Mexico bringing big names to Rose Bowl
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Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre, making full use of FIFA’s lone international fixture date before the start of his team’s World Cup training camp, called nine players home from Europe for Wednesday’s friendly with New Zealand at the Rose Bowl.
The 18-man roster announced Thursday includes Giovani Dos Santos, a midfielder who has been playing in Turkey; the Barcelona-based duo of Rafael Marquez, a defender, and Jonathan Dos Santos, a midfielder; midfielder Andres Guardadoof Spain’s Deportiva La Coruna; and striker Carlos Vela from Arsenal of the English Premier League. Among the notable omissions were forward Nery Castillo, who is once again having trouble with his Ukrainian team, and striker Guillermo Franco, who sustained a knee injury playing for English club West Ham.
Aguirre also invited back forward Javier Hernandez and midfielder Braulio Luna, the two stars of Mexico’s first World Cup warmup. Hernandez had a pair of goals while Luna scored once and assisted on three others in Mexico’s 5-0 rout of Bolivia on Wednesday in San Francisco. Pablo Barrera and Paul Aguilar, who accounted for Mexico’s other two goals, are not on the roster for the New Zealand match.
The All Whites, who are also going to the World Cup, announced their roster more than two weeks ago but have since lost standout Ryan Nelsen, the captain of Blackburn Rovers, who hyperextended his knee Sunday. They are also without their other experienced fullback, Ivan Vicelich, who picked up a red card in a match against Jordan last year and must serve a suspension.
Mexico’s full roster for Wednesday’s match:
Goalkeepers: Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara), Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey).
Defenders:Efrain Juarez (Pumas), Carlos Salcido (PSV), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (PSV), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona).
Midfielders:Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña), Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona), Braulio Luna (San Luis).
Forwards:Aldo De Nigris (Monterrey), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz).
-- Kevin Baxter