The other match being played in Group B in Sunday’s instalment of the Copa America features the clash between Colombia and Ecuador at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.
You could say that Colombia owe Ecuador one as they look to avenge a previous heavy defeat against their opponents.
🏟 Un mensaje de la casa de la Selección para todo el pueblo colombiano#SigámonosCuidando🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/kqFp0KDB6N— Selección Colombia (@FCFSeleccionCol) June 10, 2021
🏟 Un mensaje de la casa de la Selección para todo el pueblo colombiano#SigámonosCuidando🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/kqFp0KDB6N
Colombia have made a reasonable start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, winning, drawing and losing twice but occupying 5th place in the South American section standings.
Although they’ve recorded wins against Venezuela and Peru (both by 3-0 margins), they also suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat away at Ecuador back in November of last year.
Having lost just three of their last 12 matches overall in all competitions though and now playing Ecuador on neutral ground in this upcoming Copa America fixture may just suit Colombia better as they’ve produced some impressive displays in this competition previously.
Colombia have won seven of their last 10 matches in the Copa America which includes wins against USA (twice), Paraguay (twice) and a 2-0 win against Argentina in the previous tournament.
Although Ecuador have won and lost in equal measure to date in the World Cup qualifiers, they currently occupy one of the automatic places for qualification to next year’s World Cup finals in Qatar, having beaten the likes of Uruguay, Bolivia and the aforementioned 6-1 thrashing of Sunday’s upcoming opponents, Colombia.
However, recent back-to-back defeats in the qualifying group against Brazil 2-0 and a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Peru are not ideal preparation for this forthcoming Copa America campaign in a tournament where they’ve struggled to pick up wins.
Indeed, Ecuador have managed to achieve just two wins out of their last 19 matches overall in this competition, a poor sequence of results which include 13 defeats, so they’re by no means guaranteed a win against Colombia, especially as they’re out of their home ‘comfort zone’.
Apart from that rather bizarre 6-1 victory over Colombia which appears to be something of an anomaly, Colombia have won four out of the previous five meetings between these two nations.
The upcoming fixture in the Copa America looks to be a totally different prospect as it’s on neutral ground.
Colombia will be eager to avenge their previous defeat and they look set to do so against Ecuador here.