Colombia misplaced Copa América remaining however received again a nation’s hearts

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Because the clock counted all the way down to kick-off, followers contained in the Exhausting Rock Stadium tried to overlook the prematch scenes as lots of of people with out tickets rushed the gates and compelled a venue-wide lockdown. Supporters stood in 90-degree warmth underneath the Florida solar in an try and enter and watch the Copa América remaining between Argentina and Colombia.

Regardless of the harrowing sights, these inside shifted their mindsets to the sport as soon as the lights dimmed and countdown started.

Seconds earlier than the Colombia nationwide staff walked onto the pitch, the audio system blasted “Mami, prenda la radio, encienda la tele y no me molesten, que hoy juega La Sele” (“babe, activate the radio and the TV, do not trouble me as a result of right now the nationwide staff performs”). And once more, seconds earlier than additional time started: “Guarden energía para que canten el gol (gol, gol, gol) Olé, olé, olea” (“save the power to sing for the aim…”). Colombian supporters chanted “olé olé olé” in unison.

Ultimately, La Sele fell 1-0 to Argentina, however via the staff’s success and Ryan Castro’s music “El Ritmo Que Nos Une” (“the rhythm that unites us”) the match served to reignite the soccer flame contained in the hearts of each fan supporting the staff in pink, yellow and blue.

Los Cafeteros competed properly through the first 90 minutes, maintaining the reigning world champions to their very own half and taking offensive management. Santiago Arias thrived on the best flank, inspiring Jhon Córdoba to a few shut makes an attempt to raise the gang. With each save made by goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, the followers rallied behind the staff, cheering his title. When Argentina regarded to dominate, the Colombian help nonetheless tried to drown out the followers of La Albiceleste.

Ultimately, Argentina’s bench overpowered a weakened Colombia in additional time. Lautaro Martínez, who got here on to exchange Julián Álvarez within the 97th minute within the match, met Giovani Lo Celso‘s via ball with a right-footed end to attain the one aim of the sport. However the followers by no means wavered.

Regardless of the rating, the 2024 Copa América rekindled a fireplace underneath Colombia. Previous to the match, the staff skilled a disconnect from the fanbase and jersey after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Throughout that unsuccessful marketing campaign the staff employed a number of coaches so as to add to the instability of an already troubled squad. Colombia concluded the run in sixth place, ending beneath even the qualification playoff place after simply three wins from 18 video games and a 6-1 loss to Ecuador. Luis Díaz, James Rodríguez, Jefferson Lerma, Daniel Muñoz, Carlos Cuesta and Wílmar Barrios — who all began Sunday’s Copa remaining — shaped an integral a part of the staff for the World Cup qualifiers, and nonetheless they could not safe a ticket to Qatar.

To these trying in from the surface, the disconnect between the Colombia nationwide staff and the fanbase regarded akin to a public breakup, with one aspect vowing to not come again till actual change occurred. Then, following the World Cup, Colombia went on a 25-game unbeaten streak. The faint flames of remained help gained obtained a bit of extra oxygen with each victory.

Weeks earlier than the 2024 Copa, Colombian singer and songwriter Castro, a longtime fan of the nationwide staff, labored with gamers to launch “El Ritmo Que Nos Une” within the hope of galvanizing that reinvigorated help. The reggaeton music requires help of the nationwide staff, seeing figures like Luis Díaz rapping lyrics together with his personal title. It slowly crept into radio stations playlists, Instagram posts and viral TikTok movies earlier than changing into synonymous with the Colombia nationwide staff.

Followers rallied behind of the lyrics, “Saque las banderas, saque el tambor. Que llegó lo más chimba, la Tricolor. Con el calor de la costa pa’ meterle el sabor” (“deliver out the flags, deliver out the drums. The good factor, La tricolor, simply arrived. With the warmth of the coast, so as to add within the taste”). The music motivated the fan base to purchase into the concept that the nationwide staff may as soon as once more be the beacon of hope the nation wanted. And because the staff progressed within the competitors, “El Ritmo Que Nos Une” constructed momentum and reassured gamers that lots of of hundreds of supporters stood in unison behind one trigger: Los Cafeteros. Gamers even blasted the music contained in the locker room after defeating Uruguay within the semifinal, inviting Castro inside to have a good time with the staff.

“El Ritmo Que Nos Une” served its truest goal after hundreds of Colombia followers gathered in Miami the night time earlier than the ultimate, flooding the streets with pink, yellow and blue jerseys, flags and paraphernalia. Chants broke out consistently, earlier than the plenty fell right into a shocked silence watching as Colombian-themed fireworks lit up the night time sky.

“The followers, we really feel them increasingly every day in each metropolis we go to,” mentioned Juan Fernando Quintero. “We at all times felt it, truthfully it is probably the most lovely factor to really feel earlier than a recreation. It is superb to attach with the individuals, as a result of on the finish we’re one. We’re one nation, and we now have to do nice issues and make historical past.”

The help continued properly after the ultimate whistle, even because the gamers sat dissatisfied on the sphere watching Argentina have a good time. It wasn’t till the final participant left the sphere that these in yellow lastly cleared from the stands at Exhausting Rock Stadium. Gamers clapped towards the followers in gratitude for them lifting their spirits and hearts all through the previous 5 weeks. Colombia could have misplaced the ultimate, however they managed to regain the hearts of thousands and thousands again house.

The nationwide staff should now put together for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, as Nestor Lorenzo’s sights stay set on making a return to the following match in the US. However the staff can now achieve this understanding supporters are behind them as soon as once more.