Colombia vs Croatia: Suárez & Córdoba Battle for Starting Spot | FIFA Friendly 2024

ORLANDO, FL – Thursday, March 26, 2026 – The Colombian national team enters a crucial phase of preparation ahead of upcoming friendly matches against Croatia and France, with head coach Néstor Lorenzo focused on evaluating his forward options. A key component of this evaluation centers on the competition between Jhon Córdoba and Luis Suárez for the starting striker role.

Both players arrive in excellent form. Córdoba recently delivered a standout performance for FC Krasnodar, scoring four goals in a single match against FC Nizhny Novgorod. With 13 goals in the Russian league, he currently leads the competition and has firmly established himself as a strong contender for the starting position.

Suárez, meanwhile, is enjoying a remarkable season with Sporting de Lisboa. His prolific scoring rate has him on the verge of becoming the first Colombian player to reach 40 goals in a European season, currently sitting at 33. This impressive form gives him a slight edge in the immediate reckoning.

However, Lorenzo’s decision isn’t straightforward. Córdoba has consistently been the preferred choice at center forward during Lorenzo’s tenure, accumulating the most minutes in that position. This established trust within the team dynamic adds another layer to the competition. The balance between current form and existing tactical preference presents a compelling dilemma as the friendlies approach.

Lorenzo is expected to divide playing time between the two forwards, giving each a start in one of the matches. Suárez is anticipated to lead the line against Croatia, while Córdoba will likely feature against France on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Local time. However, with the World Cup on the horizon, a definitive decision on the starting striker must be made soon. Lorenzo recognizes that attempting to play both simultaneously would likely require sacrificing one of the wide players, such as Luis Díaz and Jhon Arias, a trade-off he appears hesitant to make given their current form.

Córdoba acknowledged the healthy competition within the squad, stating, “It’s a good competition we’re having in the national team, not just with Luis [Suárez], but also with Rafa [Santos Borré], and I think that benefits all three of us and also the national team.”

Suárez emphasized the importance of team cohesion, saying, “I feel very comfortable having players with good feet here, like I do at my club. The essential thing is how I understand with my teammates.”

Colombia’s first test comes against Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The team enters the match with a nine-game unbeaten streak (five wins and four draws), reflecting their positive momentum.

Beyond the striker battle, Lorenzo will have his full squad available, including Luis Díaz, a key figure in the attack. The coach highlighted the team’s progress, stating, “The team is very united, the players assimilate well what we ask of them and they want to make history.”

This match will mark the first-ever encounter between Colombia and Croatia, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (Colombian time) and will be broadcast on Caracol and RCN.

Lorenzo expressed his ambition for the team to compete at the highest level, stating, “Throughout the process we have tried to test ourselves against great teams, we have played with the champions of all confederations. We want to compete and notice where we stand and we hope to one day be in the position of France or Croatia in the World Cups.”

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Colombia is drawn into Group K alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan, and a team yet to be determined through the repechage. The central question remains: who will lead the line for Colombia in the tournament? The upcoming friendlies will be crucial in providing Lorenzo with the answers he seeks.