colombia coach calls for calm

Posted on | Saturday, July 9, 2011 | No Comments

Colombia coach Hernan Dario Gomez is refusing to get carried away, as his side bid to seal the Copa America quarter final berth on Sunday.

Colombia, the 2001 Copa America champions, currently the top surface of the group with four points, which defeated Costa Rica, and was withdrawn from the host country Argentina, and need only a draw against Bolivia in order to convince themselves and their place in the last eight.

But Gomez, who said before the tournament he did not expect to remain at his post if Colombia does not progress, refuses to get carried away in the wake of two contrasting performances of his side up to now.

Faced with a young team in Costa Rica, who played more than an hour with only 10 men, worked in Colombia a 1-0 win but put on an impressive display in their draw with Argentina in midweek.

"We are not bad for what we did against Costa Rica or very good for how we played against Argentina," said Gomez, who believes the home fans have come to expect a similar performance for Sunday one against Argentina, stars.

"I know the fans in Colombia very well and I ask for prudence and calm. I know you will be asked to critique the Bolivia team. I remind you that this team is under construction. It may have its ups and downs."

He said in British newspaper El Pais. "Of course, we know that this game could decide our transition to the next round of the Copa America, we want to win and we go for the win, while Bolivia respect they deserve."

Bolivia Support Group A table, although they also kept the powerful Argentina to a draw, before falling to a 2-0 defeat against Costa Rica in their second release.

Coach Gustavo Quinteros said: "It hurts us to lose, but we have to raise your head and back in football you have to work hard, you can get right and wrong, and if we make mistakes, we will try to solve them.".