Colombia announce Olympic football squad
Rio de Janeiro, July 15 (IANS) Sporting Lisbon striker Teofilo Gutierrez and Levante midfielder Jefferson Lerma have been named in Colombia’s football team for next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The pair were the only European-based players included in the 18-man squad announced by the Colombian football federation on Thursday, reports Xinhua.
Also included was forward Miguel Borja, who has helped Atletico Nacional into the final of the Copa Libertadores.
The 23-year-old scored four goals over two legs earlier this month as the Colombian outfit defeated Sao Paulo in the semi-finals of South America’s top club competition.
Colombia has been drawn in Group B in Brazil alongside Nigeria, Sweden and Japan. They will debut in the tournament against Sweden in Manaus on August 4.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Cristian Bonilla (Atletico Nacional), Luis Hurtado (Deportivo Cali).
Defenders: Felipe Aguilar (Atletico Nacional), Deivy Balanta (Junior Barranquilla), William Tesillo (Santa Fe), Helibelton Palacios (Deportivo Cali), Deiver Machado (Millonarios), Cristian Borja (Santa Fe).
Midfielders: Sebastian Perez (Atletico Nacional), Jefferson Lerma (Levante-ESP), Wílmar Barrios (Tolima), Andres Renteria (Santos Laguna), Kevin Balanta (Deportivo Cali), Andres Felipe Roa (Deportivo Cali).
Forwards: Harold Preciado (Deportivo Cali), Teo Gutierrez (Sporting Lisbon), Miguel Borja (Atletico Nacional), Dorlan Pabon (Monterrey-MEX).
Portugal name Olympic squad without Euro 2016 champions
Rio de janeiro, July 15 (IANS) Portugal have omitted from their Olympic football squad each of the six pre-listed players who took part in the national team’s European Championship triumph.
The players left out were Renato Sanchez, Raphael Guerreiro, Andre Gomes, Joao Mario, William Carvalho and Rafa Silva, reports Xinhua.
The squad was named on Thursday, just four days after Portugal defeated hosts France on penalties to clinch their first ever major title.
Rui Jorge’s 17-man list includes seven players who took part in Portugal’s Euro under-21 campaign last year, in which they finished runners up.
Among them are Manchester United’s Bruno Varela and LIverpool’s Tiago Ilori.
The three over-23 players are Porto’s Sergio Oliveira, CD Nacional’s Salvador Agra and Sporting Lisbon’s Andre Martins.
Portugal will play their first match of the Rio Games against Argentina at Rio’s Engenhao stadium on August 4.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers: Bruno Varela (Vitoria FC), Joel Pereira (Manchester United FC).
Defenders: Edgar Ie (Villarreal CF), Ricardo Esgaio (Sporting), Tiago Ilori (Liverpool FC), Tobias Figueiredo (CD Nacional).
Midfielders: Andre Martins (Sporting), Bruno Fernandes (Udinese Calcio), Fabio Sturgeon (Belenenses), Francisco Ramos (GD Chaves), Sergio Oliveira (FC Porto), Tiago Silva (CD Feirense), Tomas Podstawski (FC Porto).
Forwards: Carlos Mane (Sporting), Goncalo Paciencia (FC Porto), Nuno Santos (Vitoria FC), Salvador Agra (CD Nacional).
