Hector Morenois recovered from his injury, but several Mexican center backs werent so lucky. Tigres center backHugo Ayalaand AmericasEdson Alvarez, the youngest player in the call-up, are in the team and will be called upon to fill the roles typically played by Nestor Araujo and Diego Reyes.
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It was a fantastic season in Europe forHector Herreraas well. The Porto midfielder captained his team to a championship. LA Galaxy midfielderJonathan dos Santosisnt having as good of a year with his club, but is on the roster and hoping to make the World Cup for the first time. His brother,Giovani dos Santosscored in the 2014 tournament but is coming off an injury.
Rafa Marquezis on the list after worries that off-the-field issues would deny the 39-year-old the chance to play at his fifth World Cup.
Defense continues to be a concern, butCarlosSalcedos injury recovery and return to the field for Eintracht Frankfurt has been a boost.
ForwardAlan Pulidomissed the Gold Cup with an injury and never could bounce back to the level Osorio expected.
Forwards(7): Javier Chicharito Hernandez (West Ham United), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Oribe Peralta (Club America), Jesus Tecatito Corona (Porto), Carlos Vela (LAFC), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Hirving Lozano (PSV)
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In the midfield,Andres Guardadois coming off an excellent season with Real Betis. He too is recovering from a knock, but Osorio is optimistic about his chances of arriving in Russia fully fit.
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Midfielders(6): Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giovani Dos Santos (LA Galaxy)
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Marco Fabianstood out at that tournament and recovered from his back injury that forced him to miss much of the season with Eintracht Frankfurt to make the list.
After Reyes pulled out with his hamstring issues, PachucasErick Gutierrez, a 22-year-old midfielder was added to the roster. He was the biggest surprise on the provisional roster but has earned his way into the full team.
After calling in fullbacks likePaul Aguilar,Luis ReyesandAdrian Aldreteearlier in his tenure, it looks like Osorio was set with Layun and Salcedo, with none of those players called in this year.
After an injury during the club season kept him from suiting up for Mexico after his El Tri debut in January, 19-year-oldJonathan Gonzalezheaded to the Toulon Tournament for rising stars rather than the World Cup. So too did club teammateCesar Montes,a center back.
ChivasOswaldo Alaniswas one of the final players cut from the team. Tigres wingerJurgen Dammand Monterrey midfielderJesus Molinaalso missed the final cut.
Mexico starts its World Cup campaign with a June 17 game against Germany before taking on South Korea on June 23 and closing out group play against Sweden on June 27.
There werent too many surprises on Mexicos squad, other than Osorio naming 28 players instead of the final 23 as hed hoped.
The manager, who himself is taking a national team to the World Cup for the first time, hoped to name his 23-man final list outright, but injury concerns forced his hand. With players needing rest and preparation matches to be played, he called in several back-up players to fill out the numbers.
On the wingstheres in-form LAFC attackerCarlos Vela, who is pushing to start at right winger, where Osorio likes to play him with an inverted profile. Porto midfielderJesus Tecatito Coronastruggled for consistency with his club this year, but it wasnt long ago that Mexico fans considered him a must-start player – and the talent is still there. Tigres wingerJavier Aquinohas earned plenty of minutes in the Osorio era and looks to lend experience and strong crossing to the group.
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Omar Goveaalso will look to 2022 after a dispute with his club manager resulted in a dip in playing time in Belgium, and the midfielder failed to impress enough after being called in for the March friendly matches.
With reigning champion Germany in the teams group along with South Korea and Sweden, plus a potential round of 16 matchup against Brazil, the path wont be easy.
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In goal, its the trusted trio of Standard LiegesGuillermo Ochoa, coming off winning a Champions League place with the Belgian side, Cruz AzulsJesus Corona, and TolucasAlfredo Talavera.
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Osorio has high hopes, however, that the squad he has named can get Mexico into the fifth match- and beyond.
After excellent campaigns in Liga MX, many were pushing for Chivas attackerRodolfo Pizarroor Santos Laguna midfielderJose Juan Gallito Vazquezto make the provisional list, but there isnt space for either one.
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Goalkeepers(3): Guillermo Ochoa (Standard), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
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Mexico has plenty of familiar faces up top. The breakout star of the team isHirving Lozano, who helped PSV to a title in his first season in Europe. Things didnt go as well forJavier Chicharito Hernandezat West Ham, but the 29-year-old forward has the talent to lead the line for El Tri. Osorio wants to take three No.9s to Russia, so Benfica forwardRaul Jimenezand Club America veteranOribe Peraltaround out the forwards.
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The strong group of goalkeepers made it impossible for up-and-comerRodolfo Cotaor veteranMoises Munozto edge into the group.
While Santos Laguna center backNestor Araujoactually is on the squad, tendonitis experienced during recovery from aknee injury suffered in a March friendly against Croatia will keep him from making the flight.
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Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio named a 28-man provisional World Cup squad ahead of the June 4 deadline and trimmed that to 23 players who are in Russia ahead of the start of the tournament.
Diego Reyeswaswith El Tri in Russia but couldnt recover from a hamstring injuryand had to pull out less than a week before the start of the tournament.
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A hot start to the Clausura from Club America forwardHenry Martinearned him a January call-up, but he cooled and wasnt in the picture.
Victor Guzmanhad started his push before suffering a season-ending injury with Pachuca. Injuries also vexed Tigresright backLuis Chaka Rodriguez, who twice recovered from a muscle injury but didnt see enough of the field in the stretch run of the Clausura to turn Osorios head.
Defenders(7): Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Edson Alvarez (Club America), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Miguel Layun (Sevilla)
The left-back spot is of little concern withMiguel Layunfit andJesus Gallardoready to be his deputy.
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