The call of the Colombian National Team for the matches against Peru (January 28) and Argentina (February 1) for the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers left more than one with their mouths open.
And more than because of the returns or because of the detail of having six players from the last friendly against Honduras, which in theory was not to cause such changes in the competition call, it is also because of the absentees, who are many and very prominent.
In the first line, two regulars: Juan Fernando Quintero and Duván Zapata. Unfortunately, the first suffered a blow that will give him ten days of incapacity and that leaves him out of Reinaldo Rueda’s plans, and the second, who in theory should be recovered, finally did not make it and that is terrible news, considering that he is the most powerful striker and one of those with the best streak in European football.
But they are not the only casualties due to physical problems. Luis Sinisterra did not recover from his injury either and could not be the natural replacement for Luis Díaz, which opened a path for Harold Preciado.
The cases of Sebastián Gómez and Cristian Arango also draw attention: both suffered from covid 19, the last one in the concentration for the friendly against Honduras, but they had time to be under the orders of the DT and they did not succeed.
Without any explanation there are other illustrious absentees, who are enabled and healthy but did not appear in the call: Yairo Moreno and Roger Martínez. Both have been indisputable for coach Rueda, especially the first one who has been a starter and has offered good presentations. Moreno was a substitute and came on in the 62nd minute in Pachuca’s 2-1 win against Guadalajara and Martínez started on January 8 in América but was sent off.
Other names that attract attention are Yeimar Gómez and Yerson Candelo, both starters with Honduras, and Carlos Cuesta and Víctor Cantillo, the latter without competition, but with a selection mark and good presentations in the minutes they have had in Selection. Cuesta has not had much competition in Genk after his injury (with Colombia) and that, in a season that is in full action, could weigh on him.
Finally, a player that many asked for in the friendlies in the United States worse that he did not make it to that list nor to this Qualifiers is that of Teófilo Gutiérrez. In short, it does not seem to be in Rueda’s plans.
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