Have you gone to any work, church, neighborhood or college party?

Well If you’ve done it down here in South Florida you have noticed the intense variety of cultures, rhythms of music and food. Let’s (it actually is but allow me to say) pretend any football, fútbol or soccer game is a party, more specific this next Wednesday we’re having a party with all the perfect elements we can imagine. As our place the Majestic Sun Life Stadium; as our organizers or party hosts we have all of our South-Floridian fellows, as a background music I’m going to get my hands in the fire saying that at least 50,000 voices, and as the main entree we have Mexico vs Colombia.

Colombia’s national team list was finalized and announced this week as their new coach Jose Manuel Pekerman made it public on Tuesday.

With that being said some of the elements already called to be part of the Colombian National Team play within the “Liga Mexicana” (Mexican League) giving them knowledge and experience of some of the Mexican players. Jose Manuel “Chepo” de La Torre coaches for Mexico since 2010 and also finished filling up his invitations for this party already mentioned.

For Colombia:

• Goalies: David Ospina (Niza) and Luis Enrique Martínez (Once Caldas).
• Defenders: Mario Yepes (Milán), Pablo Armero (Udinese), Camilo Zúñiga (Napoli), Amaranto Perea (Atlético de Madrid), Cristian Zapata (Villarreal) Bernardo Espinosa (Racing de Santander) and Aquivaldo Mosquera (América).
• Mid-fielders: Carlos Sánchez (Valenciennes), Abel Aguilar (Hércules), James Rodríguez (Porto), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Lecce), Elkin Soto (Mainz), Giovanni Moreno (Racing de Santander), Aldo Ramírez (Morelia) and Gustavo Bolívar (Tolima). 
• Forwards: Falcao (Atlético de Madrid), Jackson Martínez (Jaguares), Teófilo Gutiérrez (Racing de Santander), Dorlan Pabón (Nacional) and Dayro Moreno (Once Caldas)

For Mexico:

• Goalies: Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul) and Guillermo Ochoa (Ac Ajaccio)
• Defenders: Enrique Pérez (Morelia), Efraín Juárez (Celtic), Rafael Márquez (NY Red Bulls), Francisco Javier Rodríguez (Vfb Stuttgart), Héctor Moreno (Espanyol), Hugo Ayala (Tigres) Carlos Salcido (Tigres) and Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres)
• Mid-Fielders: Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona), Jesús Zavala (Monterrey), Gerardo Lugo (Morelia), Pablo Barrera (Zaragoza), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña), Damián Álvarez (Tigres)
• Forwards: Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham), Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernández (Manchester  United) and Miguel Sabah (Morelia)

Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad) who was initially in Coach’s plans gave up his call excusing himself with personal reasons.

Pekerman’s first game as Colombia’s Coach, Chepo’s almost perfect record in risk, South-Floridian’s passion for the game, Chicharito’s moment, Falcao’s smell for the goal, Coaches’ advanced knowledge, and I just can keep mentioning over and over.
The reasons are more than enough, the invitation is more than open, our passion is intact, the date is almost here, soccer is once again appreciated and well treated in this region. Governors, Presidents, Commissioners, Coaches, Players, Reporters, Fans: WELCOME TO THE PARTY!