体坛英语新闻：Rondon, Rincon lead Venezuela Copa America squad

CARACAS, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon, Torino midfielder Tomas Rincon and Espanyol full-back Roberto Rosales lead Venezuela's preliminary squad for the Copa America announced on Friday.

Head coach Rafael Dudamel also named teenage forwards Jan Hurtado and Samuel Sosa on his 40-man list, which will be trimmed to 23 on June 2.

The Copa America will be played in Brazil from June 14 to July 7. Venezuela have been drawn in Group A alongside Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

Dudamel said the Vinotinto will go to Brazil with "hope and expectation" and said his team would also use the competition to prepare for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

"The Copa America will provide us with preparation, both in victory and in defeat," he told a news conference. "I have a lot of expectations, but you have to be cautious about what may happen."

Venezuela will play friendlies against the United States, Mexico and Ecuador before their opening match of the tournament against Peru in Porto Alegre on June 15.

Following is Venezuela's preliminary Copa America squad:

Goalkeepers: Wuilker Farinez, Rafael Romo, Joel Graterol and Alain Baroja.

Defenders: Alexander Gonzalez, Ronald Hernandez, Rolf Feltscher, Pablo Bonilla, Jhon Chancellor, Nahuel Ferraresi, Williams Velasquez, Yordan Osorio, Mikel Villanueva, Roberto Rosales, Luis Mago, Bernardo Anor.

Midfielders: Junior Moreno, Bernaldo Manzano, Agnel Flores, Yangel Herrera, Renzo Zambrano, Archimedes Figuera, Tomas Rincon, Luis Manuel Seijas, Juan Pablo Anor, Yeferson Soteldo, Romulo Otero, Jhon Murillo, Luis Gonzalez, Jefferson Savarino, Erickson Gallardo, Darwin Machis, Adalberto Penaranda, Samuel Sosa.

Forwards: Salomon Rondon, Josef Martinez, Jhonder Cadiz, Fernando Arestiguieta, Jan Hurtado and Andres Ponce.