Colombia’s new coach Eduardo Lara
has recalled goalkeeper Miguel Calero and defender Mario Yepes
for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and
Brazil.
Lara, who replaced Jorge Luis Pinto after the former coach
was sacked following last month’s defeats by Uruguay and Chile,
will make his debut against Paraguay in Bogota on Oct. 11 and
then faces Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 15.
After eight games in the 18-match series, Paraguay lead the
10-nation South American group with 17 points, four ahead of
Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
The top four qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa
with the fifth-placed team, at present Uruguay, going on to a
playoff against the nation finishing fourth in the CONCACAF
region qualifiers. Colombia are sixth with 10 points.
Calero, who plays for Pachuca in Mexico, is making a
comeback having said he had retired from international football
after the 2007 Copa America.
Yepes, who joined Chievo Verona from Paris St Germain in the
off-season, also last appeared for Colombia in the 2007
tournament in Venezuela. (Reuters)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Agustin Julio (Santa Fe), Miguel Calero
(Pachuca)
Defenders: Amaranto Perea (Atletico Madrid), Mauricio
Casierra (Millonarios), Humberto Mendoza (Nacional), Pablo
Armero (America), Camilo Zuniga (Siena), Mario Yepes (Chievo
Verona), Yulian Anchico (Santa Fe), Jossimar Mosquera (Arsenal,
Argentina)
Midfielders: Giovanni Hernandez (Junior), Gerardo Bedoya
(Millonarios), Fabian Vargas (Boca Juniors), David Ferreira
(Paranaense), Freddy Guarin (Porto), Juan Carlos Toja (Steaua
Bucharest), Abel Aguilar (Hercules), Adrian Ramos (America)
Forwards: Fredy Montero (Cali), Dayro Moreno (Steaua),
Darwin Quintero (Pereira), Wason Renteria (Braga).
(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; editing by Rex Gowar)