OMNISPORT 

'Colombia manager Jose Pekerman sees a very difficult task ahead of his team when it takes on Chile in a Copa America Centenario semifinal Wednesday.

The veteran tactician is facing a team that comes in not only off the back of a 7-0 triumph over Mexico in the quarterfinal but also one that has had a lot of time together, including winning the 2015 Copa America.

"We’re playing against the champion of America, we’re playing against one of the best generations of Chilean soccer, a team that has years of concentration, of work, individually and collectively," Pekerman said at a news conference Tuesday. "It’s a team that really has played really well in all competitions, World Cups, Copa America, it’s always been a top team. We’re talking about a great opponent."

While Colombia's rivals come into Wednesday's match in good form, Pekerman said he's also pleased with how his team enters the match. Los Cafeteros had a much tougher time with their quarterfinal than Chile did, needing penalty kicks to see off Peru after losing their final group match. But the Argentine believes his side is at the level it needs to be to compete for a spot in the final.

"I think we’re in the place we’ve worked to be at with good things, with some other things that sometimes haven’t gone as well as we’ve wanted but the team always has shown great spirit, great desire, it's a team that wants to grow," he said. "We’re here with the desire to win, with the desire to go to the final, and we know how these matches are."

While the players on the field decide a contest, there's a focus on players who will not be present. Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal is suspended after getting two yellow cards in the first four matches of the tournament, while Chile is also waiting to see on the fitness of central midfielder Marcelo Diaz. Forward Alexis Sanchez also had been working apart from the group. Colombia is hoping Milan forward Carlos Bacca is fit and ready to go.