Luis Díaz was unable to manage his pleasure — and tears — when speaking about James Rodríguez, the important thing participant in Colombia‘s journey to the Copa América remaining towards Argentina on Sunday (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app).
“From the second I arrived on the nationwide staff, I let him know that he has at all times been my idol,” Liverpool winger Díaz mentioned. “I grew up watching him.”
Such is the admiration that the midfielder, who turns 33 on Friday, attracts inside the Colombian camp.
The 27-year-old Díaz was a youngster when James proved a sensation on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the place he received the Golden Boot because the match’s prime scorer and moved from Monaco to Actual Madrid.
However little was anticipated of James for this Copa América. He arrived in america after a poor season at Brazilian membership São Paulo, the place he ended up being an afterthought and gave the impression to be on his means out of there.
Colombia’s aspirations of a second Copa title have been positioned on the shoulders of Díaz, together with Jefferson Lerma and Daniel Muñoz, one other couple of gamers in England’s prime flight.
Few anticipated that James, regardless of his prodigious left foot and craftsmanship on the sphere, would as soon as once more be the stepping stone for Colombia in a serious match after disappointing stints with Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich and Everton, amongst different European golf equipment.
However Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo put his religion in him and James has rewarded that by reemerging as, arguably, the most effective participant on the match, establishing himself as the primary focus of a staff that may play defending champion Argentina at Miami Gardens, Florida, within the championship match.
It is going to be Colombia’s first Copa remaining since successful the title as host in 2001.
“I’ve been right here for nearly 13 years, wanting this very a lot,” mentioned James, recalling a global profession that started in September 2011. “We’re joyful.”
James has a purpose (a penalty) and 6 assists at this version of the Copa América. The sixth — within the 1-0 victory towards Uruguay within the semifinals — helped him surpass Lionel Messi’s document (5 in 2021) for essentially the most purpose assists in a single version of the match since information started to be saved in 2011.
James will meet Messi in Sunday’s remaining.
“I need to be champion,” James mentioned. “We all know that they’re a brilliant difficult opponent, that they’ve expertise enjoying in finals.”
Along with his superlative performances prior to now few weeks, a query has once more been raised: What makes James shine a lot when sporting the yellow jersey of Colombia?
Brazil coach Dorival Júnior, who managed him in São Paulo, mentioned that the transformation is as a result of James feels snug in a identified setting.
“He actually feels so good sporting the Colombian nationwide staff jersey,” Dorival mentioned forward of Colombia’s 1-1 draw with Brazil. “It is spectacular in each facet. That is very fascinating as a result of some gamers play nicely of their golf equipment and don’t carry out nicely on their nationwide groups. The alternative occurs with James. He feels superb and built-in into a gaggle that respects him, embraces him and makes him really feel extra essential.”
Since he took over as Colombia’s coach in 2022, Lorenzo has not hesitated to make James an essential piece of his mission.
“With me, he has … continuity and has a fantastic dedication,” Lorenzo mentioned earlier than the semifinal towards Uruguay. “With the nationwide staff it has at all times been the identical, when a fantastic participant has minutes, it offers him the chance to indicate what he can do. If you happen to give him just some minutes, you’ve gotten little probability.”
The end result? Colombia has simply damaged its unbeaten document that had lasted three a long time by going 28 straight video games and not using a loss.
James is aiming for extra.
“A very powerful factor remains to be lacking, which is to play that grand remaining,” he mentioned.
And win it.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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