James Rodriguez has expressed his surprise and “deep disappointment” at being dropped from Colombia’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the Copa America. The Everton playmaker said not having the confidence of national team boss Reinaldo Rueda “generated enormous pain” after the medical department ruled he was not fit enough to be involved. In the last month of the season Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti had regularly said Rodriguez was close to a comeback but he managed just one 78-minute appearance in the home defeat to Sheffield United on May 16. “Enough time has been taken to integrate (me) into the full range of conditions for football practice and this way it will not affect my participation in the next fixtures of our national team. On arrival in his homeland last week he underwent an assessment and Colombia’s medical deemed him not fit enough.

Source: Express May 28, 2021 16:26 UTC