By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA (AA) – South American representatives Colombia will be in the Group H battling against Poland, Japan and Senegal in the World Cup 2018.
Los Cafeteros booked their ticket to Russia by finishing the South American qualifying group stage in the fourth place, collecting 27 points in 18 matches.
The team, just like their run in 2014 Brazil, will again look for the services of James Rodriguez of Bayern Munich and Radamel Falcao of Monaco.
They also have exciting players such as Juan Cuadrado of Juventus, Luis Muriel of Sevilla, Carlos Bacca of Villareal and Jose Izquierdo of Brighton.
Colombia, in its five previous tries, managed to achieve its best by going into the quarterfinals in the last World Cup. The team will look to better its record by advancing at least into the semifinals in the tournament.
Colombia's confirmed 23-men squad:
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas).
Defenders: Cristian Zapata (Milan), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Yerry Mina (Barcelona), Johan Mojica (Girona), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors), Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol), Abel Aguilar (Deportivo Cali), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus), Mateus Uribe (Club America), Jefferson Lerma (Levante), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate).
Forwards: Carlos Bacca (Villarreal), Radamel Falcao Garcia (Monaco), Luis Muriel (Sevilla), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras), Jose Izquierdo (Brighton Hove Albion).
Manager: Jose Pekerman.
