BREAKING NEWS: Falcao to miss World Cup

Coach Jose Peckerman has confirmed that the Monaco striker is not yet fit enough to play competitively, which Amaranto Perea also drops out because of a physical complaint

Colombia striker Radamel Falcao has failed to recover from a serious knee injury in time to make Jose Peckerman’s squad for the World Cup.

The Monaco striker sustained ligament damage in his knee while playing in a Coupe de France encounter against Monts d'Or Azergues in January, and though he was able to train with the squad, he will not be risked for the summer’s tournament.

“I don't want to say good evening because it has been such a sad day. I have to announce that Amaranto Perea, Luis Fernando Muriel and Falcao will miss the World Cup. “Perea and Falcao because of their injuries and Muriel as a technical decision,” Pekerman told the press on Sunday.

"The doctors have been very clear: now is not the time for Falcao to return to competition."

Clearly emotional, the striker added: "I do not want to take the place of a team-mate who is at 100 per cent."

The ex-Atletico Madrid attacker had been fighting a race against time from the moment he was struck down, though when he returned to training with his club in the final week of the Ligue 1 campaign there had been tentative optimism he would be fit.

However, that has not been the case, and after failing to feature in any of Colombia’s warm-up friendlies to date, he will not be amongst the playing party to travel to Brazil, where matches against Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan await.

Colombia squad in full:

Goalkeepers: David Ospina; Faryd Mondragon; Camilo Vargas.

Defenders: Juan Camilo Zuniga; Pablo Armero; Santiago Arias; Eder Alvarez Balanta; Mario Alberto Yepes; Carlos Valdes; Cristian Zapata.

Midfielders: Carlos Sanchez; Abel Aguilar; Alexander Mejia; Freddy Guarin; Juan Guillermo Cuadrado; James Rodriguez; Juan Fernando Quintero; Aldo Leao Ramirez; Victor Ibarbo.

Strikers: Jackson Martinez; Adrian Ramos; Teofilo Gutierrez; Carlos Bacca.