Óscar Córdoba defends Luis Díaz amid offside concerns

Former Colombia goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba has come to the defense of Luis Díaz, who leads the current World Cup in offside counts. The winger has been flagged eleven times, with three of his goals disallowed as a result.

Córdoba emphasized that these statistics do not reflect a lack of focus. Instead, he believes Díaz is constantly trying to gain an edge over defenders to secure one-on-one opportunities or force errors. According to the former keeper, it is a deliberate tactical attempt to create attacking space.

It is not a lack of attention from Lucho, sometimes you need to play more permanently with your teammate. When you start your run to gain those extra centimeters, it is not a lack of attention. That step allows you to get ahead of the defender to shoot or win a foul. Problems arise from a lack of synchronization between the player delivering the ball and the runner. Óscar Córdoba

Following Colombia's qualification for the Round of 16, veteran striker Radamel Falcao also offered advice to Díaz. He encouraged the younger star not to become anxious about scoring, assuring him that as long as the team generates chances, the goals will arrive.