4:17 PM ET
Cesar Hernandez
DOHA, Qatar -- Following hours, days and weeks of rumors regarding what Mexico's last roster volition look like, the men's nationalist squad officially announced connected Monday which 26 players volition caput to the World Cup.
In general, astir of the roster was reasonably predictable and based disconnected a preliminary 31-man database that was revealed earlier this month. Recognizable faces specified arsenic Guillermo Ochoa, Hector Moreno, Hector Herrera, Edson Alvarez, Hirving Lozano, Andres Guardado and respective different regular call-ups populated the database made by manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino.
That said, successful a akin mode that Qatar is scrambling to hole for the World Cup festivities, the aforesaid could beryllium said for a Mexico broadside that waited until the past infinitesimal to denote a last roster that volition present look Argentina, Poland, and Saudi Arabia successful Group C.
Injury problems and 11th-hour decisions connected alternates meant Martino was inactive considering his last 26 portion different nations had already announced their squads for the tournament. But with the database present in, let's instrumentality a look astatine what we learned from Monday's Mexico roster release:
- 2022 World Cup: All squad lists for Qatar
Goalkeepers (3)
Projected starter: Guillermo Ochoa (Club America)
On squad: Alfredo Talavera (FC Juarez), Rodolfo Cota (Leon)
Left off: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Luis Malagon (Necaxa), David Ochoa (D.C. United), Jonathan Orozco (Club Tijuana)
No existent surprises here. Ochoa, Talavera and Cota were the lone goalkeepers added successful the preliminary roster, meaning that each different options were fundamentally retired of the moving for Qatar.
As for who volition start, determination is nary question that Martino volition instrumentality with Ochoa successful nett for each crippled possible. Barring an unexpected injury, expect the Club America subordinate to erstwhile again beryllium a cardinal fig and game-changer aft doing truthful for El Tri in the 2014 and 2018 editions of the tournament.
Defenders (8)
Projected starters: Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Hector Moreno (Monterrey), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Jorge Sanchez (Ajax)
On squad: Gerardo Arteaga (Genk), Johan Vasquez (Cremonese), Nestor Araujo (Club America), Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca)
Left off: Jesus Alberto Angulo (Tigres), Israel Reyes (Puebla), Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), Emilio Lara (Club America), Luis Reyes (Atlas), Erick Aguirre (Monterrey), Julio Dominguez (Cruz Azul)
There's a beardown Monterrey spine successful the backline that is acceptable to diagnostic astatine slightest a mates of Rayados players. As an experienced near cardinal defender, Moreno is simply a guaranteed starter. Alongside him astatine the bosom of defense, Montes, his nine teammate, has proven to enactment good with Moreno and brings immoderate much-needed mobility successful defense. The Rayados defensive legion should see Gallardo arsenic well, who has been resurgent for nine and state implicit the past mates of months astatine left-back.
At right-back, each signs constituent to Ajax's Sanchez being fixed the nod, but caller Liga MX champion Alvarez has been near-perfect successful 2022 for Pachuca. And this quartet volition person support it up considering Mexico are successful a radical that has top-notch goalscorers similar Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
0:38
Gab & Juls preview Group C astatine the 2022 World Cup, with Argentina expected to cruise into the knockout rounds.
In spite of not making the last cut, the aboriginal remains agleam for up-and-coming players specified arsenic Lara, Araujo and Reyes. Martino went with much seasoned options successful his World Cup squad, leaving these and each different U23 players retired of the picture.
Alvarez, who is going to crook 24 successful January, volition beryllium the youngest call-up for Mexico successful Qatar.
Midfielders (7)
Projected starters: Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo)
On squad: Erick Gutierrez (PSV), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul)
Left off: Erick Sanchez (Pachuca), Fernando Beltran (Chivas), Sebastian Cordova (Tigres), Marcelo Flores (Real Oviedo), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Alfonso Gonzalez (Monterrey)
Once considered a guaranteed trio successful the midfield, determination are present nary certainties that Guardado, Alvarez oregon Herrera volition beryllium go-to starters. Guardado's vigor has decreased successful his mid-30s and Herrera has struggled to assertion regular minutes successful MLS aft a caller injury. Alvarez appears to beryllium the lone in-form starter of the three, but helium could besides beryllium dropped from the XI aft Martino experimented successful Mexico's 4-0 affable triumph implicit Iraq past week that didn't diagnostic a existent antiaircraft midfielder.
This volition undoubtedly onshore opportunities for important minutes and perchance starts for a younger procreation of options similar Gutierrez, Chavez and Rodriguez.
Much volition beryllium made of a Liga MX champion XI-caliber subordinate specified arsenic Sanchez being near out, but similar Lara oregon Araujo, the 23-year-old is 1 to ticker for the future.
Wingers (5)
Projected starters: Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul)
In squad: Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Alexis Vega (Chivas), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)
Left off: Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America), Jordan Carrillo (Sporting Gijon), Diego Lainez (Braga), Jesus Corona (Sevilla)
Lozano volition unquestionably beryllium successful the XI connected either the near oregon close wing, but who other volition commencement other him?
Martino has a propensity to springiness plentifulness of minutes to Antuna, though helium mightiness beryllium amended suited arsenic a pacey second-half substitute. Vega is simply a well-rounded option, arsenic is Alvarado, and yet Pineda's creativity and explosiveness could sneak him into that starting spot.
This each wouldn't beryllium a statement if Corona didn't endure a fractured fibula earlier this summertime that yet ruled him retired of the World Cup. Lainez was initially successful the moving for his position, but aft a deficiency of minutes for Braga successful Portugal, the speedy 22-year-old was controversially near retired of the last roster.
Dual-national Zendejas, connected paper, should person been successful the representation arsenic a Corona replacement arsenic well. That said, complications with his eligibility for Mexico has placed his relation with the nationalist squad connected hold.
Forwards (3)
Projected starters: Raul Jimenez (Wolves)
In squad: Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey), Henry Martin (Club America)
Left off: Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord), Eduardo Aguirre (Santos Laguna), Angel Zaldivar (Chivas), Javier Hernandez (LA Galaxy)
In a contention to afloat retrieve from a groin injury, Jimenez's inclusion was a past infinitesimal determination by Martino. As agelong arsenic he's steadfast helium should beryllium successful the XI, but if not, it's up successful the aerial if either Funes Mori oregon Martin volition instrumentality the starring role. While Funes Mori was awesome done his show and extremity successful triumph implicit Iraq past week, Martin is much in-form astatine the nine level aft collecting 13 goals and 6 assists successful 21 appearances for Club America past season.
Having the existent associated apical goalscorer successful the 2022-23 Europa League would look similar an casual summation to the last World Cup roster, but Martino alternatively earned plentifulness of disapproval for leaving retired Feyenoord's 21-year-old Gimenez from the squad.
Hernandez, Mexico's all-time starring goalscorer, was besides successful the conversation, but behind-the-scenes issues with the nationalist squad were ne'er resolved. The LA Galaxy striker past played for Martino's broadside successful precocious 2019.
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