NEWS: Juan Arango believes Venezuela can emulate Colombia’s 2001 feat of winning the Copa America as hosts of the tournament.
The Real Mallorca playmaker (pictured) has high expectations for his country, despite historically being whipping boys in the CONMEBOL championship.
The 27-year-old, who is set to line up for the Vinotinto in a friendly against Canada tonight (Friday), said: “If Colombia were champions in their own country, we also can do it.
“I want to go as far as possible with this team. The first goal is to qualify for the second round of the Copa America and later to fight to arrive as far as possible.
“We have an opportunity that we were hoping to obtain something very important.”
Arango, Venezuela’s most famous player, was criticised in his home country for staying in Spain while his country beat Honduras 2-1 in a friendly in Merida.
But he insists the move was misunderstood.
“The match against Honduras was not an official FIFA date. My team was preparing to play against Valencia.”
And Arango will also disrupt Venezuela’s Copa America preparations by not joining up with the squad until after the end of the Spanish season on June 17.
Venezuela face Bolivia on the opening day of the Copa America, June 26, in San Cristobal.
