Tag: Colombia

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Colombia Defeat Disappointing Spain In Friendly | Football News

Colombia inflicted Spain's first defeat in almost a year with a 1-0 friendly victory in London on Friday. Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz struck in the second half after a superb run by Luis Diaz to capitalise on a disappointing display from La Roja ahead of this summer's European Championship in Germany. Spain, who won the Nations League last year to end an 11-year run without silverware after triumphing at Euro 2012, underwhelmed in their second loss under coach Luis de la Fuente.The first came in March 2023 in a defeat by Scotland in Euro 2024 qualifying which cast early doubt over the coach's credentials for the job, with concerns easing over the subsequent months.De la Fuente picked an experimental line-up against Colombia, handing Athletic Bilbao defender Dani Vivian his debu...
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Luis Diaz Double Fires Colombia Over Brazil After Kidnap Drama | Football News

Luis Diaz scored a fairytale second-half double to fire Colombia to a 2-1 upset over Brazil on Thursday, capping a roller coaster month that saw his father kidnapped by guerrillas for 12 days. Amid incredible scenes at Barranquilla's Estadio Metropolitano, Liverpool forward Diaz headed home in the 75th and 79th minutes as Colombia claimed a vital win in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Diaz's goals cancelled out Brazil's opener from Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli. A bad night for Brazil was compounded by an injury to Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, who exited with a thigh injury after 27 minutes.Diaz's match-winning brace left his father Luis Manuel Diaz -- watching in the stands wearing a Colombia shirt -- overcome with emotion.Diaz had only been reunited with his father ...
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Walked ‘Too Much’: Liverpool Striker Luis Diaz’s Dad Recounts Kidnapping | Football News

Between tears, Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, recounted Friday how he was made to walk "too much" with little sleep in the nearly two weeks he was held hostage in a mountainous area of Colombia by members of the ELN guerrilla group. Diaz, finally liberated Thursday after calls from around the world for his freedom, told reporters at his home in the country's north he went through a "very difficult" time, surviving "almost 12 days without sleep."Diaz's wife Cilenis Marulanda, who was taken by the same ELN kidnappers on October 28 but rescued hours later, rubbed her husband's back lovingly as he broke down in tears mid-statement.Behind the pair hung a string of golden balloons spelling out "Welcome Mane," his nickname, in Spanish.Diaz walked with obvious difficul...
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Parents Of Liverpool Winger Luis Diaz Kidnapped In Colombia | Football News

The mother of Liverpool's Colombian winger Luis Diaz was rescued from kidnappers on Saturday but a search remains on for his father, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Saturday. Petro posted on X, formerly known as twitter, that Diaz's mother was rescued in Barrancas in the northern part of the country. "We continue in the search for the father," added Petro. Colombia's Attorney General's Office said they had been working intensely on the case."From the moment the Attorney General's Office learned of the kidnapping of the parents of the Colombian player Luis Diaz, in the Barrancas sector of La Guajira, a specialised team of prosecutors, police and military personnel have been working to find "the location of these people, clarify the facts and find those responsible," the office ...
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Neymar Injured As Brazil Lose To Uruguay, Lionel Messi Double Helps Argentina Stay Perfect | Football News

Lionel Messi scored two goals as Argentina extended their perfect start to South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Peru. The Inter Miami star took his international goal tally to 106 with strikes in the 32nd and 42nd minutes at Lima's Estadio Nacional. Messi's first-half brace left reigning world champions Argentina on top of the South American qualifying table with 12 points from four games, five points clear of Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela, who all have seven points.Restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in last Thursday's 1-0 win over Paraguay, Messi showed no sign of the injuries that have recently limited his appearances in Major League Soccer.The 36-year-old crashed home an emphatic opener just after the half-hour m...
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England Survive Bruising Colombia Test To Reach Women’s World Cup Semi-Finals | Football News

England fought back from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 on Saturday in a bruising encounter and set up a tasty Women's World Cup semi-final with Australia. Arsenal forward Alessia Russo scored the winner for the European champions just after the hour in front of 75,000 in Sydney to end Colombia's run in the tournament. Earlier in the day, co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a thrilling penalty shootout in Brisbane to reach the last four for the first time in their history.The semi-final will be in Sydney on Wednesday.Colombia, playing in their first quarter-final, took the lead against the run of play through a wonderful dipping effort from the edge of the box by Leicy Santos on 44 minutes.But England struck back deep in first-half stoppage time when Lauren Hemp pounced on a goalkee...
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Colombia Banking On Their Character To Topple England At World Cup | Football News

Colombia coach Nelson Abadia is treating their Women's World Cup clash on Saturday against England like a chess game, confident his side's strength of character will carry them through to the semi-finals. The fourth-ranked European champions will be favourites to win in Sydney, but the South Americans stunned world number two Germany in the group phase and are brimming with confidence. "We know all the history that England brings in football, it's important," said Abadia, whose ambitious 25th-ranked side made the last eight for the first time by edging Jamaica 1-0."But for me, it's 11 against 11 and the optimism is the same we have for every match."There are several variables in any match -- technical, tactical, physical," he added."But what's important for me is the strength in the tea...
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Massive Brawl Ensues After Football Player Knocks Down Coach In Copa Libertadores Match. Watch | Football News

Alejandro Restrepo took a dramatic tumble and got back on his feet.© TwitterThe Copa Libertadores round-of-16 second leg tie between Ecuador's Indepedente del Valle and Columbian side Deportivo Pereira saw a massive brawl broke out at Estadio Olympico Atahualpa. Leading 1-0 from the first-leg, Pereira conceded an early goal as Michael Hoyos scored in the sixth minute to level Indepedente in the tie. Things got heated up a little between the two side when Indepedente's Junior Sornoza accidentally took out Pereira's manager Alejandro Restrepo after going in for a tackle.Restrepo took a dramatic tumble and got back on his feet, but decided not to take Sornoza's apology as players from both team clashed after the same.The incident has now gone viral on social media.La caida de restrepo se v...
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Colombia ‘Dreaming Big’ As They Plot England Downfall At Women’s World Cup | Football News

Colombia captain Catalina Usme is "dreaming big" and coach Nelson Abadia wants to "make history" as the last team standing from the Americas plots the downfall of England in the Women's World Cup quarter-finals. The 25th-ranked South Americans have never made the last eight before but they are brimming with confidence after grinding down Jamaica 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a goal from their skipper. They will now play England in Sydney on Saturday and are fearless, having beaten world number two Germany in the group stage."Because of their football and their history we need to be careful, we need to be cautious," Abadia said of Sarina Wiegman's strongly fancied England."But in football we have already seen that the gaps between teams have been closing down and Colombia have proven to be a ...
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Colombia Edge Jamaica 1-0 To Set Up England World Cup Quarter-Final | Football News

Catalina Usme scored the only goal as Colombia kept their Women's World Cup charge on track Tuesday by beating Jamaica 1-0 to secure a maiden quarter-final against European champions England. The South Americans failed to qualify for the 2019 tournament, but have taken huge strides since, topping their group in Australia and stunning world number two Germany along the way. The 25th-ranked Colombians carried the form into a sold-out Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, grinding down a resolute and physical Jamaica side who had not conceded a goal all tournament. Colombia's intense, attacking ethos under coach Nelson Abadia finally paid dividends in the 51st minute when the dangerous Usme got the breakthrough with a composed finish inside the box to unlock a previously impenetrable defence.It s...