Foyth and Sanchez - team-mates, friends, rivals

Juan Foyth says he and Davinson Sanchez will put pre-match teasing aside and let their defending do the talking when their respective nations go head-to-head in the opening round of matches at the Copa America finals on Saturday night.

Central defensive comrades here at Spurs, the young duo will be in opposite camps when Group B of the prestigious South American competition gets underway with a mouth-watering clash at Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, pitting Juan’s Argentina against Davinson’s Colombia.

Still relatively new to senior international football having received his first call-up last October and produced a Man of the Match display on his debut in a 2-0 victory over Mexico the following month, 21-year-old Juan admits this weekend’s game has been on the discussion agenda for some time between our Spanish-speaking rearguard colleagues.

“We also have Qatar and Paraguay in our group but, yes, Colombia is our first game - I’ve talked with Davinson about it,” said the former Estudiantes youngster.

“When the group was drawn, we had a chat, a few laughs about it, but not now because we are focussed and wanting to do our best for our teams.

“It would be amazing to play against him at the tournament, if we are both selected. He is a very good friend. We talk every day, very frequently. We’re very close, he’s a very good guy, a very good player and I enjoy working with him but I don’t think I will mark him or be one-v-one against him!

“Maybe if I play against a striker it’s different but we are both defenders at different ends of the pitch. Obviously we know each other but it’s hard for two centre-backs to be involved in one-v-one situations against each other. We will just be trying to help our teams to win.”

Capped three times at senior level so far, his most recent appearance coming in last week’s 5-1 win over Nicaragua in a warm-up friendly, Juan is full of excitement heading into his first major tournament finals.

“That’s the biggest dream in the life of the players, to be called up for your country,” he added. “It was an honour for me and for my family to be called into the national team for the first time last year and I try to enjoy it every time.

“It’s something unbelievable to have the chance to go to the Copa America but I know it’s hard. We have a good group of players and it’s hard to be involved but I’m confident, I just have to work hard and try to do my best.”

Kick-off on Saturday is at 11pm UK time.