Rafael Marquez leads European additions to Mexican team
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Former World Cup captain Rafael Marquez of FC Barcelona and brothers Jonathan and Giovani Dos Santos were among the 10 Europe-based players added by Mexico to its preliminary World Cup roster Saturday.
The 17 domestic-based players named to the pre-World Cup roster have been in training camp since mid April. The 10 players selected Saturday will join them as their European obligations end.
Among those not selected was striker Nery Castillo, who played this winter for Dnipro in Ukraine. Once a rising star on the Mexican national team, Castillo has struggled as of late. His last call-up came in September in a World Cup qualifier against Honduras.
With Miguel Sabah unlikely to play in the World Cup because of injury, Saturday’s additions leaves Mexico’s active roster at 26, three over the World Cup limit. Mexico must trim its roster to 23 before its final pre-World Cup match against Italy on June 3 in Brussels.
The 10 players called up Saturday, with their European clubs:
Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona); Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona); Ricardo Osorio (Sttutgart); Francisco Javier Rodriguez (PSV Eindhover); Hector Moreno (Az Alkmaar); Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhover)
Midfielders: Andres Guardado (La Coruna)
Forwards: Guillermo Franco (West Ham); Carlos Vela (Arsenal); Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray)
-- Kevin Baxter