Davinson Sánchez backs Colombia's World Cup form ahead of Switzerland clash

Davinson Sánchez's stoppage-time header against Portugal was ruled out for a very narrow offside, but the defender still left Colombia's Group K run with a result that kept the team unbeaten and first in the section on seven points. That late sequence has sharpened the edge around Colombia's next test against Switzerland, a matchup that carries World Cup history from 1994 and a different level of knockout pressure.

Néstor Lorenzo named his 26-man squad on May 25, 2026, with Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez at the front of the group. James Rodríguez entered the tournament as Colombia's captain and its leading scorer in World Cup history, while Davinson Sánchez joined a list of experienced names that also included Camilo Vargas, David Ospina, Jhon Lucumí, Yerry Mina, Jefferson Lerma and Juan Cuadrado. Colombia arrived at the 2026 World Cup for its seventh appearance, still chasing a first run beyond the quarterfinals reached in Brazil in 2014.

The group stage backed up that belief with results. Colombia finished top of Group K ahead of Portugal, which took second with five points, after facing Uzbekistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Portugal. The 0-0 draw against Portugal was the clearest example of the margin Colombia had to manage: Sánchez met a set piece with a header in stoppage time, only for the goal to be ruled out by a tight offside call. Even without the finish, Colombia closed the group with an unbeaten record and enough control to leave as the section winner.

Switzerland now stands between Colombia and the next phase, with the 1994 meeting between the two sides still the main World Cup reference point in the rivalry. For Colombia, the task is to carry the confidence of a seven-point group campaign without losing the discipline that kept Portugal scoreless. Sánchez's late chance against Portugal captured that balance: Colombia still pressed for a winner, but the side also had to accept that knockout football will punish any lapse, especially against an opponent that will expect to turn one tight game into an exit.