The Federacion Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) gave the final list of the players who will be playing for the U-23 Mexico team in the upcoming London 2012 Olympics. The roster is composed of eighteen players of whom three are ‘reinforcements’ over the age of 23:
Complete List:
Goalkeepers:
1. Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)
2. Jose Antonio Rodriguez (Chivas de Guadalajara)
Defenders:
3. Israel Jimenez (Tigres)
4. Hiram Mier (Monterrey)
5. Darvin Chavez (Monterrey)
6. Diego Reyes (America)
7.Nestor Vidrio (Pachuca)
8. Nestor Araujo (Cruz Azul)
Midfielders DF:
9. Carlos Salcido (Tigres)
10. Jorge Enriquez (Chivas de Guadalajara)
11. Miguel Ponce (Chivas de Guadalajara)
Midfielders OF:
12. Hector Herrera (Pachuca)
13.Javier Cortes (Pumas)
14.Marco Fabian (Chivas de Guadalajara)
15.Javier Aquino (Cruz Azul)
Forwards:
16.Raul Jimenez (America)
17.Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham)
18.Oribe Peralta (Santos Laguna)
The squad is based on the team that won the Toulon 2012 tournament with only over the age players Corona, Salcido, and Peralta, plus G. Dos Santos being new to this team. Mexico has a strong team that is one of the favorites to win a medal next July, but it is also a team composed of seventeen players that play in the Liga MX with only Dos Santos who is with Tottenham.
The Mexican team also has several quality players who were not chosen, among them Ulises Davila, Liborio Sanchez, Alan Pulido, Jeronimo Amione, Nestor Calderon, Candido Ramirez, and Hector Moreno who hoped to be amongst the three reinforcements.
With Jesus Corona, Mexico will be comfortable at the goal line, however, no changes were made in the defense, which is where they suffered the most in Toulon. Carlos Salcido is a natural defender but he will play as a defensive midfielder under Luis Fernando Tena’s scheme. Salcido could have been part of the defense if Jonathan Dos Santos were to take part of this team but the player opted to instead be part of his club F.C. Barcelona’s preseason.
The offensive midfield remains strong with Marco Fabian, Hector Herrera and even Giovani Dos Santos but the playmaking abilities of Candido Ramirez will be missed. Finally, the attack will be lead by star Oribe Peralta with Raul Jimenez coming out of the bench. At this line, the absence of Alan Pulido is a head-scratcher as the talented young scorer was one of the main players in Tena’s pre-Olympic games.
Mexico will debut in London on July 26 against South Korea, and expect the Tri to be one of the strongest teams in the competition. Many star players were left out not because of bad coaching decisions, but rather because this is a team full of capable players who are stars in their perspective teams.
