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32-Man Squad Named For Mexico’s USA WCQ And FIFA Confederations Cup

Juan Carlos Osorio has announced the preliminary 32-player squad, which will later be reduced to 23, that will battle for Mexico throughout June in two crucial World Cup qualifiers, including one against the United States at the Azteca, and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

This group of predominantly foreign-based players will not receive any break following the end of their European club seasons as Mexico will face Croatia in Los Angeles on May 27 and Ireland in New Jersey on June 1 in friendly matches.

The two friendlies will serve as preparation for home qualifiers against Honduras and the USA on June 8 and June 11. Mexico sit atop the Hex after four qualifiers, but they’ll be determined to take three points against Honduras and to pile more pressure on their northern neighbors with a victory in Mexico City.

One week later, Mexico will play Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to open their Confederations Cup campaign in Russia. That match is followed by their remaining group games against New Zealand and Russia. The top two sides from the group will advance to the knockout round, and El Tri will be confident in their chances of doing as much. 

Mexico will then call a largely domestic-based side to contest July’s Gold Cup in the United States. 

The squad for June includes 14 players outside of Liga MX, including the usual faces of Guillermo Ochoa, Hector Moreno, Miguel Layun, Andres Guardado, Hector Herrera, Marco Fabian, Jesus Corona and Giovani dos Santos.

Of the domestic players, Osorio has elected to take 38-year-old Rafa Marquez, who’s been sidelined since March after back surgery. 

 

The Mexico 32-Player Squad For June's World Cup Qualifying And The FIFA Confederations Cup:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Granada), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)

Defenders: Diego Reyes (Espanyol), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Carlos Salcedo (Fiorentina), Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Hector Moreno (PSV), Oswaldo Alanis (Chivas), Luis Reyes (Atlas), Raul Lopez (Pachuca)

Midfielders: Jesus Molina (Monterrey), Jesus Duenas (Tigres), Miguel Layun (Porto), Jorge Hernandez (Pachuca), Andres Guardado (PSV), Jonathan dos Santos (Villarreal), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Hector Herrera (Porto), Orbelin Pineda (Chivas), Elias Hernandez (Leon)

Forwards: Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (Club America), Jesus Corona (Porto), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Jurgen Damm (Tigres)

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