Paraguay and Chile will host Uruguay.
To qualify for the playoff against a team from Asia, Colombia must beat Vinotinto on Tuesday and hope that Peru draws or loses to Paraguay.
The entrance Colombia will fight for a place in the playoffs with a team similar to the one that thrashed Bolivia was first published in diary TODAY.
