Former PSV player gears up for third World Cup
1 min readThe 2026 World Cup also gets underway for Colombia. The South American country plays its first group match in Mexico City in the night of 17 to 18 June against World Cup debutant Uzbekistan, and former PSV player Santiago Arias is taking part again, just as he was in 2014 and 2018.
Arias was active at PSV from 2013 to 2018. After a difficult first season, the right back grew into an important link under Phillip Cocu and ultimately Arias won the league title three times with PSV.
In 2014, Colombia were back in the tournament at the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Back then, too, Santiago Arias, who had a difficult first season with PSV, was in the squad when the Colombians were eliminated from that tournament in the quarterfinals by host nation Brazil (2-1).
At that tournament, Colombia made a good impression by winning all three group stage matches, and in the round of 16 the country took care of Uruguay (2-0), in part thanks to a magnificent goal by James Rodriguez. Afterward, this goal was chosen as the best goal of the 2014 World Cup.
In 2018 Colombia met Arias in the squad once again from the party during the World Cup in Russia. Despite a defeat in the first group match against Japan (1-2), the South Americans finished first in Group H after victories over Poland (0-3) and Senegal (0-1), after which they lost to England in the round of sixteen on penalties.
Four years ago, the Colombians were still absent from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, but now Los Cafeteros are back on the highest global stage. Colombia plays with Arias in Pool K alongside Uzbekistan, also against Portugal and Congo.
Comments6
Mexico-Stad op 17 juni en meteen tegen Oezbekistan, dat is wel een goede opener. Ik ben benieuwd of Arias daar meteen start, want in de VS-tactiek van Colombia is die rechtsback toch heel bepalend.
Arias bij PSV was echt van struggle naar important piece, dat klopt gewoon. In 2018 eerst verliezen van Japan en toch poulewinnaar worden, dat zegt wel iets over mentaliteit. Vamos, maar Portugal wordt de echte test.
Die quote-lessie uit 2014 blijft gek, alle poulewedstrijden winnen en dan eruit in de kwartfinale door Brazilië (2-1). Weet niet of ze nu dezelfde piek kunnen halen, maar Arias kan wel ervaring brengen. 👀
Colombia - Oezbekistan in Mexico-Stad klinkt als een ideale wedstrijd voor Arias om ritme te pakken. Maar tbh die poule met Portugal erbij wordt lastig, daar win je niet puur op naam.
Santiago Arias terug in de spotlight voor Colombia, dat is wel nostalgie 🔥. Eerst bij PSV even zoeken, daarna pas echt gas geven onder Cocu en drie landstitels pakken. Benieuwd of hij nu defensief stevig blijft in poule K.
Santiago Arias is weer op zo'n groot toernooi. Voor PSV blijft 2014-2018 toch een soort mooie doorstart, die man groeide echt onder Cocu.