🤞Néstor Lorenzo’s promise for the World Cup | OneFootball

The coach of Colombia, Néstor Lorenzo, gave a comprehensive review of 2025 and revealed his objectives looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup. In a conversation with the media of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF), Lorenzo stated that his initial commitment to qualify for the World Cup has been fulfilled, and now his goal is to take the team to the top.

"We work with our hearts, I enjoy it, I don't suffer through it. Getting together with the players is extraordinary, we've never had any problems, the atmosphere with the entire staff is very good," Lorenzo commented about the positive environment within the team.

The Response to the Slump

The coach highlighted that the unbeaten streak was not a set objective, but rather a consequence of a winning mentality and competing against strong opponents such as Germany, Spain, and the best from North and South America.

Regarding the post-Copa América "slump" (which included defeats), Lorenzo admitted that it created extra pressure among the fans. However, he analyzed the only match lost in 2025, against Brazil, as a stroke of misfortune: "The team played well, I have to correct those details... the performance in those matches wasn't bad, we weren't dominated. There was stability." The coaching staff turned that situation into a process of maturation.

Projection to the Elite and the Main Objective

Lorenzo aspires for more Colombians to reach the elite of world football, at the level of Luis Díaz. "My idea is for everyone to be in great teams, like after Brazil when we had players in Real Madrid, in Arsenal," he stated. The goal for the 2026 World Cup is "to take Colombia as high as possible," understanding that the title will come "if we get used to competing at that level" consistently.

The coach also emphasized the importance of the youth structure, asking for more players from the lower categories to make the leap to the senior team, as is already happening with talents like Durán and Puerta. He closed the 2025 review on a positive note, highlighting the big win in Venezuela and the correction of details that had kept the team from the top of the standings.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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