Coach Eduardo Lara knows the urgency of the matter for the Cafeteros. For this reason he is bringing in players that are making their debut with the national team as well as returning to international duty. With this callup, Colombia might be focusing more on the Miss Colombia beauty pageant than on the national team come November.

The big news was that Independiente Medellín striker Jackson Martínez has finally become an option for Lara in the inept attacking front for Colombia. The Medellín forward is one of the most dominant players in the domestic league at this moment and his current run of form earned him a callup at the most important time. He alongside Falcao García, Junior's Teófilo Gutierrez, and Wigan's Hugo Rodallega would be a considerable tandem to face Ecuador and Uruguay's more physical backlines. The problem is what it has always been, the midfield's inability to get the ball to their forwards in favorable position.

One of the biggest absences was that of Zaragoza midfielder Abel Aguilar. The former U-20 was finally coming into his own under Lara and becoming a regular in the national team lists. Another absentee will be Fernando Mosquera who is injured.

Giovanni Over MacNelly? Junior's Giovanni Hernández being called up once again is demoralizing as he has proved for over 12 years that he is not cut out to be an international player and he was never going to be the replacement for Carlos Valderrama that Colombian football has been looking for now for well over a decade.

MacNelly Torres will be left home as this shows that there is very little rhythm in the most vital part of the midfield for the Colombians. This was the worst possible time to do this change even though Giovanni is in good form at the club level.

The problem with the callup is not the goalkeepers or the defense. They have been the two most solid units throughout the qualifiers. They will have their hands full as the FCF, in their eternal wisdom, take Ecuador to the altitude of Medellín. This was the perfect time to head to Barranquilla, where they have dominated El Tricolor.

Also add to the fact that anything less than a win would virtually eliminate the Colombians for a third consecutive time while Ecuador would add more pressure to Argentina as they face Brazil in Rosario.

Colombia would then head to Montevideo to face a fully-stacked Uruguayan side midweek.


Goalkeepers: Agustín Julio (Independiente Santa Fe), David Ospina (Nice-Fra)

Defenders: Luis Amaranto Perea (Atlético Madrid-Esp), Humberto Mendoza (Nacional), Pablo Armero (Palmeiras-Bra), Cámilo Zúñiga (Napoli-Ita), Mario Yepes (Chievo Verona-Ita), Iván Ramiro Córdoba (Inter-Ita), Christian Zapata (Udinese-Ita)

Midfielders: Adrián Ramos (América), Fabián Vargas (Almería-Esp), Jairo Palomino (Nacional), Jhon Viáfara (Once Caldas), Freddy Guarín (Bordeaux-Fra), Giovanni Hernández (Junior), Cristian Marrugo (Tolima), Vladimir Marín (Toluca-Mex), Giovanny Moreno (Nacional), Juan Pablo Pino (AS Monaco-Fra), Dorland Pabón (Envigado FC)

Forwards: Radamel Falcao García (FC Porto- POR), Teófilo Gutierrez (Junior), Jackson Martínez (Independiente Medellín), Hugo Rodallega (Wigan-Eng)