International Football News, National Soccer Teams, Previews International football in bite-size pieces
Related Articles
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has served up several surprises as he named a 23-man squad for the international friendly match vs Peru.
Los Cafeteros will face their South American rivals at the Red Bull Arena in New York on September 8 before facing same opposition at the start of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
And it looks as though Jose Pekerman will use the friendly match as a perfect opportunity to test some new players, seeing that he left out quite a few star names.
Radamel Falcao (61/25), Juan Cuadrado (45/5), Fredy Guarin (56/4), Juan Camilo Zuniga (62/1) and Pablo Armero (66/2) have all been overlooked.
Frank Fabra, Francisco Meza, Helibelton Palacios, Kevin Balanta, Gustavo Cuellar and Andres Felipe Roa are some of the footballers hoping to make their first appearance for the national team.
This group also includes new Atletico Madrid signing Rafael Santos Borre and FC Dallas forward Fabian Castillo.
They will all have a chance to impress the national team coach and earn their place in the squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Colombia squad:
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal), Camilo Vargas (Nacional);
Defenders: Cristian Zapata (Milan), Jeison Murillo (Inter), Santiago Arias (PSV), Johan Mojica (Real Valladolid), Eder Álvarez Balanta (River Plate), Helibelton Palacios (Deportivo Cali), Francisco Meza (Santa Fe), Frank Fabra (Medellín);
Midfielders: Alex Mejía (Nacional), Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa), James Rodríguez (Real Madrid), Edwin Cardona (Monterrey), Macnelly Torres (Nacional), Kevin Balanta (Deportivo Cali), Andrés Roa (Deportivo Cali), Gustavo Cuéllar (Junior);
Forwards: Jackson Martínez (Atlético de Madrid), Carlos Bacca (Milan), Fabián Castillo (Dallas), Rafael Santos Borré (Atletico Madrid), Teófilo Gutérrez (Sporting).
