James Rodríguez Goes from Overlooked at Sao Paulo to Colombia Call-up
After nearly a month without playing for his club, the talented Colombian has made it into the roster for the national team's friendlies against the United States and Bolivia.
Creative midfielder James Rodríguez, from Sao Paulo, stands out in the call-up for the Colombian national football team for the friendlies against the United States and Bolivia, which will take place on June 8th and 15th, respectively, in the US cities of Landover and East Hartford.
The midfielder, who will complete a month without playing next week and is not being considered by Sao Paulo's coach, the Argentine Luis Zubeldía, is part of the 28 players called up for these matches by the Colombian team's coach, also Argentine, Néstor Lorenzo.
The list also includes star player Luis Díaz from Liverpool, England; central defender Yerry Mina, a key figure at Cagliari; striker Jhon Córdoba from Krasnodar, and forward Miguel Borja, whose good performances with River Plate in Argentina have put him back on Lorenzo's radar.
Other players who have solidified their place in Lorenzo's lineup also appear, such as central defender Jhon Lucumí from Bologna, midfielder Richard Ríos from Palmeiras, and midfielder Jhon Arias from Fluminense.
However, Lorenzo has left out several players who are in good form and whom he had previously called up, such as goalkeeper Kevin Mier, a standout from Cruz Azul, and midfielder Juan Camilo Portilla from Talleres de Córdoba.
Also missing is top scorer Mateo Casierra, who scored five goals last weekend in the final round of the Russian league, where his team, Zenit Saint Petersburg, defeated Akhmat Grozny 5-1, making him the top scorer of the tournament with 21 goals.
The match against the United States will be played on June 8th at FedExField stadium in Landover, Maryland, and on the 15th, they will face Bolivia at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.
List of called-up players:
Goalkeepers: Álvaro Montero (Millonarios-COL), Camilo Vargas (Atlas-MEX), and David Ospina (Al Nassr-SAU).
Defenders: Carlos Cuesta (Genk-BEL), Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace-ING), Davinson Sánchez (Galatasaray-TUR), Deiver Machado (Lens-FRA), Jhon Lucumí (Bologna-ITA), Johan Mojica (Osasuna-ESP), Santiago Arias (Bahía-BRA), Yerry Mina (Cagliari-ITA), and Yerson Mosquera (Villarreal-ESP).
Midfielders: James Rodríguez (Sao Paulo-BRA), Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace-ING), Jhon Arias (Fluminense-BRA), Jorge Carrascal (Dynamo Moscow-RUS), Juan Fernando Quintero (Racing-ARG), Kevin Castaño (Krasnodar-RUS), Matheus Uribe (Al Sadd-CAT), Richard Ríos (Palmeiras-BRA), Sebastián Gómez (Coritiba-BRA), and Yaser Asprilla (Watford-ING).
Forwards: Jhon Córdoba (Krasnodar-RUS), Jhon Jáder Durán (Aston Villa-ING), Luis Díaz (Liverpool-ING), Luis Sinisterra (Bournemouth-ING), Miguel Borja (River Plate-ARG), and Rafael Santos Borré (Internacional-BRA).