Colombia head coach Néstor Lorenzo has hailed the quality of the Black Stars ahead of Saturday’s round of 32 clash, insisting Ghana are far more than just a physically strong side.
The South Americans progressed to the knockout stage as winners of Group K after collecting seven points from two wins and a draw, setting up a meeting with Ghana in Kansas City.
Speaking before the encounter, Lorenzo described the Black Stars as a disciplined and aggressive team capable of causing problems both in and out of possession.
“Ghana is an organised team but aggressive when they press, aggressive when they attack. Players from Senegal, Ghana, Algeria and Morocco play for the best clubs in Europe.”
The Colombian coach believes the perception of African football has changed significantly, arguing that teams from the continent now combine physical strength with outstanding technical ability.
“We can no longer generalize about African teams based on their physical attributes. In terms of technical quality and the characteristics of the players, they’ve diversified a lot. That idea we had of just running and nothing else? They play very well and they play for the best teams in Europe,” Lorenzo added.
Lorenzo also admitted he is unsure what tactical approach Ghana will adopt in the knockout tie, saying his side must be prepared for every possibility.
“Precision, movement, attacking runs, long-range shots. We will try everything but I don’t know if Ghana will use a low block. Maybe they want to surprise us and go all out.”
Colombia and Ghana meet on Saturday, July 4, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, with a place in the Round of 16 at stake.
