Rodriguez out of Colombia squad for Copa America
Everton’s James Rodriguez has been cut from the Colombia squad due to injury and will miss the Copa America and two World Cup qualifiers in June, the Colombian Football Federation said on Friday.
“In the past days, the midfielder underwent medical exams that determined that he is not at the optimum level of competition and so he will not join coach Reinaldo Rueda’s squad,” a statement said.
The statement did not specify what the problem was, but the Everton player has missed several games this season with a calf injury.
Colombia face Qatar 2022 qualifiers away in Peru on 3 June and at home to Argentina five days later.
😒 Last weekend: James Rodriguez missed Everton's final game of the season to fly back to Colombia to be at full fitness for Copa America
🥴 Today: Colombia have released Rodriguez from their Copa America squad after failing fitness tests pic.twitter.com/r9VtKlx5jG
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 28, 2021
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The Copa America then kicks off on 13 June.
Colombia were meant to co-host the tournament with Argentina but civil unrest there prompted the South American Football Confederation to remove them as joint hosts.
No decision has been taken on where to play the 15 games that were scheduled for Colombia.