Mexico

Goal.commentary: Breaking Down Tri's Aug. 12 Roster

Goal.com's Andrea Martinez looks at the players who Javier Aguirre called in to face the United States.

Jul 30, 2009 2:01:34 AM

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Gerardo Torrado - Mexico (Mexsport)

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Mexico

By Andrea Martinez

Javier Aguirre released the list of the players that were called up for the game against the United States on August 12th at the Azteca Stadium. The Mexican manager will try to replicate the success of the Gold Cup final to gain ground on Mexico’s World Cup qualifying campaign. Twelve players that were part of winning squad are once more included in the squad that will face the U.S. As expected, the European players arrived on the roster, while there are a few surprises as well.

Goalkeepers

Guillermo Ochoa (America) - The call-up for America’s goalkeeper is not surprising at all. After a great campaign in the Gold Cup, Ochoa’s inclusion is well deserved.

Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul) - The new Cruz Azul ‘keeper didn’t see time in the Gold Cup, but his performances petition for his inclusion on the national team call ups, even as a back up.

Aguirre’s seemingly “go-to” guy, Oscar ‘Conejo’ Perez, was left out of the squad. Perez might be a piece that Aguirre likes to rely on, but it’s a good sign that the Mexican manager chose the younger goalies for the national team.

Defenders

Efrain Juarez (Pumas) - The U-17 World Cup champion was somewhat of a surprise of the list. The Pumas player performed well at the Gold Cup and is well deserving of the call up.

Jose Antonio “Gringo” Castro (Tigres) - The Tigres player scored a goal in the final, but had unfortunate moments throughout the tournament. With other players it seems like Castro will have a difficult time finding a few minutes during the game.

Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Spain) - Marquez hasn’t played a game since his injury in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. Without a game since the injury to his left knee will he be fit to play and help Mexico’s cause? The player mentioned that 45 minutes was probably a target range for a game, but would Marquez even last that long without drawing a red card in this type of game?

Johnny Magallon (Chivas) - Chivas will have to be without the services of Magallon once more. The defender played in all the Gold Cup games, and after his performances isn’t a surprise on the list.

Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart, Germany) - Aguirre’s call-ups of European based players isn’t much of a surprise, but Osorio hasn’t been performing very well with Stuttgart. There’s been too much irregularity at his club, that a chance shouldn’t be taken in a game of this magnitude.

Aaron Galindo (Chivas) - Galindo has performed well with Chivas. His inclusion is well deserved. He also has a good partnership with fellow teammate, Magallon, that could translate well for the national team.

Carlos Salcido (PSV, Netherlands) - Again, European based players seem to have a call-up almost for certain assured, but Salcido is a good inclusion on the roster. He’s part of PSV’s starting team, and puts in good performances on a regular basis.

Oscar Rojas (America) - Rojas put in good performances with America at the World Football Challenge, but is a surprise on the roster.

The defense looks solid, but Marquez and Osorio are questionable due to physical capabilities. It is most likely that Aguirre has slotted them in to play because why else would he call them despite knowing what state that they come in? The missing piece in this part of the team is Fausto Pinto. The defender had become a reoccurring player and he performed well at the Gold Cup and should have been included in the list.

Midfield

Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul) - Torrado was one of the players expected to carry on to following rosters. Hopefully, his performances continue elevating as they did towards the Gold Cup.

Israel Castro (Pumas) - The player’s performance in the Gold Cup was fairly good, but he wasn’t one of the players billed to continue on to the next World Cup qualifying game.

Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña, Spain) - The Deportivo player has been impressing during the preseason. His inclusion isn’t surprising because he always makes his way on to the roster no matter who the manager is.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire) - Blanco’s return has been in the cards since before the Gold Cup. Although the creativeness and the passion is welcomed, if he plays it won’t be for a long time. It has to be taken into account that Blanco is getting older and that the reliance on the player won’t last too much longer.

The biggest surprises are in the midfield. Pavel Pardo is once again missing from the list. It seems like Aguirre’s personal feelings towards Pardo continue to be a barrier for the America player’s return to the national team. And although ‘Sinha’ from Toluca is a naturalized Mexican player, he deserved a call up. Time has passed since Sinha played with the national team, and it’s a surprise mostly because he has been performing well and has the level to be at game against the US.

Forwards

Alberto Medina (Chivas) - Medina is another player returning to play against the US. It’s surprising to see the Chivas player back, mostly because of his inconstancy with the national team. He played all six games in the tournament, but often failed to find the net that a second stint with the team is surprising.

Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham, England) - Gio was voted MVP of the Gold Cup, it’s absolutely no surprise that he was called up once more.

Nery Castillo (Shakhtar Donestk, Ukraine) - The player seems to pull out good performances at times, but he should not have been on the list. Castillo doesn’t even make the bench with his club, Shakhtar Donestk. Although going into the Gold Cup there were a few players in the same situation, one game isn’t enough to get to a high level to play against the US.

Carlos Vela (Arsenal, England) - Part of the attack that destroyed the US in the Gold Cup, the Arsenal player returns once more. The injury stopped his growth, but he exploded once he came back.

Miguel Sabah (Morelia) - The inclusion of top goal scorer of the Gold Cup is no surprise, but with other members gaining form, it’s hard to see Sabah playing in the game.

Guillermo Franco (Unattached) - The naturalized Argentine was a pleasant surprise in the Gold Cup tournament, that it’s no shock that his performances placed him onto the roster.

The exclusion of Pablo Barrera is surprising. He came on as a substitute several times and helped change the game for Mexico. Players such as Nery Castillo and Alberto Medina shouldn’t have been included. Castillo doesn’t play with his team that he should first establish himself there before being called up for the national team. Medina on the other is established with Chivas, but in every performance in the Gold Cup showed the same type of game and no improvement.

Strengths

Mexico’s offense remains largely intact and that is a strength going into the game. Most of the players will go into the game with high confidence and the familiarity between themselves that will help once more against the US.

The other super strength for the Mexican side will be the 12th man, the fans. The Azteca is already sold out, and the fans down in Mexico City have already shown that they are on a high after watching the national team win the Gold Cup. The completely Mexican support will be an important factor with the sold out Stadium providing a terrifying atmosphere.

Weakness

The weakness of the team is whatever Aguirre plans to do with the defense. Some of the players that are almost certain to play probably don’t have the capability for a full game, that they could end up becoming a hindrance.

Andrea Martinez covers Mexican soccer for Goal.com.

For more coverage of the 2009 Gold Cup champions, visit Goal.com daily.

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