Yahoo Sports contributors Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros discuss whether Colombia can carry their hot form into the World Cup. Hear the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

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Colombia is bawling right now.

They are.

But are they a world cup contender?

Can they actually win the whole thing?

I mean, they couldn't win Copa America.

They looked like the best team.

They were my favorites to win the whole thing.

But Argentina has a little man named Leonel Messi, Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez is also playing out of his skin right now.

Hoor candidate.

They've got some real ballers in Argentina, but that doesn't mean that doesn't make them, you know, qualified to win the World Cup, right?

Like candidates for the World Cup.

Correct.

Correct.

Yeah, without a doubt.

Uh Colombia, look, the, they missed the last World Cup if I'm not mistaken.

Right?

And they've been on the tear ever since.

They've lost two matches since February 1st of 2022.

So look, they clearly, their eyes are bloodshot, filled with revenge.

Uh and they, they just, they, that was a bloodshot just from playing Bolivia 14,000 ft. Colombia is a team and look, I always say this, I'm Colombian during World Cups, right?

Because I grew up with a lot of Colombians and so I have a huge affinity for the country and their national team.

But there's something, I think, not even just on the world stage just against Gorme.

But I think there is a, um, little Brother syndrome kind of a thing that it's just Argentina.

Look, they're in second place in World Cup qualifying but them being better right now that even in Brazil is, I think there's a big shift, there's a big change in how I think the football is run right now in Colombia.

Yeah, I think, look, I think the strength of Colombia and being in second place in World Cup qualifying in com is insanity.

You know how difficult that is.

Like people in Europe and people in maybe in North America probably don't understand how difficult this is.

Realistically, we're talking about 10 countries that used to fight for four spots and within those countries is Argentina and Brazil and Uruguay.

So, really, it's like, all right, one of you other ones get in here, you know what I mean?

And we're talking about Chile, which had a, uh, you know, they were there in the last place right now, but they had a golden era when they had Vargas Alexis Sanchez, uh med, they had some real superstars.

They were winning Copa America.

Um, the, there's a, there's a really, there's a real difficulty in qualifying out of the, out of, out of GB, but right now you get, what, six spots in seventh goes to playoff, but they're in second place.

So they would have even qualified under the former format.

So at the end of the day, you've got to say if you're one of the top two or three coming out of accountable, you are for me, a standard bearer within world football.

You're one of the big names that we should be considering.

They look spectacular.

I think the concern I have and especially after watching them in Copa America, I just think Argentina has a little bit of the, they got the championship mentality.

They have the championship mentality.

They have the desire to win for Messi.

They have that focus, right?

We see how passionate they are about that, but then they also have a little bit of just like the extra house that you need to just be the darker, a little bit of season, a little bit of probably more that Argentina I think right now and we know that this is going to be Messi's final World Cup and we know it's like, can they just get over that little of just we do the dirty work necessary to thrive at a World Cup?

I think it was messy like that's not there for Jez Rodriguez.

And then the vibe ain't like we got to get Jez Rodriguez is, you know, some people call J you know Colombia's best player, which I could see that you're the best player in the region right now.

It just form wise and then, but I'm also still concerned.

It's just, he is not the most agile, he's not the most quick and it's still not the most consistent.

Seems like when he gets the love is when he's like, he, he, he, he definitely feels like he thrives for the national team more than right now.

He's at a cano.

So there is a little bit of like, just, I just worry a little bit and when we ask the question, can they win the whole thing?

That's when I'm like, I don't know if they have that thing that, that you need that little bit of obsession, that little bit of insanity, that little, you know, we, we watched uh uh uh Argentina, we were at the game at metlife to see Argentina against Chile and you saw how those players, especially a player like Rodrigo de Paul who is a psychopath, chasing a ball down, getting, making sure, putting in tackles just the and I'm not saying that I'm not saying that Colombia doesn't have that at all, but do they have it to that degree where you can win a World Cup?

And that's where I think they just lack just a little bit to call themselves a true contender, but I would say there was in the top two coming out of this entire hemisphere without a doubt, without a doubt.

So credit to them and Colombia, I wish nothing but the best.

I hope they do well in the next world cup.

But man, could they win the whole thing, in my opinion?

I don't think they can.

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