Falcao, Rodriguez named in Colombia Copa America squad

James Rodriguez

Bogota: Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao and Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez have been named in Colombia's preliminary 30-man squad for the Copa America.


James Rodriguez. Pic/AFP

Falcao will captain the side after a difficult season at United, where he has scored just four goals and spent long periods on the substitutes bench, reports Xinhua.

Rodriguez has impressed in his first season at Real with 16 goals from 43 matches, despite missing two months with a foot injury.

Coach Jose Pekerman, who will trim the squad to 23 on June 1, also on Tuesday included uncapped pair of Cristian Bonilla and Francisco Meza for the June 11-July 4 tournament in Chile.

Colombia, who won the Copa America in 2001, have been drawn in the same group as Brazil, Peru and Venezuela.

Colombia squad:

Goalkeepers: Cristian Bonilla (Equidad), David Ospina (Arsenal), Camilo Vargas (Atletico Nacional).

Defenders: Darwin Andrade (Standard Liege), Santiago Arias (PSV) , Pablo Armero (Flamengo), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Pedro Franco (Besiktas), Francisco Meza (Santa Fe), Johan Mojica ( Real Valladolid), Jeison Murillo (Granada), Carlos Valdes ( Nacional), Cristian Zapata (Milan), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli).

b Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Edwin Cardona (Monterrey), Juan Cuadrado (Chelsea), Fredy Guarin (Inter), Alexander Mejia ( Monterrey), Juan Quintero (Porto), Andres Renteria (Santos Laguna), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Carlos Sanchez (Aston Villa), Edwin Valencia (Santos).

Forwards: Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Radamel Falcao (Manchester United), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate), Victor Ibarbo (Roma), Jackson Martinez (Porto), Luis Muriel (Sampdoria).