Colombia coach Lorenzo warns Uzbekistan should not be underestimated

[p]The South Americans return to the world's biggest football stage ‌after missing the 2022 tournament and enter the match ‌as favourites, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lorenzo-nestor-gabriel/EHstnYWI/"]Lorenzo[/a] cautioned against underestimating an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/EZYKKRMc/"]Uzbekistan[/a] side making ‌their World Cup debut.[/p][p][b]"The World Cup is showing us that ‌there are no small teams and nobody should be underestimated,"[/b] Lorenzo told reporters ahead of Wednesday's match at the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/azteca/tEiFVIno/"]Azteca[/a] stadium.[/p][p][b]"Uzbekistan have had ‌very good results against good teams, they ⁠have a great coach and ‌four or five players of real quality. Above all, they are ​an organised team that knows exactly how it wants to play."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a] arrive in Mexico with momentum after an ​impressive qualifying campaign and a squad led by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/diaz-luis/SKjMUHVm/"]Luis Diaz[/a] and veteran playmaker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodriguez-james/MPaioN57/"]James Rodriguez[/a].[/p][embed guid="930faa2c-4d0b-4eea-a99d-7ca0f7b83fdd" url="https://x.com/FCFSeleccionCol/status/2066868526476927486?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Lorenzo said Rodriguez, ⁠the Colombia captain who ​has battled fitness concerns in recent seasons, was in good condition ahead of the match.[/p][p][b]"James is doing well. He has been improving physically,"[/b] Lorenzo said.[/p][p][b]"His talent and his qualities mean that, even ‌if he doesn't run as much as others, he gives clarity to the game and decides important moments."[/b][/p][p]The Argentine coach also dismissed suggestions that Colombia could struggle to match the intensity displayed by some of the tournament's top sides.[/p][p]"[b]We have been at that level," [/b]he said, pointing to recent matches against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a]. [b]"Playing good football is not only about running. Sometimes we confuse intensity with playing well."[/b][/p][p]More than 65,000 ‌Colombian supporters are expected at the Azteca, where yellow shirts have ​become a common sight around Mexico City in the ‌days leading up to the match.[/p][p]Lorenzo thanked fans for their support and said the team hoped to reward them with a performance worthy of a nation returning to the World Cup after an eight-year absence.[/p][p][b]"Colombia is happiness,"[/b] he ⁠said. [b]"We want to play ⁠well and give people a ‌reason to smile."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/colombia-G02s4PCS/uzbekistan-EZYKKRMc/?mid=jaMlPbx1"]Check out Flashscore's preview for the Colombia-Uzbekistan matchup here.[/a][/b][/p]