Mexico announces squad for World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador, Honduras
More than two months have passed since Mexican football suffered its darkest night, in which Mexico was the victim of a 7-0 goleada that abruptly ended its participation at the Copa America Centenario and left a country in mourning.
All that, however, is in the past.
On Thursday, the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol Asociacion announced the 24-man squad for Mexico's two 2018 World Cup qualifiers in September. El Tri will play away to El Salvador on Sept. 2 before welcoming Honduras at Estadio Azteca on Sept. 6. The two fixtures mark the national team's last two matches in the fourth round of 2018 World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF.
Hoy más que nunca, es momento de sudar la camiseta.
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) August 25, 2016
Convocatoria: https://t.co/q2Paw78zGE#RendirseJamás pic.twitter.com/4RFi82QohM
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Oribe Peralta are notable omissions from the squad, as the former broke his right hand falling down the stairs and the latter picked up a nasal fracture at Rio 2016. Also missing out are Giovani dos Santos, who expressed his desire to play for Mexico in July, and Carlos Vela.
Meanwhile, Atlas' Martin Barragan, Queretaro's Angel Sepulveda, and Club Deportivo Guadalajara's Angel Zaldivar all received their first international call-up.
What a huge show of faith from Osorio to Gullit Pena. Not even starting for Chivas and in the national team.
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) August 25, 2016
Mexico sits atop Group A, having claimed a maximum of 12 points through four matchdays and yet to concede a single goal. Honduras and Canada each hold four points, while El Salvador is last with only two.
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Granada), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
Defenders: Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Diego Reyes (FC Porto), Hector Moreno (PSV Eindhoven), Yasser Corona (Club Tijuana), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres UANL), Paul Aguilar (Club America), Miguel Layun (FC Porto)
Midfielders: Jesus Molina (Santos Laguna), Jesus Duenas (Tigres UANL), Andres Guardado (PSV Eindhoven), Hector Herrera (FC Porto), Carlos Pena (Club Deportivo Guadalajara)
Forwards: Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Jesus Corona (FC Porto), Javier Aquino (Tigres UANL), Candido Ramirez (Atlas), Angel Sepulveda (Queretaro), Martin Barragan (Atlas), Angel Zaldivar (Club Deportivo Guadalajara)