By DAN KARELL
Javier Hernandez and Andres Guardado have earned a recall to the Mexican National Team.
Both players were included on a list of seven European-based players that Jose Manuel de la Torre selected for Mexico’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and the United States. Both Chicharito Hernandez and Guardado were left off El Tri’s roster for their friendly match in New Jersey against the Ivory Coast due to injury, but even though Hernandez hasn’t featured for Manchester United yet this season, he’s been deemed fit enough to join his national side.
Also included on the list are FC Porto duo Hector Herrera and Diego Reyes, Villarreal pair Javier Aquino and Giovani Dos Santos, and Espanyol’s Hector Moreno. Only Dos Santos, Moreno, and Reyes were in Mexico’s squad this month to face the Ivory Coast.
Noticeably absent is Ajaccio goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, who reportedly rejected a call to join El Tri because he wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot. Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela has continued to be left off the Mexico squads as well.
Mexico currently sit in third place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, with eight points from six games. The side have yet to win a game on home soil in 2013, but they’ll have a chance on September 6 when they host Honduras at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Four days later, they’ll travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Guardado’s inclusion in the squad squashes reports that he would miss out on the upcoming matches, either due to poor form in the calendar year or the ankle injury he picked up this summer. His club Valencia initially sent out a release of players this week who had earned international call ups and Guardado wasn’t on it. But by the end of this week, the Spanish club sent out a new release, with Guardado’s name on it.
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What do you make of these developments? Do you believe Guardado and Hernandez are fit enough to start for El Tri? Do you see Mexico winning at Azteca against Honduras?
Share your thoughts below.