Pekerman to give Falcao to the ‘last minute of the last day’ to prove fitness

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said on Wednesday he would wait until the last possible moment to name his squad and, hopefully, have it include Radamel Falcao.

Colombia striker Radamel Falcao shown training as he attempts to recover from surgery on a ruptured cruciate ligament in January. Daniel Garcia / AFP / May 28, 2014

Agence France Presse

May 29, 2014

Star Colombia striker Radamel Falcao is to be given until the “last minute” to prove his World Cup fitness, coach Jose Pekerman said Wednesday.

“We will wait until the last minute of the last day,” said the Argentine coach from the team’s World Cup training base in Cardales, near Buenos Aires.

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Pekerman, who coached his native Argentina at the 2006 World Cup finals where they went out in the quarter-finals to Germany, must submit his final 23-man squad by June 2, ahead of the global showpiece kick-off 10 days later.

Falcao, 28 and who has scored 20 goals in 51 international appearances, suffered serious knee ligament damage playing for his club AS Monaco in a Coupe de France (French Cup) tie on January 22 and has not played since.

One player who is definitely out is Fluminense midfielder Edwin Valencia due to physical problems.

“We were forced to exclude Edwin Valencia, who has several injuries,” added Pekerman.

Before leaving for Brazil, where they are in Group C with Greece, Japan and Cameroon, Colombia play friendlies in the Argentine capital against Senegal on May 31 and Jordan on June 6.