“It will be a fight against a team and not just against Neymar” said Colombia’s midfielder Carlos Sanchez, ahead of the national team’s World Cup quarter final against Brazil on Friday.
Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez warned Monday that Friday’s game against Brazil in the quarter-finals in the northeastern city of Fortaleza, will be a “fight” against a whole team and not just against Neymar, Brazil’s talisman and top scorer.
Neymar “is a star in the world, but it would be disrespectful to speak only of him when there is a team full of stars. It will be a struggle against the entire Brazilian team, not only against Neymar,” said Sanchez in a press conference at Colombia’s training center in Coatia.
Neymar was an injury doubt for Friday’s quarter final clash with Colombia following several rough challenges in Brazil’s previous match against Chile. However Monday it was confirmed that he would be fit to face Colombia.
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The Colombian team returned last Sunday morning to their base in Coatia in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, after their historic 2-0 victory Saturday over Uruguay in the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
The group was rested Sunday before resuming training sessions on Monday morning.
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“Colombia will continue with its offensive style and will not change anything. We will continue what we are doing as it has been paying off,” Sanchez said with regard to a possible variation of the team’s tactics against Brazil.
When asked about the team’s chances of outright winning the World Cup if they overcome Brazil on Friday, Sanchez said, “I am convinced that it is possible and if we do beat Brazil we can began to think about the World Cup final. But first we have to beat Brazil.”