International Friendly Preview: Mexico - Spain

Mexican Celebrations

Spain may still be celebrating their 2010 World Cup success, but Wednesday’s friendly will be Mexico’s own jubilee as the country celebrates their 200th anniversary since gaining independence from the Spanish. Quite fitting then that they should invite La Furia Roja to the imposing Azteca Stadium to join in the festivities.

But in football terms, this is the start of a new dawn for El Tri. Following their disappointing 3-1 loss to Argentina at the World Cup in the round of 16, Javier Aguirre has departed his coaching post and Enrique Meza has been installed as the interim boss.

The 62-year-old veteran has not made a great deal of sweeping changes to the side, choosing instead to keep the bulk of the key players who featured in South Africa in his first squad selection. He has, however, introduced a few youngsters, most notably reinstating Barcelona starlet Jonathan dos Santos, who was controversially overlooked for the World Cup. Winger/forward Elias Hernandez has also been handed his first call-up, and along with a few other wonderfully gifted youngsters such as Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos and Andres Guardado, Mexico are now building towards the future.

Even though this may be an exhibition match to mark the country’s bicentennial, the Mexicans will not be taking this game lightly. The young guns in the squad will be eager to prove that they are the future of El Tri while the experienced campaigners will be out to show that they still warrant a place in the nation’s new football era.

Here Come The World Champions

On Wednesday afternoon in Mexico City, Spain will step onto a football field for the first time in their history as world champions.

Exactly a month ago, Iker Casillas and 22 others in red lifted the World Cup in Johannesburg and the party has been going on ever since back on Spanish soil.

But what was supposed to be a coronation match for La Roja to parade their squad of world conquerors has turned out to be quite an uproar after coach Vicente del Bosque and the Spanish FA were criticised – mainly by Barcelona – for their squad selection.

The Blaugrana have been forced to sacrifice seven players just three days before the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup clash with Sevilla. The rest of La Seleccion, meanwhile, consist of players who have played little to no pre-season football with their respective clubs due to their extended summer holidays and they will be forced to take on a keen Mexican side without the necessary match fitness and practice.

Del Bosque has done his best to try to summon as many of his world champions as he can on this special occasion for their hosts, and he has called up only three players who didn’t make the trip to South Africa for his 21-man squad.

This will be an awkward match for Spain in the summer Mexican heat and at altitude. Del Bosque and his troops have to give a good account of themselves as the undisputed best footballing nation in the world today, but there’s also a worry as to how much and how well the first team regulars will be able to play.

TEAM NEWS

Mexico

El Tri’s focus on the future of their football has seen interim coach Enrique Meza drop veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco, but captain and New York Red Bulls’ latest star Rafa Marquez remains in the squad. Forwards Enrique Esqueda and Elias Hernandez, along with defenders Fausto Pinto and Leobardo Lopez are the four new faces who failed to make the cut for the 2010 World Cup but have been added to the present 19-man set-up. Striker Guille Franco has since retired from international football.

Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (America)

Defenders: Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Leobardo Lopez (Pachuca). Rafael Marquez (New York), Hector Moreno (AZ), Fausto Pinto (Cruz Azul), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV), Carlos Salcido (PSV)

Midfielders: Pablo Barrera (West Ham), Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Efrain Juarez (Celtic), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul)

Forwards: Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham), Enrique Esqueda (America), Elias Hernandez (Morelia), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Carlos Vela (Arsenal)

Spain

Five World Cup winners have been omitted from the current squad. Pepe Reina, Raul Albiol, Fernando Torres and July 11 hero Andres Iniesta are all out due to fitness problems while young midfielder Javi Martinez has been called up to Spain’s U-21 side. Villarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano has been given his first ever cap, while Santi Cazorla and left-back Nacho Monreal return to the squad after missing out on South Africa 2010.

Squad List:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Villarreal), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Nacho Monreal (Osasuna)

Midfielders: Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xavi (Barcelona), Bruno Soriano (Villarreal), David Silva (Manchester City), Juan Mata (Valencia)

Forwards: Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), David Villa (Barcelona)