Colombia met Spain on Saturday and secured a spot in the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup for the first time since 2003. Credit: AP/ColombiaOne
Colombia has qualified to the U-20 World Cup semifinals after beating Spain 3-2 thanks to a hattrick by Neyser Villareal. This is the first time Colombia has reached this round since 2003, when a generation that included Abel Aguilar advanced to the semis. They will face the winners of the quarter finals game between Mexico and Argentina for a spot in the U-20 World Cup final.
Coach Cesar Torres said his side, unbeaten through the tournament, is playing with ambition and balance as his team broke a 22-year barrier. “We want to be true to our style, pressure, intensity, and the ability to recover the ball quickly,” Torres said, adding that the target remains the “seventh match,” the final.
Colombia advanced to the quarterfinals after topping Group F with five points, a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia, a 0-0 draw with Norway, and a 1-1 draw with Nigeria, and then beating South Africa 3-1 in the round of 16. Joel Canchimbo opened that win in the seventh minute, and Neyser Villarreal, the attack’s form player and a leading scorer in the South American stage, added a second-half brace.
Lineups for Colombia’s quarter-final match against Spain in the U-20 World Cup
Colombia (4-3-3): Jordan García; Carlos Sarabia, Julián Bazán, Yeimar Mosquera, Juan Arizala; Elkin Rivero, Kener Gonzalez, Jordan Barrera; Joel Canchimbo, Oscar Perea, Neiser Villarreal. Coach: Cesar Torres.
Spain: Fran Gonzalez; Julio Diaz, Andrés Cuenca, Izan Merino, Jesus Fortea; Thiago Pitarch, Rayyane Belaid, Rodrigo Mendoza; Jan Vigili, Iker Bravo, Pablo Garcia. Coach: Paco Gallardo.
Simon Garcia, was the main absent for Colombia’s Game against Spain
Torres must cope with one confirmed absence: Simon Garcia is suspended after accumulating yellow cards, forcing a likely change in central defense with Weimar Vivas or Julian Bazan in contention to start. Colombia’s staff express confidence in the group’s depth and collective work.
Spain, coached by Paco Gallardo, arrived as one of the tournament’s most technically gifted sides despite a disappointing group phase. La Roja recovered from an opening defeat by Morocco to draw with Mexico and then post wins over Brazil and Ukraine. Their lineup features players from top Spanish clubs, including Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and a possession-based approach with attacking fullbacks.
The Colombian staff expect a tactical battle. Midfielder Kener Gonzalez is projected to provide balance in the center while Joel Canchimbo, Oscar Perea on the left and Neiser Villarreal lead the attack. Torres has stressed both pressing intensity and moments of direct play as keys to unsettling the Spanish game. The winner will face the victor of Mexico vs. Argentina in the semifinals.