Colombia have produced an incredible recovery after the heartbreak of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, going on an undefeated run of more than 20 matches. 



They have been on a winning run that includes matches against strong teams like Germany, Brazil, and Spain. Thus, Los Cafeteros are now considered dark horses for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-tv-schedule/">2024 Copa America</a>.



June 20 will mark the beginning of the event, and four days later, Colombia will face off against the reigning winners, Argentina. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida will host the championship game on July 14. This is the city where Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi plays soccer at the moment.



Only once before, in 2001, did Colombia triumph in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-team-previews/">Copa America</a>. Meanwhile, their only previous appearance in the final was in 1975. Regardless of this background, head coach Nestor Lorenzo has put together a team that can pull off huge surprises.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="433" height="367" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/16041716/image-38-433x367.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-509113" sizes="(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px"></figure></div><figcaption>Falcao will not be at the Copa America</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Who did Nestor Lorenzo call up for Copa America 2024?</h2>



Veterans and up-and-coming young stars alike make up Colombia’s national team. Among the prominent names are <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/second-try-james-rodriguez-opens-up-door-to-la-liga-return/">James Rodriguez</a>, a former Real Madrid playmaker, and Luis Diaz, a star for Liverpool.



With his stellar play, Diaz has cemented his spot in the Reds’ starting lineup and is now in the prime of his career. After being left out of the 2021 Copa America team, James will return to the national setup.



Among Lorenzo’s 28-man preliminary roster, six players are from English teams. But the coach will have to reduce the roster to 26 players before the Paraguay opener.



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a> players are Yaser Asprilla of Watford, Jhon Duran of Aston Villa, Luis Sinisterra of Bournemouth, Jefferson Lerma, and Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace. Also making significant appearances are veterans Yerry Mina, Juan Fernando Quintero, and David Ospina, who plays in goal.



In addition, La Tricolor has a trio of trustworthy goalkeepers. In addition to Ospina, Camilo Vargas of Club Atlas will aim to continue his stellar play from Liga MX. He will be accompanied by Millonarios’ seasoned Alvaro Montero.



Radamel Falcao <a href="https://www.football-espana.net/2024/05/24/radamel-falcao-la-liga-exit-copa-america-squad-omission" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">struggled to get regular playing time</a> for Rayo Vallecano this season. thus, the national team coach left hm out of the roster. 



The veteran is Colombia’s all-time top scorer with 36 goals in 104 international games. However, the 38-year-old has only scored four goals in 25 appearances for the Spanish club this season.



<h2>When do Colombia start 2024 Copa America?</h2>



As a warmup for the tournament, Colombia will play two friendly matches; one against the US on June 8 in Washington, and another against Bolivia on June 15 in Connecticut. 



The match versus Paraguay will kick off their Copa America campaign on June 24. Four days later, on June 28, they’ll face Costa Rica, and finally, on July 2, they will play against Brazil.



With wins against top-tier opponents and an undefeated run of 21 matches dating back to February 2022, the team’s current status is superb. Colombia has a balanced roster and is currently on a roll, so they have a good shot at winning the Copa America after finishing third the previous time around.



<h4>Colombian roster for 2024 Copa America</h4>



Goalkeepers:&nbsp;Álvaro Montero (Millonarios), Camilo Vargas (Atlas), David Ospina (Al Nassr)



Defenders:&nbsp;Carlos Cuesta (Genk), Jhon Lucumí (Bologna), Santiago Arias (Bahia), Yerson Mosquera (Villareal), Johan Mojica (CA Osasuna), Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace), Yerry Mina (Cagliari Calcio), Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray S.K.), Deiver Machado (R.C. Lens)



Midfielders:&nbsp;Kevin Castaño (Krasnodar), Richard Ríos (Palmeiras), Jorge Carrascal (Dynamo Moscow), James Rodríguez (São Paulo), Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing), Yáser Asprilla (Watford), Mateus Uribe – (Al-Sadd S.C), Luis Sinisterra (A.F.C. Bournemouth)



Forwards:&nbsp;Luis Díaz (Liverpool), Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar), Sebastian Gomez (Coritiba FootBall Club), Rafael Santos Borre (S.C. Internacional), Miguel Angel Borja (River Plate), Jhon Jader Duran (Aston Villa F.C.)



Photo credit: IMAGO / IPA Sport

James in, Falcao out: Colombia reveal 2024 Copa America roster

Veterans and up-and-coming young stars alike make up Colombia's national team for 2024 Copa America. Such are James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz.

James in, Falcao out: Colombia reveal 2024 Copa America roster - World Soccer Talk

FC Porto wrote another chapter in their majestic season by becoming Europa League champions. Porto beat Sporting Braga 1-0 in the Europa League final at the AVIVA Stadium (referred to as the “Dublin Arena” for this final). Porto had previously claimed domestic league honours, their 25th league title, as well as winning the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (also known as the Portuguese SuperCup).
The lone goal of the game came, not surprisingly, from the head of Radamel Falcao. Falcao had already broken Jürgen Klinsmann’s 15-year-old record for goals in a single UEFA Europa League or UEFA Cup season and he took his tally to 17. Falcao also struck 16 times in 22 league games so expect to hear a lot of transfer speculation about him this summer. You will also hear a lot about Givanildo Vieira de Souza, aka Hulk, who scored 23 league goals in 26 games and added 4 goals and 4 assists in the Europa League. It would surprise me to see Hulk move to another club as Port re-signed him until 2016 and added a huge (100m Euro) buyout clause.
One of the more compelling stories has been Porto’s manager André Villas-Boas. The comparison between Villas-Boas and Jose Mourinho will persist throughout next season though they are unwarranted. While the current Porto manager mentored with Mourinho at three different clubs, it’s clear that Villas Boas’s style of play is more attack-minded and more entertaining. Villas-Boas is being linked with many high profile vacancies around Europe, including his mentor’s old club – Chelsea. I have to wonder if it may be too much too soon for Villas-Boas, who is the youngest manager ever to win a European competition, at 33 years of age. Porto are clearly a class above the other teams in Portugal and I don’t want to belittle their acheivement in winning the Europa League but this is his first ‘big’ job and he’s only been at it a season. If I were a bigger club I’d be interested in him as a prospect but I’m not sure if he’d be the guy to bring immediate success. Stepping into the manager role at a club like Chelsea where more experienced and more successful managers have been fired would be virtually risk-free for Villas-Boas. If he succeeds, then his reputation is enhanced. If he fails, then people will say too much was asked of a novice manager. Certainly the salary on offer could make the decision attractive for Villas-Boas. It will be one of the more interesting stories to follow this summer.
Plaudits should also go to runners-up Braga. Braga were not given much of a chance when paired against KKS Lech Poznan, Liverpool FC, FC Dynamo Kyiv and SL Benfica but they overcame the odds to reach the finals. Led by manager Domingos Paciencia, a former long-serving FC Porto striker, Braga also made their UEFA Champions League debut this past season. Having finished fourth in the Primeira Liga this season, they will be in the playoff round for next season’s Europa League. If Braga retain their core players they should be strong contenders in next season’s Europa League. The loss will be particularly hard to take for Braga players Custódio, Hugo Viana and Miguel Garcia, who had been part of the Sporting Clube de Portugal team downed by PFC CSKA Moskva in the 2005 UEFA Cup final.
Porto completed their silverware haul with a decisive 6-2 win over Guimaraes in the Portuguese Cup this past Sunday. Congratulations to the Dragons and their fans for one of their most successful seasons ever.
Note: 
Most UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup goals in a season 
17 Falcao (FC Porto, 2010/11) 
15 Jürgen Klinsmann (FC Bayern München, 1995/96) 
14 John Wark (Ipswich Town FC, 1981/82) 
12 Derlei (FC Porto, 2002/03)

2010-11 Europa League Final: Porto Claim A Quadruple

2010-11 Europa League Final: Porto Claim A Quadruple - World Soccer Talk

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Copa America 2024

James in, Falcao out: Colombia reveal 2024 Copa America roster

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2010-11 Europa League Final: Porto Claim A Quadruple