Colombia drew 0-0 with Portugal in their final group stage match of the FIFA World Cup. Rios was interviewed in the mixed zone after the match.

Congratulations to Colombia on topping the group—the team performed exceptionally well. What do you think Colombia lacked today to win? Opportunities like this shouldn't be squandered in such a match.

You asked what we lacked, and I think it was simply a goal. We reached the opponent's penalty area many times today, but ultimately couldn't find the back of the net, which is certainly disappointing. We did create scoring opportunities. What we lacked was the clinical finishing—when an opportunity arises, you must seize it and score.

We also know that in such matches, the opponents are very strong, the game is very tight, and opportunities are few. So once an opportunity appears, we must do our best to convert it into a goal.

Like the Colombian fans here today, many people at home are very satisfied with the team's performance in the group stage. Do you feel the same? With 7 points from three matches and no goals conceded in the last two, is the team satisfied with this result?

Of course, we are very happy. As everyone can see, our goal today was to win. From the first minute to the last, we were striving for victory. We just couldn't get the win in the end—that's football. But importantly, we advanced as group winners and didn't concede any goals. As you said, this certainly gives the team extra confidence.

However, humility is always the most important thing. We still need to continue working hard, confront our own problems, and constantly improve. I believe this attitude will help us go further in this tournament. What we need to do now is keep working hard.

You played an outstanding match today against one of the teams considered by many to be a contender for the FIFA World Cup title, and you had every chance to win. Based on your current performance and results, can Colombia also be considered a championship contender?

I think I'll leave that question for you to judge. As I just said, we will continue to remain humble and work diligently. We are a team that has come this far step by step; no achievement comes easily.

We know we are on the right path. Next, there will be very important matches for both the national team and for each of us individually. What we need to do is continue working hard and maintain our current attitude.

On behalf of the Venezuelan people, I want to thank you and the entire Colombian national team for offering encouragement and support to Venezuela's earthquake-affected areas and for observing a moment of silence. How will you approach the next match and the rest of your FIFA World Cup journey?

First, I want to take this opportunity to express our support to the people of Venezuela and all people around the world who are experiencing difficulties. We should stand united, because we know that what they are going through is not easy. Some things are beyond our control. In such moments, I believe only God can truly help us. As long as we rely on Him, everything will slowly improve.

We will pray to God, hoping that this crisis ends soon and that He will help the Venezuelan people. We are with them, and we hope they don't feel alone. If they need help, they should seek it.

As the Colombian national team, we pray for you every day. We know you are going through a very difficult time. As I said, God will lead us through this. As for the upcoming matches, it's the same—we must continue to work hard, take it one step at a time, and remain humble. I believe that by doing so, we can go further.

Every match in the FIFA World Cup is difficult. The opponents we face next may be physically different from Portugal. Portugal is more complex in terms of possession and ball control. But no matter who we face, as long as we dare to play and dare to express ourselves, we can create difficulties for the opponent. So we will continue to stick to our style of play and actively pursue victory. May God bless everyone.

Many Colombian fans believe the team needs to take it one step at a time, and every 90 minutes in the knockout stage is crucial. Colombia topped a very difficult group, and observers feel the team is getting better and better. How high do you think Colombian fans should set their expectations? Do you also feel the team is constantly improving?

That's how football is. No matter which group we are in at this FIFA World Cup, it is still the FIFA World Cup. As you can see, some very strong teams, even former world champions, have been eliminated, while some teams have reached the knockout stage for the first time. That's the World Cup. What we need to do is remain humble and move forward steadily.

As for the Colombian people, I want to say that expectations and dreams certainly exist. We cannot take away everyone's hopes, because it is this expectation that keeps us motivated. I believe they have expectations, and we do too. But this expectation must be built on humility and a down-to-earth approach. We must take it one step at a time, constantly correct our mistakes, and build on what we've done well. But I won't ask you to abandon hope. We are Colombians, and this expectation is the force that drives us forward.

Congratulations on a great performance. Who did you exchange jerseys with after the match? Can you tell us about it? You also played in Portugal before—how did you feel facing such a top European team today? Does this 0-0 draw show that Colombia can compete with them on equal terms?

As everyone saw, it was a very intense match. Many players in our national team play abroad or have played in Europe before. Everyone knows that playing in Europe is not easy—the environment, pace of play, and everything else is different.

I believe we now have the ability to compete with these teams. We don't feel inferior to anyone. If we start a match with the mentality that "we are not as good as the opponent," then the gap will only grow. Of course, I still want to emphasize that we must remain humble. Whether the opponent is Portugal or another team, we will face them with the same attitude. We will neither overestimate nor underestimate our opponent.

This is also what we have been striving for. If we only focus on the opponent, we may overlook our own problems, and those are what we really need to improve. As for the jersey, it was from my Benfica teammate Nélson Semedo. I wish him all the best. He is a very good person, and I hope he continues to do well in the future. I also thank him for exchanging jerseys with me. Thank you all, and have a good evening.

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