World Cup 2026: Colombia coach prefers to avoid favorite tag

Colombia's national team coach Néstor Lorenzo is actively trying to manage expectations surrounding his squad's performance in the World Cup. Ahead of their Round of 16 match against Ghana, Lorenzo expressed his preference for Colombia to avoid the "favorite" label, despite recent praise from rivals.

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I know it's praise from Professor De la Fuente, I appreciate it, but I prefer not to be in that favorite spot.

Lorenzo acknowledged the team's development and the maturity they've shown, particularly in navigating pressure. "We have learned to play with that weight," he stated, referring to being considered favorites. However, he emphasized that the team still needs to elevate its game. "We haven't reached what we're looking for yet," he admitted, highlighting the fine line between advancing and being eliminated in the tournament.

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And it is a weight, especially because excellent teams remain and it is being seen that the line is very fine between who passes and who does not pass.

Looking ahead to the match against Ghana, Lorenzo anticipates a tough contest against a "great team with top-level players." He also urged greater consideration for African teams in general. "We can no longer generalize African teams with some special characteristic, beyond the physical, that they are very physically gifted," he said, noting that players from Ghana, Senegal, Algeria, and Morocco compete in Europe's best clubs.

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We hope to keep growing because we haven't reached what we're looking for yet.