Mexico

Goal.commentary: Dissecting Mexico's European Roster

Javier Aguirre brings nine European based players to test before the start of the World Cup

Feb 26, 2010 9:00:00 AM

By Sylvestre Adame

More On : Mexico

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It seems as though once Sven Goran Eriksson left and Javier Aguirre was reinstated as Mexico’s head honcho, the Mexican national team's player pool got really, really deep.

Javier Aguirre has tapped into the new talent as well as some old familiar faces that a lot of us had written off. The combination of the two along with El Vasco's constant stride towards perfection have resulted in a Mexico that easily beats Bolivia 5-0.

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That Mexican team only featured players who play in Mexico and not abroad. This Wednesday though things will be a lot different. Mexico will play an opponent who will also be aspiring for something big once June rolls around. El Tri will have its best European players at hand and this might well be a good part of the squad that Aguirre takes to South Africa.

First things first. These players will have to perform well not only for El Tri but in their clubs as well, and for some finding a spot on their clubs roster has been a real pain.

Jonathan to take over?

Once More Guillermo Ochoa was not called and this time on the only FIFA date before the start of the World Cup. Many say he has the Goalkeeping spot sealed but is he really Mexico’s number one?

Funny things happen in World Cups, but you can always expect a penalty shootout somewhere in the mix. If Mexico were to be put in a penalty shootout situation would Ochoa be the first choice then? I’d say no. Jonathan Orozco is a much better keeper when it comes to the dreaded penalties.

Luis Michel is also in the mix but he’s just too old. Old goalkeepers might work for other countries but it’s just not for Mexico.

Ochoa is number one for the time being but Orozco has been given a golden chance to try and take that away.

Deep Defense

Since Aguirre arrived to fulfill his second tenure with El Tri the manager has used 17 different defenders in about a year’s time. Aguirre was not afraid to let defenders like Paul Aguilar and Efrain Juarez have a crack at the national team rank. Paul Aguilar showed great things in the game against Bolivia. The Pachuca defender complimented well with Pablo Barrera down the right flank. Aguirre will not have Aguilar for Wednesday’s match as he will let his European players try to top what Paul Aguilar did.

This in turn is great because it creates internal competition for those precious spots to South Africa. No longer are the European-based players the only weapon of choice in the back for Aguirre. Ricardo Osorio has found it hard to start for Stuttgart this season and Rafael Marquez has seen better times. Francisco “Maza” Rodriguez has been performing well for his club since he last saw time with the national team. Hector Moreno along with Carlos Salcido are regular starters for their respective clubs.

Aguirre will most likely focus on a combination of Mexican and European-based players in the back. Get Paul Aguilar back in there and get Hector Moreno more minutes. Aguirre knows Marquez, Salcido, and Osorio all too well but they usually all play together in the back but that should change this time around.

Deeper Midfield

There is plenty of talent in Mexico’s midfield and it shouldn’t go unnoticed for this match. Gerardo Torrado seems to be a lock for Aguirre as he’s the undisputed captain but maybe Marquez will take over those duties this Wednesday. Torrado was one of the player’s who Aguirre brought back after many thought his career with the national team was over. Another surprise call in midfield was that of Braulio Luna.

The 35-year-old Luna has performed on another level with Javier Aguirre. The San Luis midfielder had a huge impact in the game against Bolivia. The position he played against Bolivia might not be available against New Zealand now that Andres Guardado’s name appeared on the roster. Taking the spot away from Guardado will be difficult but if Luna keeps his good form then the sky is the limit.

Jonathan Dos Santos was of course one of the surprises in El Vasco’s roster. The Barcelona midfielder will try to so his worth against New Zealand but is he really ready for the National team? It took his older brother more than two games to just get settled with the national team. Giovani Dos Santos had his break out performance in the Gold Cup and Maybe Jona will have his this summer. He will have to impress Aguirre this Wednesday and then maybe we could start making bets.

Pablo Barrera was left out of the roster but he did his job to impress Aguirre against Bolivia. The Mexican national team seems to have drifted away from their nationalized midfielders like Antonio Naelson “Zinha” and Leandro Augusto. With a team this deep there is just no room for those players.

Chicharito, Vela, Dos Santos

Hearing these three names has to send chill down your spine no matter what team you’re rooting for. These three are no doubt Mexico’s top prospects. Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela have played together before and man were they good. Aguirre added a third option in attack and that’s Javier Hernandez. This Wednesday we might be fortunate enough to see all three at the same time but even if we don’t, a combination of any of these three would be more than enough.

Does this leave the old guys out? Guillermo Franco and Miguel Sabah have not yet been called by Javier Aguirre in this preparation process. Both Franco and Sabah saved Aguirre’s tail in tight situations before so not seeing them in this roster is a bit surprising. Maybe Aguirre will use them later, who knows? One of the more veteran players is still getting calls though and many say he’s too old to be on the roster.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco was called again for the encounter against New Zealand. Blanco played against Bolivia in El Tri’s first preparation game but he did very little on the pitch. Why bring him for the New Zealand game? Cuauhtémoc Blanco, whether you like it or not, will be going to South Africa. He needs these games under his belt and especially with the limited amount of time to work with the European players. Blanco might not be the goal scoring threat he once was but sometimes it’s the little things that count. Blanco can still draw two players on him with his presence alone. It’s not that he’s so great with the ball that they can’t take it away. Some players just want to get a hit on him, so he draws two players, sometimes more, and frees up the space for his team mates.

All in all this roster is worthy of an “A” it’s a very good concept, it’s not finished but it should deliver a punch against a team like New Zealand.

Sylvestre Adame covers Mexican football for Goal.com.

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

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