Soccer-Cordoba makes Colombia return after two-year absence

BOGOTA, May 28 (Reuters) - Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba was recalled by Colombia on Thursday after a two-year absence.

Cordoba, included in the squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Peru, last played for Colombia at the 2007 Copa America when they were knocked out in the first round after shipping nine goals in three games.

Cordoba later publicly fell out with coach Jorge Luis Pinto, who was fired last year after a 4-0 defeat in Chile and replaced by Eduardo Lara.

"I've been waiting for this for a while but I never despaired, I always said I had to keep playing to the same standard and that I would be called up at any moment," the 32-year-old Cordoba told Caracol radio.

"I've always been proud to play for my country and this feels like my first time."

Despite Cordoba's absence, Colombia, whose last World Cup appearance was in 1998, have conceded only 10 goals in 12 qualifiers.

Their problems have been at the other end where they have scored only six times. After a promising start, they have slipped to sixth in the 10-team group with 14 points.

Uncapped defender Juan Guillermo Cuadrado and striker Teofilo Gutierrez were included. Gutierrez is joint top-scorer in the Colombian championship with nine goals for Atletico Junior.

Colombia visit Diego Maradona's Argentina in Buenos Aires -- where they famously won 5-0 in 1993 -- on June 6 and host Peru four days later.