Bueno's Views: El Tri's Forgotten XI

Oswaldo Sanchez | Not quite past his prime.

The national team is a ligament away from Oscar “Conejo” Perez as the starting goalkeeper, who would likely leapfrog Jesus Corona due to experience. Sanchez might have his occasional blunder and may speak a better game than play it but his abilities have not fallen much if at all since January. And few if anyone questioned Sanchez’s status as number one keeper back then.

Defenders
Jaime Lozano: One of the last players to miss the cut for Germany 2006, Lozano has had plenty of peaks and valleys in his career. At the start of the 2005 Hexagonal, he was one of top players in all of CONCACAF, not just Mexico. But by the summer, he had started to lose his place on the team and soon fell off the face of the national team altogether. Lozano has been playing spectacular football for Cruz Azul of late as his deadly service off set pieces is as strong now as it was in his heyday.

Hugo Ayala: The young Atlas man might have plenty of upside but age is not necessarily a reason for his exclusion. After all, fellow defender Efrain Juarez is a year younger than the 22-year-old Atlas man. Ayala, though, may eventually work his way onto the team as he is the least proven player here. Ayala has the skills to compete for a spot on the national team, despite his poor performance in a recent league game against Morelia. Still, with Atlas Ayala serves as captain. For a team managed by former Tricolor boss Ricardo Lavolpe, that carries weight.

Mario Mendez: Another of Lavolpe’s disciples, Mendez played a key role on the right side for the national team. While Ricardo Osorio and Jose Antonio “Gringo” Castro seem to have that spot locked up under Aguirre, Mendez still has good qualities. He has played abroad, was a part of the Mexican national team for several years and was a starter for El Tri in the 2006 World Cup. Mendez might be a favorite of Lavolpe’s but his footballing career is strong enough to merit another look.

Midfielders
Pavel Pardo: One of the more surprising drops from this latest national team managerial switch, Pardo was serving up crosses and playing a key role for Stuttgart just a year ago.

Pavel Pardo | Has he seen his last national team game?

Pardo was still an influential player for Mexico at the start of June but was not called up for neither the Gold Cup nor the Aug. 12 match against the U.S. Pardo and Aguirre have a history as Aguirre did not call Pardo at all in 2001 and 2002, but Pardo has accomplishments (two-time World Cup veteran, Bundesliga champion) that can translate into success with the national team.

Antonio Naelson “Zinha”: It’s not that Aguirre is opposed to calling up foreign-born players, but Zinha has thus far not been able to buy a break with the national team. A standout midfielder for Toluca, Zinha can carve up opposing defenses and can finish as well. Zinha may not fit in Aguirre’s system but a player with his offensive skills should not be entirely dismissed from consideration.

Braulio Luna: Sure, Luna’s national team days are seemingly years in the past but the hard-nosed Luna is as important for his club team now as he ever has been. Luna’s shot is as potent now as it was a decade ago. Luna is a tough-as-nails leader on the field and takes losses personally. A bit of picardia never hurt any team.

Gonzalo Pineda: Once, not too long ago, Pineda was a key player for El Tri. He was versatile as he could fill in a wide midfielder role or bust up opposing attacks in the center of the field. Pineda’s had some struggles with Chivas over the last year or so, but that seemed to do more with disagreement with former manager Efrain Flores than his ability.

Forwards

Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista: Always a player who clamors for attention, Bautista is not receiving it from the national team staff. Perhaps it has more to do with personality clashes but Bautista’s absence from the national team is surprising. Bautista for one is making it a goal to return to El Tri as he spurned offers from abroad to remain in Mexico in order to boost his chances of returning to the national team and possibly playing in the World Cup.

Matias Vuoso: Remember way back in October 2008? Mexico played a qualifying match against Canada in Edmonton, and El Tri was just starting to collapse.

Matias Vuoso | One of league's top forwards.

The Canucks had a 2-1 lead over Mexico when El Tri battled back and scored the equalizer. Mexico eventually held on for a draw and took a point that proved to be golden as Mexico and Jamaica finished even, and El Tri went through to the Hex on goal differential. Without that point, Mexico doesn’t even reach the Hex. Who scored that clutch goal in Canada? Vuoso. And he can still play.

Juan Carlos Cacho: Rewind to Copa America 2007 and a budding forward partnership seemed to be blossoming. Nery Castillo and Cacho seemed to be the kind of strike force then-manager Hugo Sanchez was looking for. The two players formed a quick and strong partnership and played well off of each other. Cacho has since fallen off the map and struggled for playing time with Pumas. He’s back with Pachuca and back scoring goals. If he keeps up both, he could make noise for inclusion as well.

Luis Bueno is Goal.com’s Mexico editor.

For more coverage of the Mexican national team, visit Goal.com.