ASUNCION, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Former Bayern Munich and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has been recalled to Paraguay's preliminary squad for the Copa America in Brazil.
Paraguay head coach Eduardo Berizzo also named former Benfica forward Oscar Cardozo for the continental tournament, to be played in Brazil from June 14 to July 7.
Santa Cruz, 37, earned the last of his 112 Paraguay caps in November 2016 while 35-year-old Cardozo has not represented his country since 2017.
"I think they have something to offer," Berizzo told a news conference on Monday. "It wouldn't help us just to include somebody for their moral support. They are in good form and they'll fight (for a place).
Santa Cruz has scored 10 goals in 14 appearances this year for Olimpia in Paraguay's top division. Cardozo, meanwhile, has netted six times in 14 top flight matches for Olimpia's rivals Libertad.
Berizzo also included Newcastle United attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron despite a hamstring injury that has sidelined the 25-year-old since mid-April.
"He is ok. He's already started training with the ball and is running at speed," Berizzo said, adding that his 40 man list will be trimmed to 23 by the end of May.
Paraguay have been drawn in Group B for the Copa America alongside Argentina, Colombia and Qatar.
Following is the Paraguay squad:
Goalkeepers: Junior Fernandez, Alfredo Aguilar, Juan Espinola.
Defenders: Juan Escobar, Ivan Piris, Jorge Moreira, Fabian Balbuena, Bruno Valdez, Roberto Rojas, Gustavo Gomez, Junior Alonso, Saul Salcedo, Santiago Arzamendia, Ivan Torres.
Midfielders: Rodrigo Rojas, Richard Sanchez, Cristhian Paredes, Robert Piris Da Motta, Richard Ortiz, Celso Ortiz, Matias Rojas, Diego Valdez, Miguel Almiron, Oscar Romero, Alejandro Romero.
Forwards: Derlis Gonzalez, Hernan Perez, Hector Villalba, Antonio Sanabria, Federico Santander, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Gonzalez, Oscar Cardozo, Sebastian Ferreira, Cecilio Dominguez, Braian Samudio, Lorenzo Melgarejo, Angel Romero, Juan Iturbe.
