NEWS: Colombia coach Jorge Luis Pinto will not take highly rated striker Radamel Falcao Garcia to the Copa America.
Following a win against Montenegro and a draw with Japan in friendlies last week, Pinto (pictured above) has cut his provisional Copa America squad from 34 players to 25.
He will need to shed another three before the tournament starts in Venezuela on June 26, but has already stunned many by leaving out 20-year-old River Plate striker Falcao (right) — widely regarded as the most gifted Colombian marksman of his generation.
Despite being drawn in the difficult Group C — alongside Argentina, Paraguay and U.S.A. — Pinto feels he has a squad strong enough to cause an upset this summer.
“Argentina are very competitive and will need a lot of attention,” he said. “Paraguay are coming with the mentality to play well. They will compete as much as anyone.”And the United States can be a surprise team. But we are going to the Copa America to win it.”
Colombia provisional Copa America squad
Goalkeepers:
Miguel Calero (Pachuca (Mex)), Róbinson Zapata (Cúcuta), Agustín Julio (Tolima).
Defenders:
Iván Ramiro Córdoba (Inter Milan (It)), Amaranto Perea (Atlético Madrid (Sp)), Mario Alberto Yepes (Paris Saint-Germain (Fra)), Aquivaldo Mosquera (Pachuca (Mex)), Jaír Benítez (Cali), Javier Arizala (Tolima), Gerardo Vallejo (Tolima).
Midfielders:
Jorge Banguero (América), Jhon Viáfara (Southampton (Eng)), Jaime Castrillón (Medellín), Camilo Zúñiga (Nacional), Macnelly Torres (Cúcuta), Álvaro Domínguez (Cali), Andrés Chitiva (Pachuca (Mex)), David Ferreira (Paranaense (Brz)), Fabián Vargas (Internacional (Brz)), Vladimír Marín (Libertad (Par)).
Forwards:
Sergio Herrera (Cali), César Valoyes (Medellín), Hugo Rodallega (Monterrey (Mex)), Luis Gabriel Rey (Morelia (Mex)), Edixon Perea (Bordeaux (Fra)).
See the squads page for more Copa America rosters.
