JAMES RODRIGUEZ PAID tribute to Colombia hero David Ospina after the goalkeeper helped his country beat Peru and progress to the Copa America Centenario semifinals.
Ospina saved Miguel Trauco’s penalty in a dramatic shootout at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday night as the Colombians booked their place in the final four.
The Arsenal keeper was also called upon in the final minute of normal time when he pushed Christian Ramos’ header over the crossbar.
Real Madrid star James, who is married to Ospina’s sister Daniela, was full of praise for his teammate:
“He’s a great, I hope he’s here for us many more times,” he told the press. “I love him a lot, he knows that. Today and always he’s been there. I think he’s the best.”
Colombia will face either Chile or Mexico in the semifinal at Soldier Field, Chicago, on Wednesday, but James insists he has no preference.
“Whichever is fine,” he added. “Both are tough and in an instance like this I don’t think you can really choose.”
He also played down the importance of playing against Mexico, coached by Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio: “No, why?” he responded at being asked if Osorio’s knowledge of his homeland would pose a problem. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
Ospina himself was full of confidence after the match, but implored his teammates to stick together as they find themselves two matches from securing only their second Copa America title.
“You have to enjoy because this team is doing very well under the guidance of great coaching staff and this is what we were expecting, but there’s a long way to go.
“It was a very intense game and we knew that penalties were a possibility. We continue working and this good group, this family, will have to stick together, because today we were all together on the pitch.”
He also sent a message to the Colombia fans, who made up the majority of a 79,194 crowd on Friday: “Keep believing in this team because we always go out onto the pitch to do our best.”
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With 3 majors under his belt he has nothing to prove to anyone.
Irelands Greatest Sportsman…3 Majors later…Legend
that would be Joey Dunlop
That would be ridiculous…..
He decided to change his swing after winning 3 majors and hasn’t been the same since..I don’t know much about the reason behind this but my thinking would be if it ain’t broke then don’t try fixing it. I realise that golfers have to adjust their game/swing as they get older but he changed his swing very quickly after winning the majors and it hasn’t really worked out. He’s still a legend and would love to see him back in the team for the ryder cup
As he got older, movement in his hips and knees were reduced. New swing attempts to compensate for this..
The changing his swing point gets over played. Harrington admits himself he has always done this and had been changing it prior to and between winning his majors. The swing changes aren’t as relevant, it’s the never ending obsessing with perfectionism that’s been both the key to his success and the obstacle holding him back from ever getting near it again.
All true but no way should he be picked for ryder cup
Harrington – 28 titles, 3 majors and nearly €29 million prize money in just 18 years.
He also has a golf range in the works with Dunnes, surprised he hasn’t opened his own range of ice cream shops, loves a 99 on the range does Paddy
All we would hear is “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” and then the sign goes up on the TV “please do not adjust your set “!
If it’s good for me it’s good for my game eeeeehhhhhhhhhhhh
He is a legend of Irish golf. Unfortunately with all his tinkering, he appears to have lost touch with what made him so successful and that is the intangible ability to keep a score going even when not striking the ball well, which was frequently the case. Razor sharp short game was the key. I believe he has tried to become a better ball striker to the detriment of his overall game.