Soccer-Chile's Puch out of Copa America, replaced by Silva

SANTIAGO, June 5 (Reuters) - Huracan forward Edson Puch has pulled out of Chile's Copa America squad with a thigh muscle injury and been replaced by Francisco Silva of Club Bruges. "(Puch) has a hamstring tear in his right thigh muscle... and needs a recovery process that is too long to take part in the tournament," Chile's ANFP football federation said in a statement on Friday. Coach Jorge Sampaoli opted for an experienced replacement by calling up 29-year-old Bruges midfielder Silva, who has played for Chile at the previous Copa America in 2011 and last year's World Cup finals. Chile, who are hosting the June 11-July 4 tournament, meet Ecuador in the opening match next Friday. They also face Bolivia and Mexico in Group A. (Reporting by Javier Leira; Writing by Rex Gowar; editing by Toby Davis)