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Mexico, Honduras release Olympic qualifying rosters

NajarHonduras (Getty Images)

The United States Under-23 men's national team's two chief competitors for a berth in this summer's Olympics are Mexico and Honduras, and both have released their rosters for this month's CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

D.C. United winger Andy Najar made the final cut for Honduras after being a part of the 28-man preliminary roster that was announced earlier this week.

As for Mexico, Mexican-American midfielder Ricardo Bocanegra, who was with the U-23s for their friendly against the United States on Feb. 29, was left off the roster, while rising Chivas de Guadalajara star Erick Torres was added to it.

These rosters are not necessarily final, as teams have up to March 21 to make any adjustments before the qualifying tournament begins the following day. The U.S. roster is expected to be released early next week.

Here are the Olympic qualifying rosters for Mexico and Honduras:

MEXICO OLYMPIC QUALIFYING ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Hugo Gonzalez (America), Antonio Rodriguez (Veracruz), Liborio Sanchez (Queretaro).

DEFENDERS: Nestor Araujo (Cruz Azul), Darvin Chavez (Monterrey), Miguel Ponce (Chivas), Israel Jimenez (Tigres UANL), Hiram Mier (Monterrey), Hugo Rodriguez (Atlas), Diego Reyes (America).

MIDFIELDERS: Javier Aquino (Cruz Azul), David Cabrera (Pumas UNAM), Nestor Calderon (Toluca), Javier Cortes (Pumas UNAM), Jorge Enrqiuez (Chivas), Hector Herrera (Pachuca).

FORWARDS: Jeronimo Amione (Atlante), Marco Fabian (Chivas), Alan Pulido (Tigres), Erick Torres (Chivas).

HONDURAS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Jose Mendoza (Platense), Francisco Reyes (Olimpia). 

DEFENDERS: Ever Alvarado (Real Espana), Hilder Colon (Real Espana), Wilmer Crisanto (Victoria), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Johnny Leveron (Motagua), Orlin Peralta (Vida), David Velasquez (Victoria).

MIDFIELDERS: Wilmer Fuentes (Marathon), Mario Martinez (Real Espana), Alexander Lopez (Olimpia), Alfredo Mejia (Motagua), Andy Najar (D.C. United), Arnold Peralta (Vida), Gerson Rodas (Real Espana).

FORWARDS: Eddie Hernandez (Hacken), Anthony Lozano (Alcoyano), Romell Quioto (Vida), Roger Rojas (Olimpia).

Comments

  1. Given the amount of foreign born players that have played for the US and not including the new wave of german americans, this comment is beyond silly.

    Bocanegra spent his entire life in Mexico having moved there shortly after being born in the US.

    He learned how to play in Mexico and the FMF is the one who funded his development.

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  2. Really surprised Mexico didn’t add not one of there U-23 guys from Europe. Especially since Dos Santos is not even playing with Spurs at all.
    Anyways can’t wait to see the roster for the U.S. They are going to rock that qualifying tournament.

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  3. Seriuosly. Neither team had their first choice squad. Did you just read Mexicos released Roster for the Qualifying tournament. All of those players were on the same roster that lost to the U.S. a week and half ago.

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  4. If you mention Chandler you also have to Daniel Williams and Jozy Altidore as players who are of age to play for U-23 but play on the senior team. If Boyd and Gyau get a break they could also be consistent players in bundesliga. All told the US has a player pool that play in leagues equal to and better than Mexican first division.

    Clubs pay well in Mexico but to give you an example, RSL lost to Monterrey by one goal in last years CCL but Monterrey’s salary was more than triple that of RSL’s. Point being MLS is already on par with Mexico and improving despite the salaries being much lower.

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  5. Two things-
    1) Mexican League salaries are really good-incentive to stay home, might be good enough for Europe but don’t have to.

    2) Only US players from Europe who will likely be released from their clubs are a) players who aren’t good enough to get consistent playing time with the top team(which is ok at their age, just worth pointing out) or b) play in Scandanavian leagues that are ok, but probably not as good as the Mexican league. Understand your diversity point though.

    Obvious exceptions to what I mentioned are guys like Timmy Chandler, Morales, etc. But for the most part those are true.

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  6. Anyone with better knowledge of these sides to assess the strength of each team? Are they fielding top sides? other than the top omissions like hernandez and dos santos? My knowledge is pretty limited to the USA pool. Americaaaahhhh

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  7. From what I see all of Honduras players are from their domestic league.

    As for Mexico’s roster, it would be expected that all of them come from their domestic league. I think they have like 5 or 6 players under 23 playing in Europe.

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  8. Not to take anything away from the win, we overwhelmed El Tri for much of that game, but it’s difficult for me to believe that Mexico didn’t come into that game assuming they were going to win.

    They were totally unprepared for what happened in the first half and couldn’t get back into the game once they adjusted.

    Neither team had a 1st choice squad, so no excuses there.

    I wouldn’t expect us to have it nearly as easy the next go ’round,….if there is one. But, I still say we would win.

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  9. Have you seen the highlights from the U23 friendly against Mexico last week?

    Prior to the U.S. making some subs, “domination” is the only way to describe it.

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  10. I have always thought so, too, yet in the past people have said our teams are at a disadvantage because they’re spread across so many different leagues and don’t get to play with each other. I think of it more like hybrid vigor.

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  11. Am I reading this right that Mexico’s roster is 100% from Mexican clubs? Looks like Honduras has a few players who play for teams outside of their domestic league.

    Thinking about the US roster is exciting with many players coming from European clubs and a few from Mexico as well and of course MLS. Not to be labeled here as a euro snob but one has to think that the mix of different experiences gives the US an advantage.

    Reply

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