After the Colombia National Team failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, much has been speculated about what the future of the national team could be. From a change in management, to a general restructuring of the FCF, which would also include a review of Dimayor's internal processes, to the names of potential coaches who could take over. That Jesurún should step aside, that Ivan Córdoba would be pushed aside, once again, that Pékerman could return, that Rueda is going to stay. Today, everything is uncertainty. The only thing certain is that the selection will have a long period without activity and in that period several of these changes can be made.
In Infobae we have already reported on the possible names that could reach the bank of the national team, both those that remain in rumors and those that are actually in the folder; we have also dealt with the issue of high FCF contracts and the fact that its president is the only one who does travel to the worldwide. In the last few hours, new names and more rumors have added up. Ramón Díaz, the former coach of Paraguay, seems to be one of the most discussed. “Really? Another bum?” , said Carlos Antonio Vélez, given the possibility that the FCF is actually considering the Argentine.
Diaz is currently the coach of Al-Hilal, in the Saudi league, where he returned this year to complete his second cycle as a DT. He joined in October 2016 and directed until 2018, when he decided to join Al-Ittihad. The Argentine leads 5 teams in a span of 5 years. After trying his luck in Brazil, with Botafogo, and in the United Arab Emirates, with Al-Nasr, he returns to Saudi Arabia to take the lead again. His contract has two starting clauses: one in case River Plate calls him, and the other in case the Argentine National Team asks him to be their coach, which, for now, is unthinkable. He has already won a league championship and a cup championship, as well as a runner-up in the AFC Champions League. He has managed to introduce a different game idea to the team than what is usually seen in those latitudes.
His time in the Paraguayan national team was two years, with an effectiveness of 30%. In its first stage, the team responded and seemed to be among the teams called upon to complicate the qualification of the regulars to the World Cup, but in its second and final stage, the team failed in the Copa America Centenario. They only scored one goal in three games and their game was regrettable. Immediately, Diaz left office. That is when he decides to return to directing in clubs and arrives in the Saudi league. The current salary of the DT could easily be covered by the FCF and he has already had relations with Colombian players. Today he directs it to Gustavo Cuéllar, for example. However, nothing is known about concrete conversations and recently another has been the name that has been put at the forefront, that of Luis Fernando Suárez, current coach of the Costa Rican national team, the team with which he qualified for the World Cup.
The Colombian has a good track record at the national team level. Leading Honduras he achieved the qualification to Brazil 2014 and now, with Costa Rica, he achieved the move to Qatar 2022. He joined the 'Ticos' in 2021 and, since then, has led 20 games in which he has 10 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses. Under his command, the Costa Ricans have scored 19 goals and conceded 12. It is one of the teams with the best transition in Concacaf in its final stage. With Suarez at the helm, they achieved four consecutive victories and a draw in the last five games played, reaching 25 points and achieving the goal of the standings.
Costa Rica will have to play the playoff against New Zealand and if they win, they will take a place in Group B, along with Spain, Germany and Japan. They would practically join the death group and although they are not the strongest, the Suarez team knows what it is like to face the titans and complicate things for them. They did well in Brazil 2014, under the command of Jorge Luis Pinto.
Suarez was asked about the possibility of being called by the Colombian National Team to take over as the new coach. He clarified that he has not yet established formal contacts, but said that if things happened, he would come. “Leading the Colombia National Team for me is not an obsession. If it happens, good,” he commented.
Colombia would not have action until September, when the FCF is scheduled to have a friendly match against Brazil. Costa Rica, for its part, would debut in Qatar on November 23, against Luis Enrique's Spain. The calendar would be this:
Costa Rica vs Spain - November 23
Costa Rica vs Japan - November 27
Costa Rica vs Germany - December 1
Depending on his performance, Suarez could be quoted or not, and this could define his arrival in the national team. Will it be given?
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