PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that midfielders Cristhian Paredes, Marvin Loría and Andrés Flores have been called up by their respective countries for international matches. Paredes has been called in by the Paraguay U-23 Men’s National Team for the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament between Jan. 18-Feb. 9, Loría has been called in by the Costa Rica National Team for a friendly against the U.S. Men’s National Team on Feb. 1, while Flores will join El Salvador for a friendly match against Iceland on Jan. 19.
Paredes and Paraguay will participate in the 2020 CONMEBOL Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in Colombia between Jan.18-Feb. 9. Competing in Group B, La Albirroja will face Uruguay (Sunday, Jan. 19, at Estadio Centenario in Armenia), Bolivia (Wed., Jan. 22, at Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas in Pereira), Peru (Saturday, Jan. 25, at Estadio Centenario) and Brazil (Friday, Jan. 31, at Estadio Centenario) during the tournament. The top two teams will qualify for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020.
Paredes, 21, joined the Paraguay U-23 Team last month and made two appearances (two starts) in a 2-2 home draw against Colombia in a friendly match on Dec. 21, 2019, and a 1-1 draw on the road against Argentina on Jan. 7, 2020. Paredes has been capped six times for Paraguay’s senior men’s national team.
Loría will join Costa Rica ahead of a friendly match against the U.S. Men’s National Team on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.; kickoff is set for 12:55 p.m. (Pacific). Loría, 22, who receives his second call-up to the senior men’s national team, previously started and played 77 minutes in a 2-0 loss against the U.S. Men’s National Team at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2019. The San José, Costa Rica, native has also represented Costa Rica at the youth level, including making three appearances (1 start) at the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Costa Rica.
Flores and El Salvador will face Iceland at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 19: kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific). Flores, 29, has been capped 65 times for La Selecta since making his debut in 2010, more recently featuring in a Concacaf Nations League matches against the Dominican Republic on Sept. 10, 2019.
