04.07.2026, 16:21 Uhr
Colombia midfielder Gustavo Puerta was everywhere in the World Cup last-32 win over Ghana and that is just how he and his coach like it.
The 1-0 victory for Nestor Lorenzo’s side in Kansas City on Friday set up a last-16 clash with Switzerland on Tuesday in Vancouver.
Puerta is part of a dynamic midfield trio having edged out expected starter Richard Rios to be centre stage at the tournament.
"The coach wants me to be as versatile as possible," Puerta told FIFA on Saturday.
"He’s deployed me on the right, on the left and sometimes as a holding midfielder. To be honest, I feel really comfortable. I just try to help the team in any way I possibly can."
His football journey has gone from Colombia’s second division, via Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, Hull City in England and now Spain's Racing Santander. Playing for smaller teams appears to have moulded him into an all-round player.
Many football pundits feel Colombia have gone under the radar in North America so far and could end up being this edition's dark horses.
"We’re all fully on board with the coach’s system. We can all play in different positions, and I think that gives the coach more options when it comes to setting up the team," Puerta, 22, added.
Colombia would face holders Argentina or Egypt if they get past the Swiss and Lorenzo would have no qualms fielding Puerta against the defending champions in a quarter-final.
"He’s having a great World Cup," the Colombia coach said.
"We’ve always seen him as a complete midfielder: intelligent, full of character and very mature for his age. He reads the game superbly. He knows exactly when to take the sting out of it, when to inject pace into the game and always keeps everything ticking over nicely."
Source: Dpa-international.com
