BOGOTA, May 12- Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez and Manchester United’s Radamel Falcao have been named in Colombia coach Jose Pekerman’s preliminary 30-man squad for the Copa America in Chile.
Pekerman has also called up two newcomers — Santa Fe defender Francisco Meza and Equidad goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla — with Carlos Valdes, Luis Fernando Muriel and Edwin Valencia returning to the group.
The coach of the 2001 champions will cut the squad to 23 on June 1 ahead of the tournament from June 11 to July 4.
Colombia, fourth in the FIFA rankings behind Germany, Argentina and Belgium, are in Group C with Venezuela, Brazil and Peru.
In Argentina, Carlos Tevez and Javier Pastore, overlooked for the 2014 World Cup, have been named alongside Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezzi in Argentina’s preliminary 30-man squad.
Coach Gerardo Martino will cut the list to 23 on June 1 with the tournament taking place in Chile from June 11 to July 4.
However Mauro Icardi, the third highest scorer in Serie A with 18 goals for Inter Milan, has been overlooked again, with Martino spoilt for choice among the strikers.
Argentina, champions in 1991 and 1993, have been drawn in Group B with Paraguay, Uruguay and Jamaica.
Real Madrid striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez has not been named by Mexico coach Miguel Herrera in his 23-man.
Hernandez is expected to instead feature in the Gold Cup in July, as Mexico prepare for two tournaments this summer.
Miguel also overlooked strikers Carlos Vela from Real Sociedad and Villarreal’s Giovani dos Santos for the Copa.
Only four players who compete in foreign leagues were selected including young Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez, 24, and veteran captain Rafael Marquez, 36, who plays for Verona in Italy.
Mexico are in Group A with hosts Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia in the tournament which runs from June 11 to July 4.
Jamaica and Mexico have been handed invitations to the South American tournament.
SQUADS
MEXICO
Goalkeepers: Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul), Meliton Hernandez (Veracruz), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Julio Cesar Domínguez (Cruz Azul), Gerardo Flores (Cruz Azul), Adrian Aldrete (Santos), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Efraín Velarde (Monterrey), George Corral (Querétaro), Carlos Salcedo (Guadalajara), Miguel Herrera (Pachuca), Rafael Márquez (Verona/ITA)
Midfielders: Mario Osuna (Queretaro), Javier Güemez (Tijuana), Juan Carlos Medina (Atlas), Marco Fabian (Guadalajara), Luis Montes (León), Javier Aquino (Rayo Vallecano/ESP)
Strikers: Eduardo Herrera (Pumas), Enrique Esqueda (Tigres), Matías Vuoso (Chiapas), Jesus Corona (Twente/NED), Raul Jimenez (Atletico Madrid/ESP)
ARGENTINA
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria/ITA), Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres/MEX), Mariano Andújar (Napoli/ITA), Agustín Marchesín (Santos Laguna/MEX)
Defenders: Martín Demichelis (Manchester City/ENG), Nicolás Otamendi (Valencia/ESP), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United/ENG), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St-Petersburg/RUS), Facundo Roncaglia (Fiorentina/ITA), Federico Fernandez (Swansea City/ENG), Milton Casco (Newell’s Old Boys), Lucas Orban (Valencia/ESP)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/ESP), Lucas Biglia (Lazio/ITA), Ever Banega (Sevilla/ESP), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus/ITA), Angel Di María (Manchester United/ENG), Federico Mancuello (Independiente), Maximiliano Rodríguez (Newell’s), Enzo Pérez (Valencia/ESP), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Erik Lamela (Tottenham/ENG), Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica/POR)
Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelonea/ESP), Carlos Tevez (Juventus/ITA), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli/ITA), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City/ENG), Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG/FRA)
COLOMBIA
Goalkeepers: Camilo Vargas (Atletico Nacional), David Ospina (Arsenal/ENG), Cristian Bonilla (Equidad)
Defenders: Cristian Zapata (AC Milan/ITA), Eder Alvarez (River Plate/ARG), Jeison Murillo (Grenade/ESP), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli/ITA), Pablo Armero (Flamengo/BRA), Santiago Arias (PSV/NED), Carlos Valdes (Nacional/URU), Darwin Marmolejo (Standard Liege/BEL), Francisco Meza (Santa Fe)
Midfielders: Abel Aguilar (Toulouse/FRA), Alexander Mejia (Monterrey/MEX), Carlos Sanchez (Aston Villa/ENG), Edwin Cardona (Monterrey/MEX), Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan/ITA), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto/POR), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Chelsea/ENG), Pedro Franco (Besiktas Istanbul/TUR), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid/ESP), Edwin Valencia (Santos/BRA), Johan Mojica (Valladolid/ESP), Victor Ibarbo (AS Roma/ITA)
Strikers: Carlos Bacca (Sevilla/ESP), Jackson Martinez (Porto/POR), Radamel Falcao (Manchester United/ENG), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate/ARG), Andres Renteria (Santos Laguna/MEX), Luis Muriel (Sampdoria/ITA)
