Coach Reinaldo Rueda announced the call for the Colombian National Team for the triple date of October, in the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers, and more than one was speechless by the illustrious names that were left out.
We review the list and the most likely explanation in each case:
1. James Rodríguez
It is not a novelty, since he has not been in a call since November 2020, but it must be said that his return was never so close as now. It is known that he has reestablished contacts with Rueda and the rough edges have been smoothed out, but evidently he was not enough to face Uruguay, Brazil and Ecuador, all final matches.
What happened?
A devastating fact: he has not played an official game for 4 months and 13 days. It would be incomprehensible to quote him in the face of such inactivity. It is true that he resolved, with the change of team, the very probable lack of minutes that he was going to have in Everton. But he made it to Al Rayyan and didn’t make his debut on Monday, which would have cleared the way for a comeback. He himself asked for time to get ready and Laurent Blanc decided not to risk it. Rueda had no way of calling him.
2. Álvaro Montero
The goalkeeper of Deportes Tolima was in the last triple date of September but did not qualify for this new call, although he is a young goalkeeper, he has done all the courses in national teams and, in theory, he should be ready to replace Ospina and Vargas .
What happened?
The coach had him at his command for several days in the last concentration, as he appeared almost first. And he had no chance to play for a minute. Something had to do with his incomprehensible aggression against Marsiglia, in the recent duel against Deportivo Cali, when the goalkeeper chased his opponent almost to the midfield to hit him, upset by a previous action. The behavior must be impeccable to go to a Selection.
3. Andrés Felipe Roman
The defender of Millonarios had his call in the past day but did not have minutes. His level is optimal and it seemed like a rematch after everything that happened to him, but this time he was out of the squad.
What happened?
The juncture of his recent call was the match against Bolivia, in the height of La Paz, for which, in theory, it would be his chance to give a hand, taking into account that he lives and plays in Bogotá. It could not be and now there are no more duels in altitude in Qualifying. It is worth saying that, with Muñoz and Medina, there is not an abundance of right-backs either, so he could return in the future.
4. Yairo Moreno
One of the notable absences is that of the man from Pachuca. The one who was a left back in the last game against Chile, with a very good association with Díaz in the attack, did not manage to keep up with this call, although he continues to be the DT’s confidant.
What happened?
He was injured in the last week in the Mexican league, a blow that apparently was not very serious, but in Tuesday’s game he could only act for 45 minutes. Apparently he is still touched and that takes him out of the plans because the coming games are too demanding to call him without being physically at the top.
5. Oscar Murillo
At 33 years old, he showed, in the absence of Yerry Mina, that he is still such a reliable defender that he can play three games in a row, including one in La Paz, and he gives guarantees. However, he did not appear on the list, although it was already known that he would be unsubscribed.
What happened?
In a match between Pachuca and Necaxa, he ended up with discomfort in the right groin and left ankle, after a spectacular play. His absence would be for one more week.
6- Andrés Llinás
The central defender of Millonarios, who seemed a great option not only for the high-altitude match in La Paz but also to be a generational replacement in the national team, was left out of this new call. As of September it had arrived at the last minute.
What happened?
The Bogotano has accused fatigue after a last year in which he had practically no respite. He did not reach the top of his last call and also that height condition that was vital in the past call, this time has no weight.
7-Alexander Mejía
The Independiente Santa Fe midfielder was one of the novelties a month ago on Rueda’s list. His experience and that height mark that he won in Bogotá was weighted. Although he had minutes against Paraguay, this time he did not qualify.
What happened?
The need for players with a high footprint in the last call justified their call. Rueda knows him well, they were champions of Libertadores, but this time he wanted younger profiles and with an international touch for the midfield.
8- Andrés Andrade
The Atlético Nacional creative was one of the novelties of the past list and it was believed that he would stay, since there is only Juan Fernando Quintero with a profile like his in Selection. It was not so.
What happened?
Andrade came to the group with great optimism and did not do badly against Bolivia (he had a height mark) but he ended up beaten and was unaffected before the end of the day in September. Now he’s fine, but Rueda chose to stay alone with Quintero.
9- Baldomero Perlaza
The Atlético Nacional player is one of the great surprises: he was expected to be consolidated, after being called up in June, in the Copa América and in September, but he was not.
What happened?
Although he is on the radar, he is one of the few players who has not come to have the confidence to have minutes. He is a good medium-distance finisher, but there are others, like Lerma and Cuéllar, who surpass him in brand and in international contact.
10- Luis Muriel
He is a fixture in the calls for several years, but he fell from the last due to an injury. Now he is recovered, but he is not in Rueda’s call.
What happened?
The Atalanta forward has been recovering from a muscle problem for several weeks and just this Wednesday, in the Champions League against Young Boys, he played just over 15 minutes. It is not full, it was impossible to take it into account.
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