Did he lose respect for Cristiano Ronaldo? Néstor Lorenzo, head coach of the Colombian national team, sent a strong message toward the Portuguese star

W e are less than seven months away from the start of the next World Cup, and the group stage will feature a historic matchup in Group K, when James Rodríguez's Colombia takes on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Miami. The two teams have never faced each other before, not even in friendly matches.

Colombia had a strong qualifying campaign, finishing third in CONMEBOL with 28 points, only behind Argentina and Ecuador. They also finished above traditional powerhouses such as Brazil and Uruguay. Because of this, Colombia has the profile of a team that could become a serious challenge and even pull off a surprise at the World Cup, especially due to the quality of players like James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz.

Meanwhile, Portugal was dominant in UEFA qualifying. They did suffer a setback in the penultimate match against Ireland, where Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off. Even so, Portugal finished first in Group F, qualifying directly with 13 points, losing only one match and drawing one.

Colombia's coach sends an early warning

The Colombia vs. Portugal match is the most in-demand game in terms of ticket sales. In fact, on resale sites, the cheapest tickets are priced around $2,500 . It's no surprise-this is a very attractive matchup featuring top players, and along with Uruguay vs. Spain in Guadalajara, Mexico, it stands out as one of the most exciting games of the group stage.

Portugal's head coach, Roberto Martínez , expressed respect for Colombia "When Colombian players represent their national team, especially at events like the World Cup, they are competitive and also have the magic to showcase individual talent," said the Portuguese coach.

On the other hand, Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo stated that despite a difficult ending to the CONMEBOL qualifiers, he sent a clear message to Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal: "No, we were not dominated in any match. That gives me peace of mind because it shows there was stability," said the Tricolor coach.

Colombia will play the group stage in a country where they are always warmly welcomed: Mexico. Their first two matches will take place in Guadalajara and Mexico City, before traveling to the United States to face Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. A dramatic battle for Group K in the upcoming World Cup is on the way.