Colombia will aim for their second continental title when they face defending champions Argentina in the Copa América final at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. However, the clash will be accompanied by a special halftime performance by renowned singer Shakira. CONMEBOL, South America’s football governing body, has confirmed the performance will last for 20 minutes. While excited for the performance, Colombian coach Nestor Lorenzo expressed his disagreement with the extended break. He believes it could negatively impact player fitness, highlighting the fact that the governing body has previously penalized teams for late arrivals on the pitch after halftime.
During a press conference on Saturday, Lorenzo stated, “Regarding the show, I hope all enjoy it, Shakira is an excellent artist. I found out today. I think it should be like any other game, the 15 minutes according to the rules.” He continued, “When we have gone out at 16 we have been fined, now there is a show and we have to go out at 20 or 25, with the impact it can have on the players, they might cool down and we know what it costs those minutes of recovery in the dressing room.”
Despite his concerns, Lorenzo expects his team to deliver a flawless performance to overcome Argentina. He emphasized the importance of veteran defender James Rodriguez, who has played a crucial role in the squad’s success. “If we hadn’t done a good performance, we wouldn’t be here. To beat Argentina we have to be the best version of ourselves and multiply it.” Lorenzo acknowledged Rodriguez’s contributions, saying, “James has had a very good tournament. We are lucky that he is doing well, that he has taken the leadership of the team and that the team have supported him. He is undoubtedly one of the best in the Copa.”
