Campana (Argentina): Colombia’s talismanic striker Radamel Falcao will miss the World Cup after losing his battle to recover from the crushing knee injury he sustained playing for his club Monaco in January. The 28-year-old’s absence from Brazil was confirmed on Tuesday by Colombia coach Jose Pekerman. “It’s a sad night,” the Argentine said. “With a great deal of sadness I must inform you that Radamel Falcao and Luis Perea will not be taking part in the World Cup because they have not recovered from their injuries.”
Falcao, who has scored 20 goals in 51 international appearances, suffered serious knee ligament damage in a French Cup tie on January 22 and has not played since. “It’s a difficult time. I’ll be supporting the team with all my force,” said the striker. In Buenos Aires, Argentina’s squad announced by coach Alejandro Sabella with the list headed by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi but missing midfielder Ever Banega, Nicolás Otamendi and Jose Sosa. Banega was left out after Sabella elected to side with Celta Vigo’s Augusto Fernandez, who has recovered from injury.
In Paris, Franck Ribery, fighting to shrug off a back injury, figured in coach Didier Deschamps’ team. Also included in the final Brazil-bound list submitted to Fifa was Stephane Ruffier, who stepped in last month for injured goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. France have been drawn in Group E with Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras, their opening opponents in Porte Alegre on June 15. In Sydney, striker Josh Kennedy, who scored the goal that got Australia to the World Cup finals, was one of four players cut. The 31-year-old scored the vital goal against Oman in Sydney last June but a back problem means he joins the experienced right back Luke Wilkshire, attacking midfielder Tom Rogic and goalkeeper Mark Birighitti in missing out.
Meanwhile, Nigeria dropped African Nations Cup hero Mba. Also omitted were left winger Nnamdi Oduamadi, who scored a hat-trick at last year’s Confederation Cup played in Brazil, and Victor Obinna, who scored a decisive free-kick for Nigeria in last November’s qualification play-off against Ethiopia. In Quito, midfielder Segundo Castillo was included in Ecuador’s squad despite needing up to three weeks to recover from a knee injury he sustained at the weekend. Coach Reinaldo Rueda considers the central midfielder, a veteran of Ecuador’s last finals in Germany in 2006, an essential part of his team.
