Andrés Gómez outshines Arias as Vasco beat Palmeiras, boosts Colombia hopes | OneFootball

Andrés Gómez stole the show in Vasco’s 2-1 win over Palmeiras at São Januário, overshadowing compatriot Arias and bolstering his Colombia hopes before the World Cup warm-ups. He is on Néstor Lorenzo’s preliminary list for the final friendlies.

Globo.com reports that the next squad is expected to be named by Néstor Lorenzo at the end of next week, with games on 26 and 29 March. Gómez did not score or assist on Thursday, yet he was the visiting defence’s biggest problem in Vasco’s first Brasileirão win.

He was called in the last FIFA window but did not get on the pitch. Recent wing options include Serna (Fluminense), Carbonero (Internacional), Campaz (Rosario Central) and Arias, with Luís Diaz (Bayern de Munique) and Yáser Asprilla (Galatasaray) seen as more secure.

His form could bring him closer to the squad, but involvement in March against Croácia and France may prove decisive, and places are far from guaranteed.

Gómez is the only Vasco player to feature in all 14 matches in 2026. Initially on loan from Rennes, his 4.5 million euros option, about R$ 30 million, was triggered at the start of the year. He has four Colombia caps and two goals, split between spells at Real Salt Lake and Rennes, with his last appearance in November 2024 in Barranquilla.

Carlos Cuesta, Johan Rojas and Marino Hinestroza, the other Colombians at Vasco, are also on the pre-list. Cuesta made the last Colombia squad but has missed recent club games with a muscle problem.

Source: Globo.com