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Colombia will make their third World Cup
appearance in Australia and New Zealand, having been knocked out
in the group stage in 2011 and the round of 16 four years later.
Montoya said women's football has been evolving in Colombia and
players are better prepared for this year's tournament, where
they are in Group H with Germany, South Korea and Morocco.
"We've now had a professional league for six years in our
country. That's helped us. We had to make it to the World Cup as
amateur players before," the 32-year-old told FIFA+ on Thursday.
"We didn't have access to a club where we could train, prepare
mentally, learn the ropes of being a professional, learn the ins
and outs of our diet ... So now we're much better prepared and
have much more support.
"All of that gives us the opportunity to achieve more."
Colombia, who were runners-up at the Women's Copa America last
year, will head to the July 20 to Aug. 20 World Cup with a rich
blend of youth and experience.
"You can always expect Colombia to make history," Montoya added.
"We're setting out to take it step by step, win our first three
matches, produce exciting football with nice plays, fast
transitions, a short passing game mixed in with long balls.
"We've shown what Colombian football is about in our two World
Cups to date. I know that this is our moment, the year that the
Colombian national team will be at the top."
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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