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)

Colombia Callup Leaves Doubts

The Colombian Football Federation (FCF) confirmed today that the Cafeteros will be hosting their neighbors to the south in September at the Atanasio Girardot in Medellín and not in the Colombian capital of Bogota. The notion was being tossed around as soon as the final whistle was blown in the Peru match last week which the home side won 1-0 keeping Colombia´s fading World Cup hopes alive.

The FCF also made a petition to CONMEBOL in order to change the kickoff time to 4pm local time on September 5th due to pending travel plans that the Colombians have after the match en route to Montevideo as they will face the Uruguayans in a do or die clash at the mythical Estadio Centenario. Colombia are currently in seventh pace with 17 points and still have an outside shot of obtaining that fifth and final spot in that region´s qualifiers, thus earning them a playoff spot against the fourth place team from CONCACAF currently held by Mexico.

Colombia To Play Ecuador In Medellín

There are various reasons why Ecuador wants this match against Argentina They are poised to get to 20 points and once again be in the driver's seat for the fifth place in CONMEBOL. They would also have Argentina in their sights as the Albicelestewould be hosting none other than Brazil in September. One thing is for sure, Quito will be a cauldron when the Southerners arrive. The game is completely sold out and some mediums are licking their chops at the prospect of yet another historic loss for the Argentines in high altitude.

News daily (for lack of a better term) Extra had one of its most incendiary front pages in recent days, topping their instigating comments from the weekend prior to El Tricolor's win in Lima.

Altitude has become a a boogeyman of sorts for the Argentines as they have lost in the other two high altitude venues that they have played in. They lost to Colombia 2-1 in Bogota in November of 2007 and then the historic 6-1 loss to Bolivia in the Hernando Siles of La Paz.

"After Eating Chicken This Weekend We Have To Change The Menu. Tomorrow We Eat (Argentine) Steak!"

They also had a "feature" in which Ecuadorian coach Sixto Vizuete "sings" a reggaeton track that is strictly dedicated to El Diego and his players reminding them of what they will be up against in the Atahualpa.

Diego don't think that you're smart.
That by getting to Quito before kickoff
you're gonna breathe well.

Also the cold is just the same.

In La Paz they beat you 6-1
and in the Atahualpa you won't be able to walk.

The chorus was probably the sharpest jab to the liver that could be given as it repeats incessantly.

"Breathe Diego, don't inhale Breathe Diego, don't inhale," as the double entente regarding the altitude and the former player's battle with drug abuse lacked subtlety.

Ecuadorian Press Carving Maradona