Photo by ISIphotos.com
By ADAM SERRANO
Mexico head coach José Manuel de la Torre has released his roster for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup, and there are a couple of notable exclusions.
While the squad is highlighted by Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez, key players Jonathan Dos Santos and Carlos Vela have been left off for the El Tri side that will look to repeat as champions of CONCACAF.
The former head coach of Mexican side Toluca, de la Torre chose three members from the side that he coached for the three years. Toluca was the second-most represented team in the squad, second only to CONCACAF Champions League winner Monterrey, which has four representatives.
Major League Soccer will be represented on the Mexico roster, as New York Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez was called up for his fourth Gold Cup.
Here is Mexico's 23-man roster:
MEXICO CONCACAF GOLD CUP ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS – José de Jesús Corona (Cruz Azul), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Guillermo Ochoa (América).
DEFENDERS – Ricardo Osorio (Monterrey), Édgar Dueñas (Toluca), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Rafael Márquez (New York Red Bulls), Francisco Javier Rodríguez (PSV Eindhoven), Héctor Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Carlos Salcido (Fulham FC).
MIDFIELDERS – Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (UNAM Pumas), Luis Ernesto Pérez (Monterrey), Jesús Zavala (Monterrey), Antonio Naelson Sinha (Toluca), Ãngel Reyna (América), Efraín Juárez (Celtic), Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña).
FORWARDS – Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey), Giovani Dos Santos (Racing de Santander), Javier Hernández (Manchester United), Pablo Barrera (West Ham), Elías Hernández (Morelia).
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What do you think of Dos Santos and Vela being left off the roster? Any other notable exclusions/inclusions that caught your attention? How do you see Mexico faring this summer?
Share your thoughts below.
A deep 4-5-1 is the formation that could work at times to stop el tri– it could clog the midfield, deny space and service to chicharto, and hopefully help maintain possession. then break on the counter with speed to beat their slow midfield and exploit the space that will be there with all of mexicos players coming forward.
I assume the comment was in jest. Luz cant defend either. Just knocks guys over and then waits to go forward. Fairly bad outright defender.
One of my favorite Arsenal songs, to the tune of “That’s Amore!” – “When you’re three-nil ahead and the game’s almost dead… time for Vela!”
Guy’s all tricks and flair. Not surprising. Also, he’ll play in the Copa America with the U23s.
I tip my hat to you…good analysis! People miss the point completely. Competition against this high quality Mexican team should be embraced. Our rivalry can only get better if the players, tactics and showmanship are good. I don’t see anything wrong with this squad. I hope for a US/Mex that is real top quality and fun to watch that’s all!
Mexico does much better under pressure and against quality opponents. Plus people forget Chichatito scored as many goals in Chivas as in United, and he scores almost every time he plays with el TRI! Elias Hernandez, Juarez, Barrera, Giovani can and will switch positions and sides. Yeah, they’re not Rooney and Nani, but then again who is?
Bob Bradley would never play him, as BB is resolute in having a big holding striker.
That’s a good reason BB should be fired, too rigid.
Surprised Vela left off. Mexico has a very strong attack. Gio has been lights out at Racing since his loan move. However Mexico’s weakness is at central midfield. Corona is a good goalie.
Definitely better than the USMNT on paper but games are not played on paper and I expect the US to win the Gold Cup.
with players like Javier Hernández and Pablo Barrera up top, Giovani dos Santos playing as an attacking midfielder, Andrés Guardado coming in on the left, we are in for the time of our lives.
A lot of people are saying the midfield isn’t that great….what are we going to be working with Bradley? Who just started making the bench for villa? When was the last time he even had an assist?
Look at their team…they have what is called attacking midfielders, something that has been absent from the USMNT for a while (and we wonder why our attackers are getting no service and acting as defenders half the time!!!!). All we need is Jones as CDM…..then try the taboos of US midfield, who I know can excel if given CONSISTANT chances and full support of the coaching staff (No need to name them…we all know them).
Our attackers can’t score for lack of service. Name one person who could supply attackers like Altidore (U-20/U-23) and Eddie Johnson (Aris) to actually put the ball in the back of the net? Who was the first player in the world to score a hat-trick in both the U-20/U-23? Who do we have as an Attacking Midfielder with a 4 to 1 ratio between appearances and goals scored 208 appearances and 50 goals?
This Mexican team is picked based on abilities and attributes of the players….not play time, not passed accomplishments, not because of who they know…..Ability and skill. Until we have a coaching staff that can do that……we’ll always be “the come back kings”, with instances when we can’t come back and lose everything……
I don’t think that’s what he meant.
False statement.
Yes… well, as much as one player in a game like this can “create a goal on his own”. Most of the time, even if it appears to be a “solo effort,” there are other players making space by running off the ball. Also, I doubt any player has ever picked up the ball from a restart, dribbled from line-to-line it without anyone else touching it or occupying defenders, and then finished the play with a goal.
MLS club needs to pick up Gio…would be a proper move
Its surprising to see how many more Mexican players on the top team are selected from Europe now compared to a decade ago.
Hernandez was able to explode at the club level. Interested to see if he can have just as good of a run at the international level. (Although he did of course have a pretty decent 3 matches in the WC 2010).
Notable Exclusion?
BLANCO!
The midfield isn’t that great, but they’ll be killer on the wings. Now that Luduena is a Mexican citizen, I wonder if he’ll start getting some looks from Mexico. He’d be an upgrade in the midfield for them.
I like Antonio Naelson Sinha a lot, but He’s not the same player of four years ago. He should not be on the team. I’m OK with the Vela and Jonathan Dos Santos omissions. Dos Santos snubbed the team in the past, and Vela is not playing well. This team is going to be fast on the bands. USMNT better get ready. In case you haven’t got the memo, Mexico is back.
Worst thing that can happen is get over confident.
*roster 🙂
Chivas is doing well but more with heart than with talent. They have lots of young players. Their roaster average age is in the low 20’s.
There’s no goats on El Tri. Literally, not one Chivas player. That’s gotta be a first. Isn’t Chivas doing OK in the “clausura” or whatever it’s called?
i think he means top 5 in Concacaf. It still gets me how many fans of the mexican national team truly believe that for most of the last decade their team has been 3rd in the Americas behind Argentina and Brazil. If they could admit that that wasnt true, I would definately hear their analysis. having said that, Juan from LA is fairly on the mark. If we got Gooch and Bocanegra going against Gio & Chicharito, then our oldies are gonna get torched. The only question will be whether the two mexican strikers are being efficiently fed by their midfield- thats questionable. As for our strikers, I’m not sold on Charlie being back. Arent most of his goals for DC PKs. Bob’s much touted trip to the DC game this weekend may be an emotional extension from the circumstances whereby he did not make the WC squad. In other words, Bob may not be totally objective on this one. Its gotta be Agudelo and Altidore, with maybe davies as a sub. I’d prefer Bunbury.
In the World Cup Against Argentina
He’s a poacher Inzaghi style but he’s better at it this season than I’ve seen before.
Los Gringos!!!
Errrrrrrrr! Sorry Manuel, Try Again later. Thanks for playing.
Has anyone ever seen Chicharito create a goal on his own?
“With Chicharito scoring a lot of goals with Chivas and Mexico”
You mean Man United now, right?
Salcido was a beast for Mexico in the WC. THe best player in El TRI!
And what the US is stacked? There is absolutely nothing wrong with this Mexican team. And just for the record Ochoa has NEVER lost against the US! So make of it what you want. Just dismiss Mexico and problems WILL arise.
You meant Costa Rica 2 USA 0!!!!
Wow we gringos are such simpletons!!! But we already knew that?
Hector Moreno is Rafa ten years ago, hoave you ever seen him play?
You are an idiot! GIovani dos Santos could be back at Barca NOW the way he’s playing.
Jonathan Borenstien can handle Chicharito no problem…;)
Wow, US fans sound a lot like Mexicans. Really over confident.
BTW, didn’t J. Dos Santos say he didn’t want to play for Mex anymore.
With Chicharito scoring a lot of goals with Chivas and Mexico, I’m not sure he cares who is in the midfield. The kid makes the most of his opportunities. He is scary.
I’d say that the place they’re most lacking in pace would be the back line… it’ll most likely be Rodriguez, Marquez, and Salicido for at least 3/4. I can’t see Guardado or any of their other wingers helping out too much with defensive duties, so any team with pacey wingers should be a credible threat.
Ivanovic? Are you kidding me? At least you had the good sense not to mention John Terry.
He’s still way better than whatever left back we have.
You are joking right…lol
I prefer Nacho Novo
El Tri should certainly be a top 10 side after the Gold Cup, and perhaps a top 5 side going into the next WC. They are solid, skillful, and young. With Chicharito on fire they will be a team to avoid in all competitions.
They require that players be eligible to play for Mexico. If he became cap-tied with the US then he could no longer play for Mex and would be persona non grata regardless of still being Mexican. Oh and Ponce was born in Sacramento but moved to Tijuana as a toddler.
Juarez prefers the middle too. Mexico has used him as a fullback.
It might be shocking, but understandable, Vela & Jonathan Dos Santos qualify as under 22 for the Copa America, so I expect them both to be in Argentina.
Midfield is not that good, but we need a new generation, Castro & Torrado (and Luis Perez is not good enough) are aging and I don’t think De La Torre trust or rate Zavala that much (a good option, but a bit of a mistery in the international level). Defense can be solid, specially if we keep Marquez in the bench, I like Moreno-Maza combo better. Our attacking options look so promising so far… Gio shining in La Liga and Chicharito on fire with Man U, Barrera always is a treat while wearing “la verde” and De Nigris is a decent enough option as sub.
Are you sure about that? I thought Chivas only required that players be Mexican. They also have to play for the Mexican National Team if they play internationally??
On this topic, what is the basis upon which Ponce could play for the USMNT?
Are you kidding me? i found Jonathan Dos Santos not being called up a suprise.. but Carlos Vela not being called to the squad is a shock.. you have to be kidding me man.
Stacked? Hardly. Salcido is an error waiting to happen, trust me (Fulham fan, and I’ve watched him a LOT). Don’t get me wrong, they are a strong side, but no more or less so than past Tri sides, in my opinion.
very true but guardado, juarez, castro, and torrado arent horrible either… they will present a very technical side but lacking the pace through the midfield… chicharito scares the hell outta me tho
Mexicos defense looks slow and old.
These were just friendlies. For the U.S., not even one year after the World Cup, the objective is to evaluate new players and experiment with formations. The U.S. will be just fine, especially when they raise the Gold Cup over their heads in Victory.
It’s right here. http://www.femexfut.org.mx/portalv2/aspx/WEB_DetalleNoticia.aspx?pnIDNtca=32715
And the reason for leaving some people out is that Mexico will also be playing in Copa America.