Tata Martino is set to announce his Gold Cup roster Tuesday with group games in Canada, Cuba and Martinique awaiting in June.
Of course, getting out of the group is the minimum for Mexico. But with Hector Herrera out of the squad, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez likely missing and Hirving Lozano, Carlos Vela and Jesus “Tecatito” Corona all having their status up in the air, El Tri will face a challenge to win the tournament.
We didn’t have much time to get a feel for what Martino is looking for, but the Argentine didn’t have much time to figure out what his players have to offer, either. The message from players after camp was the same. Every player said the key to getting back in the Gold Cup is impressing at the club level.
Article continues below
Editors' Picks
- Ronaldo, Alisson and the top 15 transfers of the season
- Premier League Team of the Season: Salah snubbed as Hazard, Van Dijk & Sterling star
- 'I have made my decision' – Hazard drops biggest hint yet over Real Madrid move
- Arsenal goal machine Aubameyang proves he is world class as he shares Golden Boot
Martino’s task is even more difficult with Concacaf modifying the tournament rules to make coaches pick a 23-man team and stick to it, unlike previous years in which they could make six changes after the group stage. Here’s how the team could look when it arrives in Pasadena, California, for the opening match next month:
Pack your bags
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa
For the first time in recent memory with the national team, there are open slots for goalkeepers. The No. 1 job, though, is still locked down by Ochoa. While getting to a top club has eluded the former America shot-stopper, his showings for El Tri in past tournaments and his current form leave little doubt he’s the best Mexico has.
Defenders: Carlos Salcedo, Nestor Araujo, Hector Moreno
Salcedo and Araujo have been Mexico’s best center backs by far at the club level in the last year and while Martino didn’t play them together, opting for the left-footed Moreno next to Salcedo in his debut, both names are in ink on the roster.
Moreno recently has gotten back into the starting lineup for Real Sociedad. Martino already likes his profile, and if he’s in a good rhythm then he will almost certainly be on the squad.
Maybe we’re being a bit stingy by not including a fullback on the list, but Martino expects a lot of the players that fill those roles.
Midfielders: Andres Guardado, Edson Alvarez, Jonathan dos Santos
Guardado brings a load of experience and still is playing at a high level with Real Betis. The 32-year-old’s days in Europe may be coming to a close with a North American return potentially coming soon. Yet he should be part of Martino’s side wearing the captain’s armband this summer.
Hector Herrera is interesting as he didn’t come in for Martino’s squad in March, but the coach saw it as an excused absence and said the Porto (soon to be Atletico Madrid?) midfielder would’ve started the first contest of the month had he been in the camp. Yet, now reports indicate the Rosarito native is more interested in sealing his summer move than playing for the national team. He looks to be off the list. That vaults LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos into lock territory. He’s been playing excellent soccer in MLS the past several weeks.
Alvarez played both games as the central midfielder in Martino’s three-man unit, the only player to be included in both starting lineups. He also was singled out by Martino as the domestic-based player most ready to go to Europe. His injury with Las Aguilas is concerning, but he should be back for the summer.
Forwards: Raul Jimenez
Jimenez is one of the first names on the list. He performed well against Chile in March, but even if he’d been terrible, his form in Europe this season is enough to be on any squad in Concacaf and maybe in the Americas.
The same can be said of Hirving Lozano, but the knee injury he suffered for PSV has to be a big concern. While Martino initially was bullish about his chances, he also would never rush the winger back. With reports out of Eindhoven indicating the Gold Cup will come too soon, Martino likely needs to figure out how he’ll replace his star.
Chicharito is the nation’s all-time leading scorer and still has plenty to give, as he showed with a goal against Paraguay. His future with the national team was in flux after the World Cup, however, and the 30-year-old reportedly will miss out on the tournament with the birth of his first child taking place this summer.
Pushing to get in
Goalkeepers: Raul Gudino, Jonathan Orozco
Orozco’s injury came at the wrong time, but he now is training in Mexico City with Chivas goalkeeper Gudino. Both look to have the inside track over a guy like Hugo Gonzalez.
Defenders: Diego Reyes, Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez, Jesus Gallardo, Miguel Layun, Jorge Sanchez
Reyes can’t seem to get in a rhythm in Spain, but he’s still a defender on a La Liga roster. Chaka, Gallardo and Layun all are converted wingers and can get into the attack, as the manager wants his outside backs to do.
Midfielders: Erick Gutierrez, Victor Guzman, Carlos Rodriguez, Jesus Duenas
This is a deep position, and Martino has to weigh up a number of factors here. In PSV man Gutierrez, he has a player who is in a high-quality league but isn’t seeing time. In Guzman, he has a player on the rise in the domestic league who he called in but didn’t utilize much in the March games. In Duenas, he has a veteran he can plug into multiple spots on the field.
And he also has Carlos Rodriguez. “Charly” filled in for an absent Herrera in Martino’s debut against Chile. His strong performance in San Diego, plus the important minutes he’s played for Rayados during the CCL title win and their current Liguilla run will keep him in consideration for the roster.
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado, Javier Aquino, Alexis Vega
Alvarado, 20, started alongside Chicharito in Mexico’s match against Paraguay and is playing for the Gold Cup. In addition to playing on the wing, he also can provide depth as an interior midfielder, though El Tri might not need it with so many options at that position.
Aquino is a veteran and was in Martino’s minicamp earlier in the season. He’s been quietly excellent over the past several years and is getting back into a rhythm with Tigres.
That no one else is firmly in this group speaks to both the strength of Mexico’s best attacking players and the lack of depth in the pool. Chivas forward Alexis Vega didn’t impress during the regular season, but the forward depth is such that he’s already training in Mexico City as a likely inclusion.
Bigger question marks
Let’s start with the biggest questions: Will Jesus “Tecatito” Corona and/or Carlos Vela be on the roster? They have the talent, for sure. Do they have the desire?
After the back-and-forth between Martino and Porto, it looked very difficult to see Corona making the Gold Cup roster. The tension between Mexico and Porto goes back to the Juan Carlos Osorio era, but especially with Herrera leaving the club this summer, the motivation to make nice can’t be too high. That said, it seems the relationship has turned a corner.
Anyone who says they know what’s going on between Martino and Vela but isn’t Martino or Vela himself is lying. Personal factors contributed to Vela not being on Martino’s roster for the March friendly matches. So too did the fact that the MLS season was only just getting underway. Vela has been on an absolute tear for his club, and Mexico’s staff will be doing everything it can to convince the back-to-back MLS Player of the Month to come into camp.
Vela’s colorful response to reports he wouldn’t be in at least indicate that he’s open to playing for El Tri.
Click Here: Sports Water Bottle Accessories
With Lozano injured and Chicharito staying away Chivas forward Alan Pulido and America forward Henry Martin are suddenly back in contention.
Tijuana goalkeeper Gibran Lajud, Leon midfielder Luis Montes and Monterrey center back Cesar Montes are other players in the mix. In Europe, Oswaldo Alanis of Real Oviedo and Antonio Briseno of Feirense also will be waiting for calls that likely won’t come. So too will Omar Govea, who is in good form in Belgium and even Giovani dos Santos as he returns to fitness in the federation’s training center.
Diego Lainez is with the U-20 World Cup team heading to Poland. So too is Juan Jose Macias, who led Mexican scorers in Liga MX this tournament.
Full projected Mexico Gold Cup roster
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege), Raul Gudino (Chivas), Jonathan Orozco (Santos Laguna)
Defenders: Nestor Araujo (Celta), Carlos Salcedo (Tigres), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), Diego Reyes (Espanyol), Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez (Tigres), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Miguel Layun (Monterrey), Jorge Sanchez (America)
Midfielders: Edson Alvarez (America), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Carlos Gonzalez (Monterrey), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Erick Gutierrez (PSV), Victor Guzman (Pachuca)
Forwards: Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Jesus “Tecatito” Corona (Porto), Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey), Diego Lainez (Real Betis), Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul), Carlos Vela (LAFC)