EXCLUSIVE: Fredy Guarin on Colombia at the World Cup & his years at Porto and Inter

As Colombia prepares to face Switzerland this Tuesday in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Flashscore spoke with a player who knows firsthand what it’s like to make the country dream in the world’s most prestigious national team tournament.

How are you experiencing this World Cup? What has surprised you most about the Colombian team?

"Honestly, I’m really happy because Colombia started off slowly and has been growing, and those expectations have been met. It’s important to see the maturity with which they’ve approached each match; that’s been key to getting good results."

Many say this is the best Colombia since 2014. Do you agree?

"They’re different. Even though the coaching staff knows a lot about that 2014 squad, they’ve blended in new and young players who are doing a great job. It’s a very well-formed group that has strengthened an already established structure. I’m happy to see that many of the mistakes we made in 2014 are now being corrected as a group."

Coach Nestor Lorenzo has built a very competitive team. What do you think has been his greatest achievement?

"It’s always important to highlight the group work; that’s fundamental, beyond tactics. Off the pitch, to achieve the level of performance they’re showing, the coach-player relationship and knowing how to manage a group is key. You can tell there’s good harmony, and from there, information gets across better and results improve."

Do you see many differences between Jose Pekerman’s team and the current one led by Néstor Lorenzo?

"I can only speak about what I experienced; I don’t know what the team is like inside now. I know there’s a new group, with young players and an idea that’s been developing and is now coming together, and it’s working very well. If you look at Lorenzo’s journey, it’s been very important, even though we finished the qualifiers not as people expected based on previous performances. That doesn’t mean the work wasn’t being done well; in fact, the World Cup is showing that the work has been building up."

Luis Diaz 'is earning respect'

When you look at this generation of players, do you think they have everything needed to fight for the World Cup title? How do you feel as a Colombian?

"That’s a dream, and you have to see it that way. It’s a hope that started to feel possible in 2014 and has grown stronger over time. Everything in life is a process; you shouldn’t be overconfident or egotistical about winning a World Cup. It’s built step by step, with strong foundations, and I think we’ve built a very solid base that will help us achieve our goals. But you have to approach it with humility, keep your feet on the ground, but also be determined."

James Rodriguez is once again Colombia’s leader. What does it mean for the group to have such an experienced player?

"James is our leader, both nationally and internationally; he’s our reference point. He’s had an incredible career; I’ve known him since he was very young, since we started at Envigado. He’s a great leader; he’s shown it with his talent and his mental strength to reach the level he’s at today, and the group listens to his leadership. I’m very happy to see him still leading and that the results are coming for the good of the team."

You shared a dressing room with him for many years. Could you already tell as a kid that he would become a world star?

"Yes, I always saw it that way, because he had the talent and combined it with drive. It’s hard to find a talented player with that mentality. James always kept his strength and spirit, determined to be a world-class player and to stay there. Mentally and physically, he’s still very strong, always focused on performing at the highest level."

Was he also a leader in the dressing room, not just on the pitch?

"When I was there, James was a bit more introverted. He showed his leadership more through actions than words, and by displaying that competitive spirit. That’s his strongest form of leadership."

Do you think Luis Diaz is among the best footballers in Colombia’s history?

"He hasn’t been around that long, but he’s doing an extraordinary job and is earning the respect and affection of Colombians and the world. He’s setting an important example for new generations with his talent and commitment. As a former player and fan of the national team, I think he deserves to be among the best. It’s a process, and he’ll keep showing more and more until he reaches the level he deserves."

Daniel Munoz was decisive again in the group stage. Is this the best moment of his career?

"I think so, because this World Cup has confirmed what Daniel has been doing at club level for years. He’s a real warrior; he inspires on the pitch, like Vikings going to war. On and off the field, he’s very competitive. I admire and respect him a lot, and I hope he keeps rising, for himself, for the group, and for his career, because he has a beautiful story and deserves the best."

What does Richard Rios bring to the team?

"Richard is already an experienced player, and with that experience, whenever he’s had to come on, he’s shown maturity. It’s not easy, because he used to be a starter and in this World Cup, he hasn’t played as much. That’s what this group has: it doesn’t matter if you didn’t start; when it’s your turn, you have to contribute to the team more than to yourself."

Now it’s Switzerland. What kind of match do you expect, and do you see Colombia with a chance to reach the final?

"I’ve learned to live one day at a time, and in this case, I think one match at a time. Switzerland is one of those European teams that play smart, manage the ball well, and are very good at quick, precise counterattacks. They’ve been a very consistent team, but I think Colombia has what it takes to compete at a high level."

Two questions about the 2014 World Cup. Did you really believe you could go that far?

"I can tell you something very similar is happening now. We started with low expectations, and I love that, because expectations create pressure and anxiety. When people don’t believe in you and you start slowly, that’s what happened to us in 2014. We started the group stage just thinking about qualifying well, and from there, it was one match at a time. We never thought we’d get that far, but at some point, we started to believe we could go one round further, and we kept looking ahead like that. What we were always sure of was that we could compete at a high level with any team."

Was Falcao's injury a big blow?

"Falcao had just had a great qualifying campaign and was doing well in European clubs. Colombia and the world had the chance to see Falcao at his best in a World Cup. It was mainly an emotional blow. There were other players who could do a good job, but yes, it weakened us a bit emotionally."

Does the elimination against Brazil in 2014 still hurt?

"Yes, of course, because of the way it happened. That leaves a bigger mark; you lose and know you gave everything, and that’s fine. But it was the way it happened - maybe if VAR had helped us back then, things would have been different."

'Hulk is an exception in football'

You shared a dressing room with great players. Who impressed you the most with their quality?

"It’s hard to pick just one; there were many very talented teammates. I always use Falcao and Hulk as references from that Porto team."

Speaking of Hulk, was he as unstoppable in training as in matches?

"He was even stronger in training. What Hulk did in matches, in training it was even more impressive. And he still is, playing now for Fluminense at 40 years old. He was at Atlético Mineiro, took them to a continental cup final, kept the team at the top for two years, and now he’s been signed by one of Brazil’s biggest clubs. Hulk is an exception in football; he’s incredible."

At Porto you played with Hulk, Falcao, James, and Moutinho. What made that team so dominant?

"We had some great coaches, Villas-Boas and Professor Ferreira. Porto has a structure to maximise talent; their scouts are among the best in the world, they bring in talent and have everything set up to develop it. The club treats you like the most important person, gives you and your family comfort, and nothing is missing compared to the best clubs in the world.

"And the mentality there is to win, win, win; if you need something to win, they give it to you. It’s the strongest structure I’ve experienced for developing talent. Tactically, the Portuguese are brilliant, and we had to obey and do what we were learning. Even the club’s psychologists are among the best."

Follow Colombia vs Switzerland on Flashscore.