Falcao, James Lead Provisional Colombia World Cup Squad

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman on Monday named uncapped goalkeeper Ivan Arboleda to his provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.

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Arboleda, 22, has been a revelation this season for the Argentine top division club Banfield, and is widely touted as a successor to Colombia’s current first-choice keeper David Ospina.

Pekerman also called up Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado and Boca Juniors midfielder Sebastian Perez, who recently returned from respective groin and knee injuries.

La fuerza aérea de @falcao en su máximo esplendor. ??⚽ #FCFMayores

A post shared by Selección Colombia (@fcfseleccioncol) on May 4, 2018 at 2:24pm PDT

As expected, the squad is led by Monaco striker Radamel Falcao and Bayern Munich midfielder James Rodriguez. Also named were Barcelona center-back Yerry Mina, Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez and Villarreal striker Carlos Bacca.

Un abrazo se funde en un solo color. El fútbol, símbolo de unión y de amistad. ★⚽★ #FCFJuveniles

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Pekerman will have until June 4 to trim his squad to 23.

Colombia will begin their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 19 and will also face Poland and Senegal in Group H.

Colombia squad
Goalkeepers: David Ospina (Arsenal/England), Camilo Vargas (Deportivo Cali), Ivan Arboleda (Banfield/Argentina), Jose Fernando Cuadrado (Once Caldas).

Defenders: Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Frank Fabra (Boca Juniors/Argentina), Davinson Sanchez (Tottenham/England), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan/Italy), Yerry Mina (Barcelona/Spain) Johan Mojica (Girona/Spain), Bernardo Espinosa (Girona/Spain), Oscar Murillo (Pachuca/Mexico), Farid Diaz (Olimpia/Paraguay), Stefan Medina (Monterrey/Mexico), William Tesillo (Leon/Mexico).

Midfielders: Abel Aguilar (Cali), Wilmar Barrios (Boca Juniors/Argentina), James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich/Germany), Carlos Sanchez (Espanyol/Spain), Jefferson Lerma (Levante/Spain), Giovanni Moreno (Shanghai Shenhua/China PR), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate/Argentina), Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors/Argentina), Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Juventus/Italy), Gustavo Cuellar (Flamengo/Brazil), Sebastian Perez (Boca Juniors/Argentina), Mateus Uribe (America/Mexico)

Forwards: Radamel Falcao (Monaco/France), Carlos Bacca (Villarreal/Spain), Duvan Zapata (Sampdoria/Italy), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras/Brazil), Jose Izquierdo (Brighton/England), Luis Muriel (Sevilla/Spain), Teofilo Gutierrez (Junior), Yimmi Chara (Junior).

With inputs from Xinhua