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Mexico drop Jurgen Damm, add Candido Ramirez ahead of Copa debut

Mexico forward Jurgen Damm has been ruled out of the Copa America Centenario with a knee injury.

Midfielder Candido Ramirez will take his place on the 23-man squad.

Juan Carlos Osorio announced the change before the 24-hour deadline at his news conference on Saturday night. A Copa America statement confirmed the change Sunday afternoon.

According to the Copa statement, "a player listed on a team's final tournament roster may only be replaced in the event of serious injury up until 24 hours before his team's first match, after the Local Organizing Committee has received a detailed medical assessment and only after the acceptance by the tournament Medical Committee that the injury is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the Competition."

Damm has been a mainstay for a Tigres side that finished as runners-up in last season's Copa Libertadores.

The 23-year-old winger has been given three caps for his country thus far, scoring one goal.

Ramirez, of Liga MX runners-up Monterrey, has received just one cap with El Tri, though the 23-year-old has featured in their under-20 and under-23 sides.

Mexico begins its Copa campaign later on Sunday against Uruguay at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.