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Benfica midfielder Richard Ríos, who started in Colombia's 2-1 friendly loss to Croatia as part of their 2026 World Cup preparations, offered his analysis with an eye on the team's next challenge: a clash against France this Sunday in Washington, USA.
"We approached the game as if it were a World Cup match, but also as a learning experience. Many said it was just preparation, but we treated it like a World Cup fixture. They are a very strong opponent who demanded our best. The result came more from our own mistakes than theirs," he explained in the mixed zone.
"The midfield performed well, strongly. At times, we controlled the pace of the game, although we also made mistakes, which is normal. We need to be stronger, because a single challenge can lead to a goal for or against us," he added.
The Colombian midfielder is now focused on Kylian Mbappé's France: "We know they will demand our absolute best. They have players with immense individual quality; it will be a different kind of game. We need to review what we did wrong to ensure it doesn't happen again and present our best version. We need to enjoy it, but also fight for every detail of every play."
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