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BOGOTA, June 19 (Reuters) - Colombia coach Francisco Maturana left some of his top players out of the squad for the Copa America on Tuesday, even though the country is hosting the event. Midfielders Freddy Rincon, Mauricio Serna and Frankie Oviedo, defenders Jorge Bermudez, Arley Dinas and Gonzalo Martinez, and strikers Juan Pablo Angel and Faustino Asprilla were all omitted.

Maturana apparently wanted to rest them for the World Cup qualifying competition and was also keen to blood some younger players. Newcomers include midfielders Oscar Diaz and Javier Restrepo and strikers Elson Becerra and Eulalio Arriaga.

Maturana took over for his second stint in charge of the team last month but got off to a miserable start when Colombia crashed to a 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat away to Argentina. Colombia have never won the Copa America. They face Ecuador, Venezuela and Chile in their first round group in the steamy Caribbean port of Barranquilla.