Colombia Squad For Copa America 2007

Colombia head coach Jorge Luis Pinto has named 25 players for the Copa América 2007 in Venezuela and after finishing as runners-up in 2004, Pinto will want to emulate the success of 2001 when the ‘Los Cafeteros’ lifted the trophy for the first-time.

Pinto has called on two young strikers 23-year-old Bordeaux forward Edixon Perea and 21-year-old Hugo Rodallega from Club de Fútbol Monterrey.

Rodallega made a name for himself when he became the all time top goal scorer of the Under-20 South American qualification for the Under-20 World Cup when he scored 11 goals in 9 games.

They will be joined by veteran Colombia striker Andrés Chitiva, who has made over 220 appearances for his country.

Southampton FC midfielder John Viáfara, who has spent the second-half of last season on loan with Real Sociedad in Spain, has been called-up by Pinto after impressing last season.

Pinto will also have Paris Saint-Germain defender Mario Yepes available for the tournament, in which Colombia have been drawn in Group C, alongside Argentina, Paraguay and United States.

Colombia squad for Copa América 2007, Venezuela:
Goalkeepers: Robinson Zapata (Cúcuta, Colombia), Agustín Julio (Tolima, Colombia), Miguel Calero (Pachuca, Mexico)

Defenders: Jair Benítez (Deportivo Cali, Colombia), Javier Arizala (Tolima), Gerardo Vallejo (Tolima), Aquivaldo Mosquera, (CF Pachuca, Mexico), Iván Ramiro Córdoba (Inter Milan, Italy), Camilo Zúñiga (Atlético Nacional), Amaranto Perea (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Mario Yepes (Paris Saint Germain, France).

Midfielders: Jorge Banguero (América, Colombia), Alvaro Domínguez (Cali), Macnelly Torres (Cúcuta), Jaime Castrillón (Medellín, Colombia), David Ferreira (Atlético Paranaense, Brazil), Fabián Vargas (Internacional, Brazil), Vladimir Marín (Libertad, Paraguay), John Viáfara (Southampton FC, England)

Strikers: Sergio Herrera (Cali), César Valoyes (Medellín), Hugo Rodallega (Monterrey, Mexico), Luis Gabriel Rey (Morelia, Mexico), Andrés Chitiva (CF Pachuca, Mexico), Edixon Perea (Bordeaux, France).