El Tri: Sven’s List For Definitive Qualifier

México National team coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson, revealed this Friday the list of 23 players to face Honduras on November 19 in the last group match of the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualification.

The majority of the list includes European-based players which make-up the base of El Tri.  However, Eriksson once again left out Villareal forward Guillermo Franco and PSV Eindhoven defender Francisco 'Maza' Rodríguez.

Stuttgart midfielder, Pável Pardo, received the call and will return to El Tri after missing the last three qualification matches due to injury.

From last Wednesday’s friendly against Ecuador, 11 players were considered including Leobardo López, Diego Martínez, ‘Sinha,’ Israel Martínez and Nery Castillo, all of which received their first call-up in qualification.

In the case of Nery Castillo, Eriksson indicated that even if he has had a long period of inactivity, the forward has greater qualities than other players that play every week in the Mexican league.

“Nery is particular, we don’t have many players like him and with his characteristics,” he said.

One of the major surprises from the list was the absence of Chicago Fire star Cuauhtémoc Blanco. 

When questioned about the player, the Swede clarified that he has not had any communication with the forward and has to consider him as a player that has retired from the National side.

El Tri will enter concentration on Sunday night and will travel the following Tuesday to Honduras, in anticipation for Wednesday’ nights match that will define who advances to the Hexagonal.

Goalkeepers
Oswaldo Sánchez (Santos/MEX), José de Jesús Corona (Tecos UAG/MEX) and Guillermo Ochoa(América/MEX)

Defenders
Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart/GER), Carlos Salcido (PSV/NED), Rafael Márquez (Barcelona/ESP), Aarón Galindo (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Héctor Moreno (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Leobardo López (Pachuca/MEX), Diego Martínez (Tigres/MEX) and Fausto Pinto (Pachuca/MEX)

Midfielders
Pável Pardo (Stuttgart/GER), Fernando Arce (Santos/MEX), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul/MEX), Antonio Naelson 'Sinha' (Toluca/MEX), Jaime Correa (Pachuca/MEX), Israel Martínez (San Luis/MEX) and Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña/ESP)

Forwards
Nery Castillo (Manchester City/ENG), Carlos Vela (Arsenal/ENG), Vicente Matías Vouso (Santos/MEX), Omar Arellano (Chivas/MEX) and Omar Bravo (Deportivo La Coruña/ESP)

--César García, Goal.com