photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports
By FRANCO PANIZO
Andres Guardado and Rafa Marquez have made the cut.
Mexico has unveiled its final 23-man roster for Saturday’s CONCACAF Cup showdown with the U.S. Men’s National Team, and both Guardado and Marquez are on it. The two veterans’ availability for the much-anticipated match had been in question in recent days because of injuries, but interim head coach Ricardo Ferretti has opted to include Guardado and Marquez.
Ferretti had trimmed his preliminary El Tri squad from 35 players to 25 last Friday. He did not make a decision as to who his final two cuts were so as to wait and see if Guardado and Marquez were healthy.
With them included, Miguel Herrera of Pachuca and Leon attacker Carlos Pena were the final players left off the roster.
Here is the full Mexico squad:
Goalkeepers (3): Moises Munoz (Club America/Mexico); Alfredo Talavera (Toluca/Mexico); Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey/Mexico)
Defenders (8): Paul Aguilar (Club America/Mexico); Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad/Spain); Rafael Marquez (Hellas Verona/Italy); Hector Moreno (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands); Miguel Layun (Porto/Portugal); Hector Herrera (Porto, Portugal); Arturo Rivas (Tigres/Mexico); Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres/Mexico)
Midfielders (5): Israel Jimenez (Tigres/Mexico); Andres Guardado (PSV Eindhoven; Netherlands); Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon/Mexico); Javier Aquino (Tigres/Mexico); Jonathan Dos Santos (Villarreal/ Spain)
Forwards (7): Oribe Peralta (Club America/Mexico); Raul Jimenez (Benfica/Portugal); Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad/Spain); Carlos Esquivel (Toluca/Mexico); Jesus Corona (Porto/Portugal); Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany); Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy/United States)
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What do you think about Mexico’s finalized roster? Which players most worry you? Think the USMNT can and will beat this team?
Share your thoughts below.
Having Marquez on the pitch is not a problem for us, the chance of a yellow/red card is high from him, plus he’s getting slower. He’s also like a kid, you just have to bait him and he will retaliate. The key to this is if the ref will call on his antics. Who knows, from previous matches in concacaf we end up on the short stick it seems.
I am surprised that PSV and Verona would release Guardado and Marquez… they must be close enough to 100%
Guardado played 75 minutes against Ajax this weekend. I don’t know about Marquez
Yeah, I was watching PSV-Ajax and was surprised to see him playing, let alone playing 70+ minutes.
Marquez not in the 18 in Hellas 1-1 Chievo.
Guardado played this weekend for PSV. he’s back and fine.
For all that Klinsy wants his players to test themselves and play “at the highest level” in Europe, looks like Mexico has really made some big strides in getting their players to Europe over the last two years. El Tri could play 10 field players who are all on club teams in Europe.
US could still win on Saturday, but from a talent and form perspective – El Tri > USMNT right now.
Can’t wait for Jurgen to try to show how smart he is by starting Alvarado who will first get abused by the speed of Vela and then get bruised by Peralta’s bulk late in the game.
This one could get out of hand like that 5-0 mauling back in Giants Stadium in 2009. Gulp.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves hear. The 5-0 mauling was the summer we went to the finals of the Confed Cup so we brought a clear B-Team to the Gold Cup whereas Mexico brought their A and were desperate to get the cup back. We’ve played Mexico pretty evenly since then.
Mexico bring their A team to the 2009 Gold Cup. No Sanchez, Salcido, Marquez, Maza, Guardado, Osorio, Pardo, Leandro, etc
They were in a bit of turmoil when Aguirre took over and it’s why he decided to bring a mixed squad and giving young players like Barrera and Juarez a chance and bringing in experienced players that weren’t considered by Sven like Guille Franco and Gerardo Torrado.
I don’t see how we can dismiss the 2009 Gold Cup while celebrating winning all those meaningless friendlies over the past four years.
You are right on about Mexico having a more talented team. I just hope the US plays a proactive style instead of reactive. Klinsmann has done well against Mexico. He will probably play defensively until halftime then high press during the second half. I just hope the US doesn’t give away early goals because then Mexico will begin “managing the game” (diving, laying around, rolling around, cheap shots). I just want the game to be exciting with the US winning and becoming the Kings of CONCACAF!