Photo by ISIphotos.net
By GIANFRANCO PANIZO
As frequently as the United States and Mexico face each other it is rare to see a wave of new faces making their debut in this heated series, least of all in important games like World Cup qualifiers.
That is likely to change next Wednesday, when several new faces for Mexico are likely to take part in their first installment of the CONCACAF Clasico. While players such as Jared Borgetti and Cuauhtemoc Blanco have moved on, a new generation has come in and several members should make their debut in the USA-Mexico series next week.
Gone are the days where you could put a name to each and every face on the Mexican National Team. Now a pair of suspensions and the recent rash of injuries to 'el tricolor' might force force the new generation to get their first taste of the CONCACAF heavyweight bout.
Here is a look at potential figures who could make their debuts for Mexico in the USA-Mexio series:
Leandro Augusto, Midfielder
The Brazilian-born midfielder may get a chance to prove his worth along side Pavel Pardo in the center of the pitch next week. Augusto was thrown into the National Team mix for the first time late last summer, getting called and starting in Mexico's qualifier against Honduras on Aug. 20.
Expect the Pumas player to have more defensive responsibilities than Pardo and to be a handful for Sacha Kljestan and Michael Bradley. Kljestan especially will have to be more careful with the ball and play quicker as Augusto won't allow him the space or the the amount of time he was given when he orchestrated the American attack against Sweden last month.
Guillermo Franco, Forward
Guillermo Franco, who plies his trade at Villarreal, could fill the big shoes left by Jared Borgetti. Franco is also a naturalized Mexican, having been born in Argentina and playing the early parts of his career there with San Lorenzo. Since Mexico is expected to only deploy a lone forward against the U.S., Franco will have to impress during training as his Villarreal season has been less than stellar.
If Franco plays he'll be matched up against centerbacks Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra. Franco's lack of minutes with Villarreal might be too much for Sven-Goran Eriksson to overlook as the duo of American defenders consistently receive minutes with their respective clubs. Franco may be better suited as a second-half sub.
Aaron Galindo, Defender
The Guadalajara defender has the best chance of any player in this new generation to start against the U.S. With Johnny Magallon injured, Rafael Marquez's partner in central defense looks certain to be Galindo. Galindo is slightly taller than Magallon and may make it more difficult for the Americans to be effective off of set-pieces.
Galindo will also have the difficult task of marking forwards Brian Ching, who was a handful for Mexico in the Gold Cup Final back in 2007, and Landon Donovan. Galindo will have to be on the top of his game if Mexico are to try to leave Columbus with a point as Donovan has been impressive in his brief stint with Bayern Munich and his chemistry with Brian Ching is no secret.
Vicente Matias Vuoso, Forward
Vuoso, also born in Argentina, has been a consistent figure for Santos Laguna in Mexico's First Division and is probably the forward closest to full-form right now. Vuoso was first capped under Erikkson in 2008 and has helped silence their critics with two goals in six caps.
But Vuoso's height and lack of familiarity with his teammates could be present a challenge as he will have to go up against Onyewu and Bocanegra. The American tandem have been playing together for years and Vuoso will have to have a very special game if Mexico are to get a result against their northern neighbors.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, Head Coach
No, the Swedish-born manager won't be on the field himself, but he will have a hand in the outcome. It is easy to forget that Eriksson was the same manager who coached an England "B" team to victory over the U.S. back in May 2005.
Regardless, Eriksson's time with Mexico has been poor and 'El Tri' has not played inspiring soccer under him. This will still be his first match against the United States as Mexico head coach and there is lots of pressure building on him. The Mexican media and fans are already breathing down Eriksson's neck as they have questioned his player selections for next Wednesday's qualifier. There are even reports that recently-axed Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre could take over for Eriksson if Mexico's qualifying woes continue against the Americans.
All that said, a win against the United States could make Eriksson a hero and save his job for the rest of the World Cup qualifying cycle.
What do you think of the potential debutantes? Think any of them will play a big role in next week's game? Who do you see being the most crucial figure to Mexico's chances of leaving the U.S. with a point (or three)?
Share your thoughts below.
If you guys consider Nery Castillo a foreign player for mexico then Fransico Torres and Orozco are to. Both these have played their whole careers in Mexico and both were produced by the Mexican youth system. Plus Torres wanted to play for Mexico the U.S. was just his back up plan. He’s just playing for the U.S. not because he loves the country but because he wants to play in a World cup.
I’ll be there next Wednesday. Look for me, I’ll be wearing a bright Green Mexico jacket. How does that make you feel JTD?
Yadda Yadda Yadda. 2-1 Gold Cup.
2-2 Last friendly.
3-2 Mexico Feb 11th.
kthnxbye
man i really want bocanegra to score in this game.
none of these guys are new. Guillermo Franco played in the 2006 World Cup. After he got his Mexican Passport.
boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-1 USA
If Mexico can recruit Brazil and Argentine C teamers, we would be able to field much better internationals if we wanted to go that route. I mean, even Mexicans would rather work in the US than Mexico
There is lot of controversy about naturalized players playing for Mexico, even in their first division. Still, Mexican law gives them rights as citizens, just like US law does here, and they have a right to play. I doubt Leandro or Vuoso thought they would play for Mexico when they naturalized. Franco probably, Sinha maybe. Then again, JF Torres indicated he would have gone with Mexico if they had shown interest. Still glad to have him. For the record, I pull for Pumas(all those years of their games on Univision being all the soccer I could find, Sorber playing there, etc) and really like Leandro, a very good but not great player who leaves his heart on the pitch. Nery Castillo, born in Mexico, strikes me as more of a mercenary than any of the naturalizados(plus I think Omar Bravo brings most of what he does without the attitude baggage). Of the US players mentioned, the only one who I wish we’d never seen is Regis.
Its a sad state of affairs for Mexico’s soccer that they have to import national team players.
Christian, the fact is, use of naturalized players is an admission of lack of development in certain positions. Especially if their link to the country is tentative and multiple ones are used. Of course the United States used to do that a lot, we used to have a pretty poor soccer team. But now, the tables have turned and Mexico is the team extensively using naturalized players while the US can field a strong squad of homegrown ones. It’s totally allowable, but indicative of the shift in power and fertile ground for making fun of the laughable state of the team to the south. That is all
Shut it Sven!
Leandro is a better passer but lacks the sting of an Aspe or Torrado. Pardo will have to stay home to help him. Vuoso should start in front of Franco because of minutes.
USA 2-1 on frozen pitch.
Is anyone on the Mexican team actually Mexican?
Do they have any naturalized players that didnt go to Mex as an adult and get naturalized?
Christain the US is moving AWAY from naturalizing adults. Mexico is going to be almost exclusively Argentinians and Brazilians soon.
Say what you will, but the US will probably not have a single foreign born player on the pitch Wed..
Meanwhile there a great chance that 1/3 of the staring lineup for MEx are foreigners…
Thats not counting the Uruguayan NERI
Of course if Mex still cant beat the US with foreigners that wil be a riot.
If MEX does win the US will have the excuse of losing to Argentinas B team not MExico.
not serious, series as in “new to the US/Mexico series of games”
shut up! Swen. and now the news…..
Christian:
Feilhaber and Adu weren’t fully formed as soccer players. They were 6 and 8 respectively when they moved to the United States. A comparison to the naturalized Mexican players (who were already playing in their native countries’ professional leagues before even moving to Mexico) is laughable.
Dooley? Stewart? You’re desperate. These players were added to the team during a time when US Soccer was practically in its infancy. There was NO PRO LEAGUE.
Anyways the real point is that the US has always been all about embracing foreign players and those born abroad. We’ve never had a “policy” excluding foreign born players or coaches who advocated Americanos puros only. Personally, who cares if you have a great foreign player who wants to become a citizen so he can play for your team. Awesome. Its what our country is about.
But I do think its hypocritical for a Mexican national team and fanbase once so proud of a squad “undiluted” by foreign talent to now get so defensive when people call them on it.
On second thought, maybe its not hypocrisy. Maybe its just progress. 🙂
Uh shouldn’t the title say Five SERIOUS Newcomers to Watch?
JTD, put your US jersey on and show that kid what’s what! 🙂
beasley looking fit and finding his scoring touch against AC Milan today sure has quieted down some of the DMB critics…
Llamosa came here to start a new life, not a pro soccer career. His stint as a janitor wasn’t funded by the USSF. Anyways, he’s long retired. Funny how times have changed. Dooley and Stewart were born US citizens though clearly not products of US soccer. Us calling on them was an admission of a lack of player development here. If you wanted good examples, try David Regis, maybe Preki.
There’s a difference between someone coming here as a child with their parents (for nonsoccer reasons) and someone being imported as an adult pro player. I don’t care where the player was born or the color of his skin. Having your professional teams fund imported adult players as a basis for a national team lineup – that’s allowable but you’ll have to put up with the teasing and lack of respect from our end. Mexican soccer had very little to do with making those guys the players they are today.
All of our likely starters that’ll return soon from Europe were born and raised in the US. 17 of the 19 players we have in camp right now were born and raised in the US. Ihemelu (born in Nigeria, raised in Canada and the US, played high school soccer here) and Thorrington (born in South Africa, came to the US at age 2) are fringe players. Adu, Mastroeni, Subotic, Soumare, Feilhaber – all guys who came here as kids for nonsoccer reasons and Adu is the only one with any chance of making our roster this game. We didn’t exactly beg Soumare to play for us though eventually once a citizen he wouldn’t have been denied (and would be appreciated).
Vuoso came to Mexico around age 22 about 5 years ago. Naelson came at age 19 around 14 years ago. Franco arrived at age 26 and left after 4 years. Augusto came at age 23 about 9 years ago. Castillo probably can’t remember living in Mexico since he’s been gone since a small child. I don’t deny the right of any of these guys to want to play for Mexico but it’s not exactly a complement to Mexican player development considering how none of them are products of Mexican youth soccer.
The new players that are going to pose the greatest threats are Leandro and Vuoso. With Leandro’s smart play, he will be a handful for Sasha and Bradley. Vuoso with Nery is going to be a nightmare for the United States defense. Since we all know that the U.S. is going to be playing a counter attack the whole game, all Mexico needs to do is defend well and also defend well against set piece plays.
Can people PLEASE stop referring to Villareal as “Villa?” It’s confusing.
Yeah, it wasn’t long ago that Thomas Dooley, Earnie Stewart, and Carlos Llamosa suited up for the US.
Undrafted, you guys would rather bring in guys like Stewart and Dooley who had literally no connection to the US and had never really lived here to strengthen your squad.
Llamosa came here as an adult.
What’s that? Feilhaber was born in Brazil? Freddy Adu in Ghana?
wow
How’d trying to lure Subotic and Soumare wor out for you?
They declined?
oohh who would’ve thought…
the weather in Columbus is irrelevant, many of Mexico’s players have been playing in colder weather for many months…
But the fans should be great. Hopefully they scream their heads off.
a kid was wearing a mexico jersey at my son’s preschool today… it really irritated me.
Did anyone really think Beasley wasn’t going to play against Mexico?
Even if his club hasn’t been giving him minutes, he still trains with them and would train with the MNT before the match.
As for Edu, his spot has been taken by Kljestan for some time. His best bet to break into the senior A team now is at CB to let Bocanegra slide out to left back.
What’s with all the naturalized Mexican citizens? I thought Mexico used to frown on playing players born outside of Mexico. Wasn’t just a couple of years ago people were making such a big fuss about Zinha?
Go Beasley!
Any hope that this gets him back in good graces with the club for some playing time? Not to get too excited over a goal….but i’d love to see him make it over there.
Chris, it’s a rivalry. That’s why I enjoyed the prospect of rattling you. Us Americans have become so small-minded that we’re actually now insisting that the bulk of our attacking lineup isn’t imported players raised into adulthood in South America. If we broadened our view, maybe we could upgrade our attack too!
Chris, while Ching didn’t have his best game that day, he did draw the pk (it was a legitimate call) and he abused a Mexican defender with a spin move, only to be denied by the post. He certainly posed a threat in that game.
woops sry i meant finished by Pato.
Edu subbed off after mistake. I think Beasley looks good enough to play against Mex, he’s playing well on both attack and defend
Ohh rats. Maurice Edu loses the ball in the Milan friendly and goes right to kaka, who runs through the box and makes a deadly pass through the box and is finished by Kaka.
the rangers crowd boos Edu’s mistake, he cant believe it as it goes in, hands to head.
i dont think any of these players have the same impact that Carlos Vela can, his speed and touch can punish like no other. Im only worried about our fullbacks this game, i think every other position is filled well.
on a side note: Damarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu are playing in the Rangers friendly against AC Milan.
Just as i type this Beasley scores (67 min) the first goal of the game. it was just sheer determination as he scrapped by two milan defenders and finished with a nice shot. Twas a nice sight to see him celebrating with Edu
Chris, I think the doping was brought up to poke fun at the Mexican team scraping the bottom of the barrel at this point, in a very similar way to the location in the barrel where its defenders like you reside.
Undrafted:
Not sure what Galindo’s suspension four years ago has anything to do with the game but I wouldn’t expect anything else from a small minded american fan.
Gianfranco, not sure if you watched the US Mexico game in 07 but Ching was invisible and was hardly a “handful” and did himself and american fans proud with his best CRonaldo impersonation to earn that PK. I know you’re content is meant for American audiences but c’mon, you’re not fooling anyone saying that Ching was dangerous.
Edu gets a start for Rangers in a friendly against AC Milan. The live text on Rangers’ website says he was a standout player in a scoreless first half. Beasley on as a sub at halftime.
hmm, I wonder if the Mexican players that were complaining about Sven and his choices will be putting in their all considering a poor showing looks to result in a new coach… just a thought
When is Bob going to name the Euro based people for this match, its less than a week away!!!
Fightin’ words from Antonio “Sinha” Naelson:
“We can’t be afraid of playing soccer against a team that, from my point of view, is not better than the Mexican squad,” Sinha said. “We just need to focus on playing as we can, and leave everything else outside the pitch.”
“There’s too much noise for a team that’s not true,” he said. “They might be favorites in the game due to playing at home, but for me, Mexico is better as a team.”
“We don’t have to make an obsession of it,” he continued. “We need those three points, but we must earn them with a cold and patient approach. We must have control of the ball and play our game. They are a dynamic and disciplined team.”
Isn’t Guillermo Franco injured?
Franco is not new neither is Galindo. Augusto and Vuoso are pretty solid though. Good players maybe not the caliber of a Castillo or Guardado but very good players.
Thanks GianFranco. This is a good piece.
Augusto and Vuoso are good players. I’m not sure if Augusto at 31 has started to slow down at all? Franco at 32 isn’t that special anymore (if he ever was).
“””Since Mexico is expected to only deploy a lone forward against the U.S.”””…
That would be a huge mistake by Sven. Sven faced the “Double-6” or the “empty bucket” before, such as with England vs T & T at WC 2006, and started 2 strikers.
You need a target man and someone to knock the long balls onto, meanwhile, the mid-field and defense hold positions in the middle of the park, double-teaming and clamping down the 2 opposing wingers, who are waiting to counter.
Simple really. If Sven gets this wrong, then either the Mexican players are uncoachable or Sven needs to go.
I think the fact that this is a Mexican team the US is not that familiar with could make this game dangerous for the US. Hopefully the US will not be taking anything lightly and perhaps will have some scouting reports to aid them. I hope we come out hungry.
4 foreigners (born and raised) and a doper.
Mexico is going all out to win this time around!
I’ve seen Agusto weave his way through the midfield in Mexico City’s C.U. He’s fast and has poses a threat with his easy handling of the ball, although breaking our back four or more solid back two might be a bigger challenge than in the Mexican league.
It would be cool to see ex teamates Franco and Altidore on the pitch together just for kicks, it’s always fun to see teamates play against eachother, McBride and Blanco would of been awesome!!!
It’s gonna be tough, full of cards as always, and i’ve been reading the mexican articles and it seems their biggest concerns are also on who to rely on for the flanks, while we debate of DMB, they seem to have a similar problem due to the loss of Guardado and his legs. Im sooo ready for this one! GO USA!!!
Forecast for Columbus
Hi 46, Low 38 Showers
Leandro Augusto is a great passer, espically long balls.
Vicente Vuso physically powerful hard to take off the ball.
Galindo is a good defender who had a fallout with his coach in germany, but was a starter.
Franco is a good player, but hasnt showed it much this season in Villa.
It doesn’t matter who Mexico puts on the field. They will have their azzez handed to them next week.