Nery Castillo needs to shine in Mexico-Ecuador game

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One week away from its crucial World Cup qualifying match on the road against Honduras, Mexico plays Ecuador in Phoenix tonight (7 p.m., Telemundo) in a friendly game that is not without meaning for Mexico Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The Swede will have his eye on two players in particular -- forward Nery Castillo, who has been riding the bench at Manchester City but is well known to Eriksson from his time as the English Premier League team’s coach, and Brazilian-born playmaker Antonio Naelson, better known as Zinha.

The diminutive Zinha (he’s only 5 feet 4 and 147 pounds) played for Mexico at the 2006 World Cup and has the sort of dribbling skills the rest of the midfielders lack, but the jury is still out on whether his style of play suits Eriksson’s needs. Also, at 32, he is getting a bit long in the tooth for the 2010 World Cup.

Castillo, 24, is another matter. He was involved in a tug of war between Mexico, Uruguay and Greece, being eligible for each of their national teams, and eventually settled on Mexico. He has yet to make his mark, however, and not getting playing time at Manchester City has hurt his international career.

A good showing against Ecuador tonight, even though he is unlikely to be truly match fit, could boost Castillo’s chances of being involved in World Cup qualifying next year, assuming Mexico is not eliminated next week at Honduras, where it has to gain at least a tie.

Castillo is said to be on the verge of leaving Manchester City for Chivas de Guadalajara, a move that could further revive his prospects on the national team.

Also looking to catch Eriksson’s eye tonight will be U.S.-born defender Edgar Castillo.

Here is Mexico’s roster:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (America), Moises Munoz (Morelia).

Defenders: Oscar Rojas (America), Edgar Duenas (Toluca), Leobardo Lopez (Pachuca), Julio Dominguez (Cruz Azul), Fernando Lopez (Necaxa), Fausto Pinto (Pachuca), Edgar Castillo (Santos), Jorge Torres (Atlas).

Midfielders: Fernando Arce (Santos), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Jaime Correa (Pachuca), Francisco Torres (Santos), Israel Martinez (San Luis), Antonio Naelson (Toluca).

Forwards: Nery Castillo (Manchester City), Matias Vuoso (Santos), Cesar Villaluz (Cruz Azul), Carlos Ochoa (Monterrey), Francisco Fonseca (Tigres).

-- Grahame L. Jones