“Now he runs rather less, however he thinks a bit extra. It’s good for him. He’s properly surrounded, and that’s what’s making him play properly.”
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 every 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 an exhilarating first half in opposition to Brazil in Santa Clara, California, final night time, he would have made it 4.
“I do know the love he has for the jersey, his dedication for the nationwide crew,” continued Lorenzo, “and that’s why I trusted him.”
Rodriguez’s involvement with the Colombian nationwide crew 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. Hard-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, select 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 area, 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, significantly in opposition to the aggressive low-blocks of Paraguay and Costa Rica, who labored onerous to shut down his most popular areas in midfield through the first two group matches.
Things had been extra open within the 1-1 draw in opposition to Brazil, permitting him to stray into harmful areas in the suitable half-space, the place he didn’t hesitate to chop inside and discover his team-mates. Once in these areas, his supply has been constantly inch-perfect.
One of the final contributions to his lock-picking clinic in opposition to Brazil was to create the next alternative for Cordoba from precisely that area.
With that additional 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 together with his skill to evaluate the load of his passes, it’s clear to see why. Something about how Rodriguez floats the ball in — the just about leisurely method of sending it looping and spinning in direction of aim, 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 aim when he makes contact. The supply is lofted over the defensive position however will not be too excessive to permit the goalkeeper to return and declare the ball.
From corners, too, Rodriguez continually 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, anyplace 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 submit from a crossing place. Strolling as much as the ball, leaning again, he all of the sudden closed his physique and wrapped his foot across the ball, forcing the goalkeeper to scramble again and push a spinning shot excessive.
There is finesse and firepower in his left boot.
Despite what Lorenzo’s abstract could counsel, Rodriguez will not be low-intensity by any stretch; solely Brazil defender Marquinhos had extra touches final night time 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 if 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 crew retains him on the transfer.
(Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
“He is a participant that we’ve got to mark intently,” mentioned Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes earlier than the sport, “somebody will all the time need to 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 remaining glimpse of his galactico days at Real Madrid.
GO DEEPER
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(Top photograph: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
