Colombia midfielder Jhon Arias has criticised FIFA, claiming teams were not 'competing on equal terms' after his side's painful penalty shootout defeat to Switzerland in the World Cup last 16. The match in Vancouver ended 0-0 after extra time, with Davinson Sanchez and Cucho Hernandez missing spot-kicks for Colombia, allowing Ruben Vargas to score the winning penalty for Switzerland.
Travel Disparity Highlighted
Arias pointed out that Colombia played all five matches in different cities across three countries, while Switzerland played three consecutive games in Vancouver. Colombia's group games were held in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Miami, before knockout matches in Kansas City and Vancouver. In contrast, Switzerland played their first two matches in Santa Clara and Inglewood, both in California, before three games in Vancouver.
'It's difficult to answer because I could be punished, but that's how this industry works,' said the former Wolves midfielder, via ESPN. 'We don't all compete on equal terms, but that's not a new problem. It doesn't end here, it continues and the trend is for it to get worse. That's how football works, it's nothing new. We have to compete wherever we are.'
Physical Impact Acknowledged
The 28-year-old, now playing for Palmeiras, admitted the travel affected his physical condition but refused to use it as an excuse. 'Obviously, traveling to three countries affected my physical condition, but that's not an excuse,' he said.
Arias also reflected on Colombia's World Cup campaign, which ended in the round of 16. 'It's inexplicable. Unfortunately, we were once again knocked out, and with this bitter taste. We had enormous hope and believed we could make it to the final day, but something was missing, because we're leaving the World Cup prematurely, in the round of 16.'
Call for Change
Despite the disappointment, Arias called for introspection and change within the Colombian national team. 'With a cool head, we had a good World Cup, but that's not enough. That's football. We leave with a bad taste in our mouths, but also with the certainty that there are things we need to adjust and correct. We are on a path that can bring us great achievements in the future, because we already deserve it.'
'We all want the same thing: to win and conquer important titles with the national team, because our people deserve it. They always support us, show confidence, create hope, and in the end we always leave empty-handed. Hopefully this will serve to provoke a change in the national team, because it's enough that we've been at the door and haven't made it to the last day. I firmly believe that God has great things in store for us, but we still need to do everything humanly possible to get there.'
Switzerland will now face Argentina in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Kansas City.
