World Cup: Colombia and Ecuador call up squad replacements

SAO PAULO - Colombia and Ecuador have both made last-minute replacements to their World Cup squads because of injuries players suffered in warmup matches.

Segundo Castillo, a veteran midfielder who played for Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, has failed to recover from a knee injury he suffered on May 31, the Ecuadorean Football Federation said in a statement on Monday.

Castillo sustained the injury in a tackle with Mexico's Luis Montes during a friendly in Arlington, Texas. Montes broke his leg and was immediately withdrawn from Mexico's squad after their 3-1 win.

Coach Reinaldo Rueda called up Chivas USA midfielder Oswaldo Minda in Castillo's place for the tournament starting on Thursday.

Ecuador, due to travel to Brazil on Tuesday, is drawn in Group E with Switzerland, Honduras and France.

Colombia midfielder Aldo Leao Ramirez took a knock during practice last week, missing their 3-0 win in a friendly over Jordan in Buenos Aires on Friday.

He is being replaced by winger Carlos Carbonero, who helped River Plate win the Argentine league title last month, the Colombian Football Federation said in a statement at the weekend.

Ramirez is the fourth player Colombia have lost to injuries after top striker Radamel Falcao, midfielder Edwin Valencia and defender Luis Perea.

Colombia faces Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan in Group C. - Reuters


Ecuador

Goalkeepers: Maximo Banguera (Barcelona SC), Alexander Dominguez (LDU Quito), Adrian Bone (El Nacional)

Defenders: Frickson Erazo (Flamengo), Jorge Guagua, Oscar Bagui, Gabriel Achilier (all Emelec), Walter Ayovi (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Paredes (Barcelona SC)

Midfielders: Carlos Gruezo (VfB Stuttgart), Renato Ibarra (Vitesse Arnhem), Cristian Noboa (Dynamo Moscow), Luis Saritama (Barcelona SC), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Edison Mendez (Independiente Santa Fe), Michael Arroyo (Atlante), Oswaldo Minda (Chivas USA)

Forwards: Felipe Caicedo (Al-Jazira), Jefferson Montero (Morelia), Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul), Fidel Martinez, Jaime Ayovi (both Tijuana), Enner Valencia (Pachuca)


Colombia

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

Defenders: Mario Yepes (Atalanta), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Pablo Armero (West Ham United), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo)

Midfielders: Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), James Rodriguez (Monaco), Abel Aguilar (Toulouse), Juan Quintero (Porto), Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Carlos Carbonero (River Plate)

Forwards: Jackson Martinez (Porto), Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Teofilo Gutierrez (River Plate), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin)