Jesus Augusto Sarcos Romero: Dudamel Needs to Solve Team Dilemmas
GERARDO BLANCO / CARACAS.- This Friday, Venezuela’s friendly match against Colombia in Florida, and next Tuesday
against Panama in its capital, must serve as opportunities for technician Rafael Dudamel to put its house in
working order.
The Venezuelan soccer team has many issues to
handle regarding each position. It is imperative to choose well and place each
player in the position where they work best – that is the main concern for the
coach, who called these two dates “a mix of experience and new blood”.
The goalkeeper is the only position that
presents no trouble for the coach. Wuilker Faríñez absolutely owns his role,
which he won in the past eliminatory rounds, as well as his wonderful
performance in the South Korean World Cup. Rafael Romo’s return to the roster,
after his stint in Cyprus’ team, is one of the more questioned inclusions.
The back of the field is the continued source
of problems for the team, due to the lack of side players that can both defend
and attack. On the right side, the fight seems to favor Alexander González,
whose international experience in the work of Spanish soccer with the Huesca
team, which he helped improve, and now with the Elche, in the second category
of Spanish soccer.
The greatest issue is on the left side. Dudamel
placed Rolf Feltscher in that position, but his natural inclination leans
towards the central or right side, position that he regularly played with the
Los Angeles Galaxy, in the M.L.S. The alternative is Luis Mango, one of the
best Venezuelan players, from Carabobo, who can reach the end and score goals.
His performance in the international stage is still to be tested.
During the eliminatory phase, Jhon Chancellor
and Wilker Ángel solidified their position as Dudamel’s central pair, but it is
now the chance to test Yordan Osorio, who has proved himself with the Vitoria,
and the promising Nahuel Ferraresi, one of the Sub-20 World Cup’s best players.
