End of mystery: Falcao Garcia of Colombia is off the list for the World Cup

Monaco striker is cut from the final statement of coach Jose Pekerman, released on Monday in Bogota. Muriel and Perea are also excluded from the World                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The mystery is over, and the news is not good for the Colombian fans. Argentina coach Jose Pekerman announced on Monday a list of 23 names who will represent Colombia in the 2014 World Cup, and the biggest name in football country, Falcao García, is not it. Monaco striker was left out of the team for failing to recover - or even have prospects of being able to play for the World - the injury to his left knee in the match against modest Chasselay, the fourth French division, in January this year.

The striker Falcao Garcia (far right) with José Pekerman to be cut after the 2014 World Cup (AFP Photo)

The player had undergone surgery on the spot and ran out of time to be able to act in the World.Garcia, who is the second leading scorer in the Colombian national team, with 20 goals, had shown optimism about the possibility of playing the 2014 World Cup, and was doing light training with the ball.

- I had high hopes of being in the World Cup. Now that I know I will not be in the World, I will give full support to the national team and my teammates. I gave everything, and that hope I had was important for me to keep pushing myself to recover. Did not want to take the place of a fellow who was in better condition, or do anything that would harm my health. The cut was the wiser. Now the important thing is to move on - the player said, visibly emotional at the press conference after the announcement of the cut.

Coach Jose Pekerman also did not hide his frustration, and teary eyes, summed up the feeling he had after the announcement.

- Not a good day for football, both the Colombian and the world. There are three players who are among the best in the world, which certainly will be sorely missed. They suffered physical problems and tried until the last minute to be the World. But I can not ... - said the coach.

Besides Falcao Garcia, defender Amaranto Perea (Cruz Azul-MEX) and striker Luis Fernando Muriel (Udinese-ITA) were the other athletes cut the relationship.

Check out the complete list of Colombia for the World Cup: Goalkeeper


David Ospina (Nice-FRA) 
Faryd Mondragón (Deportivo Cali-COL) 

Camilo Vargas (Santa Fe-COL) Defenders Mario Alberto Yepes (Atalanta-ITA) Cristian Zapata (Milan- ITA) Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo-ARG) Eder Alvarez Balanta (River Plate-ARG) Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven, HOL) Camilo Zúñiga (Napoli-ITA) Pablo Armero (West Ham-ING) SocksCarlos Sánchez (ESP-Elche) Fredy Guarin (Internazionale-ITA) Abel Aguilar (Toulouse-FRA) Aldo Ramírez (Morelia-MEX) Juan Quintero (Porto-POR) Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari-ITA) James Rodríguez (Monaco-FRA) Juan Guillermo Cuadrado (Fiorentina-ITA) Alexánder Mejía (National-COL)Forwards Carlos Bacca (Sevilla-ESP) Adrián Ramos (Borussia Dortmund-ALE) Teófilo Gutiérrez (River Plate-ARG) Jackson Martínez (Porto-POR)