Colombia faces this Friday Ghana for the 16th final World Cup 2026in a direct cross, which may mark another important step in the selection Nestor Lorenzo. The coffee team comes with the hope of being among the top 16 in the tournament, but the previous one left a big surprise in the starting lineup.
One of the decisions of the Argentine coach that attracted the most attention was the absence Luis Javier Suarez among the headlines. The Sporting striker will start the game from the bench.
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Why isn’t Luis Suarez playing?
Absence Luis Suarez in the starting team It’s not because of the suspension. This also does not appear to be related to the injury reported in the previous post. The main reason is football: Lorenzo knew that going into the match against Ghana, Colombia needed a different type of centre-forward from the start.
Nestor Lorenzo has decided to leave Luis Suarez on the bench (Getty Images).
Suarez offers mobility, attack in space and good line-breaking ability, but Cordova gives the team a clearer picture of the area. Against a powerful, physical Ghana team with strong central defenders, The Colombian coach opted for a striker profile better suited to hitting, offloading and handling long balls.
John Cordova, chosen by Lorenzo
John Cordova will be responsible for replacing Luis Suarez in Colombia’s attack. His presence allows the team to have more weight on centers, greater marking capability and direct output if Ghana press high or cut the playing lines in midfield.
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In any case, replacing Suarez does not leave him out of the game. The striker remains an important option for the second half, especially if Colombia needs more mobility, attacking in space or a change of rhythm in the final metres.. Lorenzo decided to start with Cordoba, but Suarez remains a strong addition card.