World Cup: Luis Díaz starts for Colombia against debutants Uzbekistan
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Colombia and Uzbekistan will be the last teams to enter the field on matchday one as a top spot in Group K is at stake. Portugal and DR Congo drew 1-1 in the opening fixture from the group as the African country celebrated their first-ever World Cup goal.
Uzbekistan will dream of a similar outcome, while Colombia return to the stage after their surprise absence in Qatar. As a result, this will be the first World Cup for FC Bayern’s star Luis Díaz.
The 29-year-old will make his World Cup debut from the start against the side from the AFC. Meanwhile, the captain James Rodríguez will play in his third World Cup as the former Bayern attacking midfielder is aiming for another stellar campaign.
In Santiago Arias, Gustavo Puerta (both Bayer Leverkusen), and Jhon Córdoba, there are more players with previous Bundesliga experience from Néstor Lorenzo’s squad. Fabio Cannavaro, who won the World Cup as a player on German soil twenty years ago, had to make a late change to his squad due to a serious injury to key midfielder Jaloliddin Masharipov.
Confirmed Colombia vs. Uzbekistan Lineups
Colombia: Vargas; Muñoz, Lucumí, Sánchez, Mojica; Lerma, Puerta; James ©, Luis Díaz, Arias; Luis Suárez
Uzbekistan: Yusupov; Ashurmatov, Khusanov, Abdullaev, Karimov; Nasrullaev, Mozgovoy; Shukurov, Fayzullaev, Urunov; Shomurodov ©
