Nestor Lorenzo usually has a neat method of summing issues up. Requested in regards to the enigmatic James Rodriguez earlier than a crunch match with Brazil on Tuesday, Colombia’s smooth-talking coach delivered as soon as once more.
“Now he runs rather less, however he thinks just a little extra. It’s good for him. He’s effectively surrounded, and that’s what’s making him play effectively.”
Already, after simply three video games on the 2024 Copa America, the 32-year-old Rodriguez has created 11 probabilities for team-mates — greater than some other participant within the match — and laid on three assists. If it wasn’t for the cruel line-drawing of the video assistant referee (VAR) midway by way of an exciting first half in opposition to Brazil in Santa Clara, California, final evening, he would have made it 4.
“I do know the love he has for the jersey, his dedication for the nationwide staff,” continued Lorenzo, “and that’s why I trusted him.”
Rodriguez’s involvement with the Colombian nationwide staff has not been assured lately, lacking out on the 2021 Copa America squad as his membership type continued to wander. Now at Brazilian aspect Sao Paulo, health and type have allowed him to play just below 700 league minutes in 12 months.
Nonetheless, Lorenzo has discovered a spot for Rodriguez’s technical skill to breathe in a 4-3-1-2 system, pulling the strings in a positionally fluid position behind the 2 strikers. Laborious-runners and tough-tacklers Jefferson Lerma and Richard Rios can do the soiled work in midfield, leaving the No 10 free to mix with the clever Jhon Arias, pick the relentless channel runs of Luis Diaz, or look to the field for bustling centre-forward Jhon Cordoba.
With the liberty to roam into pockets of house, Rodriguez will react to the sport in entrance of him. As we will see from the graphic beneath, he likes to drop into the build-up section and acquire the ball from the centre-backs, notably in opposition to the aggressive low-blocks of Paraguay and Costa Rica, who labored laborious to shut down his most well-liked areas in midfield in the course of the first two group matches.
Issues have been extra open within the 1-1 draw in opposition to Brazil, permitting him to stray into harmful areas in the appropriate half-space, the place he didn’t hesitate to chop inside and discover his team-mates. As soon as in these areas, his supply has been persistently inch-perfect.
One of many final contributions to his lock-picking clinic in opposition to Brazil was to create the next alternative for Cordoba from precisely that house.
With that further considering time talked about by Lorenzo — created as he peels out huge to obtain the go — Rodriguez picks out a perfectly-judged cross that drops proper on the six-yard line, crusing over the defenders and touchdown on his striker’s head.
Seven of his 11 probabilities created for team-mates on this match have come from dead-ball deliveries, and along with his skill to evaluate the burden of his passes, it’s clear to see why. One thing about how Rodriguez floats the ball in — the virtually leisurely method of sending it looping and spinning in direction of objective, leaving it hanging within the air simply lengthy sufficient to nail the goalkeeper to his line — makes every cross extremely straightforward to assault.
For the disallowed ‘equaliser’, look how shut Davinson Sanchez is to objective when he makes contact. The supply is lofted over the line of defense however just isn’t too excessive to permit the goalkeeper to return and declare the ball.
From corners, too, Rodriguez always delivered the ball to the sting of the six-yard field. On this event, it’s Cordoba once more who heads over the crossbar.
Such is the standard and consistency of those crosses, that he’ll trot over to take any Colombia set piece, wherever on the pitch, to a raucous reception from their followers within the crowd.
Rodriguez can change it up too. Early within the first half in opposition to Brazil, he grazed the bar with a vicious free kick, the ball dipping and swerving because it careered over the wall.
He additionally despatched a shot flying in direction of Alisson’s close to publish from a crossing place. Strolling as much as the ball, leaning again, he instantly closed his physique and wrapped his foot across the ball, forcing the goalkeeper to scramble again and push a spinning shot excessive.
There’s finesse and firepower in his left boot.
Regardless of what Lorenzo’s abstract might recommend, Rodriguez just isn’t low-intensity by any stretch; solely Brazil defender Marquinhos had extra touches final evening within the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium, whereas the 4 tackles he put in might solely be bettered by his team-mate Daniel Munoz.
Even when he has misplaced a yard of tempo as he prepares to show 33 in simply over per week’s time, Rodriguez’s urge for food for the nationwide staff retains him on the transfer.
(Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures)
“He’s a participant that we’ve to mark intently,” stated Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes earlier than the sport, “somebody will all the time should control him.”
Colombia at the moment are 26 video games unbeaten and head into their quarter-final in opposition to Panama in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday as robust favourites to make that 27.
Rodriguez has been the beating coronary heart of that historic streak and is providing the world one last glimpse of his galactico days at Actual Madrid.
GO DEEPER
Copa America 2024 quarterfinals bracket: Full knockout stage schedule
(High photograph: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Pictures)