Gp C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

—- Radamel Falcao has lost his fight to regain fitness in time for the World Cup and has been omitted from Colombia’s squad for Brazil by coach Jose Pekerman.

Falcao, formerly with Porto and Atletico de Madrid,  suffered a serious knee ligament injury playing for his French club Monaco in January.

Pekerman said last week he would “wait for Falcao until the last day, the last minute” before deciding on his fitness, after consulting with medical experts, and the final decision went against the 28-year-old.

“Muriel, Perea and Falcao are not going to be at the World Cup, Jose Pekerman has announced,” said a message on the national team’s official Twitter account.

Falcao said: “I was very excited but now I’ll have to support the team from afar and I wish them well, hoping they play a good World Cup.”

Pekerman called it “the saddest day I’ve had since becoming Colombia coach”.

The squad

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Nice/France), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Santa Fe)

Defenders: Camilo Zuniga (Napoli/Italy), Pablo Armero (Napoli/Italy), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan/Italy), Mario Yepes (Atalanta/Italy), Carlos Valdes (Philadelphia Union/USA – on loan to San Lorenzo/Argentina), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Eder Alvarez-Balanta (River Plate/Argentina)

Midfielders: James Rodriguez (Monaco/France), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse/France), Carlos Sanchez (Elche/Spain), Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan/Italy), Juan Fernando Quintero (Porto/Portugal), Aldo Ramirez (Morelia/Mexico), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari/Italy), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Fiorentina/Italy)

Forwards: Jackson Martinez (Porto/Portugal), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate/Argentina), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla/Spain), Adrian Ramos (Borussia Dortmund/Germany)

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