The coach of the Colombian team, Reinaldo Rueda, congratulated his team for third place in the 2021 Copa América, after beating Peru (3-2) with a brilliant performance by attacker Luis Díaz, author of two goals and top scorer. of the tournament with the Argentine Leo Messi, with four 'targets', and the Peruvian Gianluca Lapadula, who also scored in this consolation final.
“Colombia is facing a boy with a great condition, balance, mental control and humility, apart from his technical condition and that vision of goal that he has,” said Rueda at a press conference at the end of the match played at the National Mané Garrincha stadium, of Brasilia.
Díaz, the protagonist of two goals, stands out in “the collective, in the ability and the strength with which he holds the ball. May God preserve it for us and we can enjoy it for a long time,” said Rueda.
The scoring was opened by the Peruvian Yoshimar Yotún, at 44 minutes, and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, with a free kick, equalized at 48 for the Colombians. The second coffee goal was scored by Díaz at minute 65 and the parity was converted by Gianluca Lapadura in 82.
The winning goal was again made by Díaz, the Portuguese Porto striker and figure of the match, already in replacement time.
The Colombian coach also appreciated the work done together during the Copa América in Brazil.
“The great gain was having known this group more widely, in an unprecedented Copa América, for history, of the highest level, with very well structured teams,” said Rueda.
“It was having endured these 45 days without a single negative situation. That is why I have to congratulate the group for the way they delivered and that synergy was reflected in each game,” he completed.
For Rueda, the performance in the tournament was “highly commendable due to the capacity of all the participating teams. We were a team that always provided integrity.”
“We yearn and wanted to be in the final, but it is an important support for the challenge we have and we guide us on the way to qualify for the World Cup (in Qatar 2022),” he added.
The Copa América title will be disputed in the early hours of this Saturday to Sunday at the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the teams of Brazil, who defend the conquest obtained in 2019, and Argentina, of the star Leo Messi, who is looking for his first champion trophy with the albiceleste.
“My respect and admiration for these two footballing cultures, for their great coaches, and we are going to enjoy and ratify the talent of South American football with that final,” said the Colombian coach.