- Title: SOCCER-COPA/COLOMBIA Colombia trains in Argentina ahead of Copa America
- Date: 5th June 2015
- Summary: CARDALES, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (JUNE 5, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLAYERS FROM COLOMBIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM ARRIVING FOR TRAINING SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP VARIOUS OF COLOMBIA COACH JOSE PEKERMAN ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIA COACH JOSE PEKERMAN, SAYING: "Everyone who is going to play knows that the responsibility is to
- Embargoed: 20th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAUNV69FID2NM5PNA22X9BP4VB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Colombia's national soccer team trained in Cardales, Argentina on Friday (June 5) ahead of the fast-approaching Copa America tournament that runs from June 11 to July 4 in neighbouring Chile.
Argentine coach Jose Pekerman admitted that there would be some tough competition in the championship.
"Everyone who is going to play knows that the responsibility is to compete, to get ahead and try to win the tournament, to reach the highest point and compete equally with all the teams and struggle with the teams that we know are going to be very hard [to beat]," he said.
Last month Pekerman named striker Radamel Falcao as captain of his Copa America squad, believing he will show his best form despite a disappointing season at Manchester United.
"We must never stop believing in Falcao [striker Radamel Falcao] because his career proves it. His whole career was a success, beyond some difficulty he could have had in a particular moment but the important things which are his game, his capacity and his style are intact," said the 65-year-old coach.
Colombia were one of the outstanding sides at last year's World Cup, making it to the quarter-finals where they lost to Brazil.
Pekerman called most of the team back, including midfielder James Rodriguez who won the Golden Boot in the 2014 World Cup and subsequently signed with Real Madrid.
"To think of ourselves as protagonists, to believe that we can compete in this Copa America, this is going to show where we are, that is going to be a good evaluation to see where we are for what is coming [in regard to the team's level]," said Pekerman.
Colombia are in Group C with Brazil, Peru and Venezuela.
The team's first match of the tournament will be against Venezuela on June 14. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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