Ecuador head coach Luis Fernando Suárez has named his 22-man squad for the Copa América 2007 Finals in Venezuela, with seven European-based players called up by the La Tricolore manager.

Reading FC’s Ulises de la Cruz and Vitesse Arnhem’s Giovanni Espinoza both feature in defence, alongside Ecuador captain Iván Hurtado.

In midfield there are more European-based players, with PSV Eindhoven midfielder Edison Méndez, Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic and Red Star Belgrade’s Segundo Castillo, who is making a regular place for himself in the team.

Olympiakos forward Felix Borja, who was declared Copa Libertadores de América's joint top goalscorer in 2006, will be a choice in attack, alongside veteran striker Carlos Tenorio.

Striker Felipe Caicedo, who plays in Switzerland with FC Basel, has been given a call-up from Suárez after impressing in his two appearances for his country in friendly internationals against the United States, in which he scored one goal, and Mexico in March 2007.

Three big names that aren’t travelling to Venezuela are LDU Quito striker Franklin Salas, veteran international forward Iván Kaviedes, who will be missed in attack and Agustín Delgado, who is undergoing a one-year international ban.

Full 22-Man Ecuador squad for Copa América 2007, Venezuela:

Goalkeepers: Cristian Mora (League of Quito), Marcelo Elizaga (Emelec).

Defenders: Ulises De la Cruz (Reading FC, England), Néicer Reasco (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Oscar Bagui (Olmedo), Iván Hurtado (Athletic National, Colombia), Giovanni Espinoza (Vitesse Arnhem, Holland), Jorge Guagua (Colón de Santa Fe, Argentina), Renán Street (League of Quito).

Midfielders: Edison Méndez (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Antonio Valencia (Wigan Athletic, England), Segundo Castillo (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Edwin Tenorio (League of Quito), Patricio Urrutia (League of Quito), David Quiroz (Nacional de Quito), Walter Ayoví (Nacional de Quito), Pedro Quiñónez (Nacional de Quito).

Forwards: Carlos Tenorio (Al-Sadd, Qatar), Felix Borja (Olympiakos, Greece), Cristian Benítez (Nacional de Quito), Felipe Caicedo (FC Basel, Switzerland), Pablo Palacios (Sport Quito).

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati