Mexico

Franco Feeling Golden About Joining Mexico

Guillermo Franco joined the Mexican national team ahead of Thursday's game against Panama and while not fit to start, Franco said he was happy to be with the team.

Jul 9, 2009 10:20:24 AM

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Guillermo “Guille” Franco has finally joined up with the Mexican national team, after a 12-hour flight from his native Argentina, and is up to the challenge of helping the Tricolor in the goal scoring department. The veteran striker, however, views the Unites States as favorites to win the Gold Cup.

“I believe that the United States has won the title of favorites (to win the Gold Cup), by the way they have been playing, in the last Confederations Cup they could have been champions and they have surprised, so it is normal in that sense that they are seen as the favorites because of the results that they have. Fooyball is like that, a team will not get mentioned and now it is normal that they receive recognition and it is logical that they cement that type of response,” Guille told Ovaciones newspaper.

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In terms of the Gold Cup, Franco was called in to replace an injured forward and another forward left Mexico's first game with an injury, but Franco said he is not quite ready to step in anyone's spot.

“Physically I am not ready as I was in vacations. I am not ready to play a match,” admitted Franco. “I was surprised by Aguirre’s call-up having known beforehand I would have prepared for the tourney. Still, I received Aguirre’s call and I have all the desire to begin working and get in shape as soon as possible.”

According to Franco his call up, to replace the injured Omar Arellano, is due to being the type of player that Aguirre likes.

“Every coach has their preferences, when they call up players they have their tastes, Javier has confided on me," he said. "I like the challenge of scoring goals."

Franco might not have been training with a club but he said he wasn't exactly gorging himself and being lazy.

"I do not think it will take me more than one week to be in form," he said. "I am a player that during vacations likes to stay in rhythm; I am at the same weight since when I left, I have been sprinting, I have not trained extensively but I do go sprinting. I should be ready within a week."

A 2006 World Cup veteran, Franco nonetheless went nearly two years before he received another opportunity with Mexico. He has not been a regular member of the squad, though, even after his international career was revived. To be called up to Mexico's Gold Cup squad after a pair of World Cup qualifying appearances, in which he scored a goal, might be an indicator that Franco is here to stay.

“For me, I have always said it is a motivation of pride to be in the national team, if she needs me I expect to respond, I am happy, I had not been taken into account before and now I am. So, I am happy with the opportunity Javier has given me and I expect to respond with goals,” continued Franco. “I played games before Javier arrived and I do believe that the national team receives too much criticism, it takes many hits, and they (press) have good reasons about the results not being what the Mexican national team is capable of. A new cycle has begun, there is no time but any coach will need it, I understand the criticism but they must understand that two cycles have been interrupted and they should wait longer before criticizing again."

Joel Aceves, Goal.com

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