Last call for Mexican World Cup hopefuls
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Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre has said the first four matches on his team’s ambitious pre-World Cup tour were intended as ‘observation games’ that would give him a chance to see some players for one final time before announcing his preliminary roster later this spring. All of which makes next Wednesday’s match with Iceland in Charlotte, N.C., an important one for players such as Miguel Sabah, Adrian Aldrete, Vicente Matias Vuoso and Paul Aguilar, who are still battling to impress Aguirre. All four were named to Aguirre’s 18-man roster for the March 24 match and are in need of a big final performance to remain in the picture for a spot on Mexico’s team in South Africa.
Aldrete and Aguilar played in Mexico’s first game this year against Bolivia while Sabah was called up for El Tri’s 2-1 win over North Korea earlier this week. He didn’t play much, however, and was unimpressive when he was on the field. But he’s a favorite of Mexican fans for scoring the deciding goal in last summer’s win over the United States. Vuoso was called up for the North Korea game before being sideline with an injury.
Among the players Aguirre apparently has confidence in are strikers Javier Hernandez, who scored four times in his three games; and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who had a splendid game against North Korea and has apparently sealed his spot in the World Cup. Neither will be going to North Carolina.
The roster, with current club teams:
GK -- Memo Ochoa (America)
GK -- Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas)
D -- Efrain Juarez (UNAM)
D -- Paul Aguilar (Pachuca)
D -- Jonny Magallon (Chivas)
D -- Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America)
D -- Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas)
MF -- Jesus Molina (Tigres)
MF - Adrian Aldrete (Monarcas)
MF -- Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul)
MF -- Israel Castro (UNAM)
MF -- Braulio Luna (San Luis)
F -- Adolfo Bautista (Chivas)
F -- Alberto Medina (Chivas)
F -- Angel Eduardo Reyna (UNAM)
F -- Pablo Barrera (UNAM)
F -- Miguel Sabah (Monarcas)
F -- Vicente Matias Vuoso (Santos)
-- Kevin Baxter