World Cup qualifiers: Rodriguez returns to the Colombian national team for the first time in a year

Colombia have recalled James Rodriguez to the national team for the first time in a year, preparing for the World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Paraguay.

The 30-year-old, who was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup and is currently playing for Qatar’s Al-Rayyan SC, lost 15 internationals last November after Colombia won 6-1 in Ecuador.

Colombia will play Brazil in Sao Paulo on November 11 and will take on Paraguay five days later.

Qatar is fourth in the South American 10-team standings table by 2022, automatically ranked in the top four and ranked fifth in an inter-regional knockout.