James Rodríguez issued a warning before the match against Argentina: "Do them harm..."

While the Argentine national team is already enjoying the comfort of having secured its qualification for the next World Cup, Colombia is experiencing a different reality: every point counts, and the next match against the world champion will be a true final. In this context, James Rodríguez didn't hold anything back, leaving a statement that is already making the rounds in the media: "We can hurt them."

The goalless draw with Peru left the Colombians in sixth place in the standings with 21 points , still out of the direct playoffs. And Venezuela's victory over Bolivia further inflamed the fight in the South American Qualifiers , leaving Colombia just three points away from the goal. Therefore, the match against Argentina is not only decisive: it's also a golden opportunity to pull off a coup against the most feared team on the continent.

After the draw in Lima, James spoke in the mixed zone and got straight to the heart of the matter: "Argentina is a great challenge. We like big matches. We all know they're tough, but we can hurt them," he said confidently. The midfielder, who has been a symbol of his national team for more than a decade, chose not to shy away from the pressure of the upcoming challenge.

James' confidence is no coincidence: Colombia has gone unbeaten in several matches and is in the thick of the fight for a spot in the next World Cup. But of course, on the other side will be an Argentina hungry for glory, fresh off a victory over Chile and once again demonstrating its collective strength and individual prowess.

While Colombia is playing for its life, Lionel Scaloni is planning some changes to his starting lineup. Among the main changes is the possible starting role of Valentín Barco , who returned to the national team after almost a year of absence. His performance at Racing de Strasbourg earned him a new call-up, and with a significant absence in the squad, he could get his big chance.

The reason is simple: Nicolás Tagliafico has reached his yellow card limit and will miss the match against Colombia. Given his absence, Barco appears to be the only natural left back available. This positions him as the prime candidate to start on that wing at the Estadio Monumental.

However, not everything is set in stone. Another option the coaching staff is considering is placing Facundo Medina in that role. The French club Lens has been used as a full-back on previous occasions, and his versatility is a resource Scaloni highly values. In fact, he came on for a few minutes at the end of the match against Chile and left a good impression.

Thus, the match against Colombia will not only be crucial for the standings, but also for the opportunities it could open up for some young players on the Argentine national team. Barco and Medina are competing for a place, while James and company are sharpening their weapons to try to make a splash.