[Saba Sports News] According to Spanish media reports, the Colombia national team has been struck by a flu virus outbreak. Carrying the hopes of an entire nation, Colombia are eager to achieve historic success at the World Cup. However, the squad is currently facing a troublesome health crisis. Local outlets reported days ago that a virus was spreading throughout the team’s dressing room, leaving multiple players unwell. Head coach Néstor Lorenzo revealed that several players had been feeling under the weather ahead of their fixture against Ghana. James Rodríguez later confirmed the situation: “There is a virus going around the squad, and it’s a serious issue. A lot of us have caught it.” Despite these setbacks, James Rodríguez sought to lift his teammates’ spirits with optimism, insisting that the side had navigated the group stage successfully even with this health concern hanging over them.
The editor believes that this kind of situation is not unprecedented at the World Cup. During the previous Qatar World Cup, the notorious “camel virus” drew widespread attention, with France hit hardest by it. In the 2022 semi-final against Morocco, Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot were ruled out entirely and did not feature for a single minute. France were not the only side affected; over those weeks, players from the Netherlands, Brazil and Switzerland also suffered from flu-like symptoms.