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Mexico national team manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino has been promising that there will not be many surprises in the list of players he names to the final r psg shirt brand oster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The intrigue with El Tri will come in the form of injuries, especially among the forwards. Scoring issues have plagued Mexico over the last year, with the best Mexican attackers struggling for fitness and form in recent months, and it's unclear whether some of them will be able to recover in time.
Mexico will use a final World Cup camp and a November 9 friendly to help Martino decide the 26 players to take to Qatar from the preliminary list he will submit a month before the start of the tournament.
El Tri will set up camp in Girona, Spain before departing for Qatar. They will play matches against Iraq on November 9 and Sweden on November 16, before kicking off Group C play against Poland on Tuesday, November 22.
Here is a projected preliminary list and final World Cup squad for Mexico, based on Martino's call-ups and lineup decisions over recent months.
MORE: Closer look at Mexico's group opponents at the FIFA Wor psg 3 jersey ld Cup
Mexico World Cup squad 2022
Manager Tata Martino has until Friday, October 21 to submit to FIFA an official preliminary list of 35-55 players, from which he will select his final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
Based on World Cup qualifying squads and friendly rosters over the past year, these are the names most likely to be on Martino's preliminary list.
Position | Player | Club | Age pink and white psg top | Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Carlos Acevedo | Santos Laguna (MEX) | 26 | 4 |
Goalkeeper | Rodolfo Cota | Club Leon (MEX) | 35 | 8 |
Goalkeeper | Guillermo Ochoa | Club America (MEX) | 37 | 129 |
Goalkeeper | Alfredo Talavera | FC Juarez (MEX) | 40 | 38 |
Defender | Kevin Alvarez | Pachuca (MEX) | 23 | 5 |
Defender | Jesus Angulo | Tigres UANL (MEX) | 24 | 11 |
Defender | Julian Araujo | LA Galaxy (USA) | 21 | 3 |
Defender | Nestor Araujo | Club America (MEX) | 31 | 60 |
Defender | Gerardo Arteaga | Genk (BEL) | 24 | 16 |
Defender | Jesus Gallardo | Monterrey (MEX) | 28 | 76 |
Defender | Cesar Montes | Monterrey (MEX) | 25 | 27 |
Defender | Hector Moreno | Monterrey (MEX) | 34 | 124 |
Defender | Israel Reyes | Puebla (MEX) | 22 | 3 |
Defender | Osvaldo Rodriguez | Leon (MEX) | 26 | 7 |
Defender | Jorge Sanchez | Ajax (NED) | 24 | 24 |
Defender | Johan Vasquez | Cremonese (ITA) | 23 | 6 |
Midfielder | Edson Alvarez | Ajax (NED) | 24 | 58 |
Midfielder | Fernando Beltran | Chivas (MEX) | 24 | 9 |
Midfielder | Sebastian Cordova | Tigres UANL (MEX) | 25 | 14 |
Midfielder | Andres Guardado | Real Betis (ESP) | 36 | 177 |
Midfielder | Erick Gutierrez | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 27 | 33 |
Midfielder | Hector Herrera | Ho paris saint germain shirt jordan uston Dynamo (USA) | 32 | 101 |
Midfielder | Orbelin Pineda | AEK Athens (GRE) | 26 | 48 |
Midfielder | Carlos Rodriguez | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 25 | 33 |
Midfielder | Luis Romo | Monterrey (MEX) | 27 | 25 |
Midfielder | Erick Sanchez | Pachuca (MEX) | 23 | 6 |
Forward | Roberto Alvarado | Chivas (MEX) | 24 | 30 |
Forward | Uriel Antuna | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 25 | 33 |
Forward | Tecatito Corona | Sevilla (ESP) | 29 | 71 |
Forward | Rogelio Funes Mori | Monterrey (MEX) | 31 | 15 |
Forward | Santiago Gimenez | Feyenoord (NED) | 21 | 8 |
Forward | Raul Jimenez | Wolves (ENG) | 31 | 96 |
Forward | Diego Lainez | Braga (POR) | 22 | 20 |
Forward | Hirving Lozano | Napoli (ITA) | 27 | 59 |
Forward | Henry Martin | Club America (MEX) | 29 | 23 |
Forward | Rodolfo Pizarro | Monterrey (MEX) | 29 | 23 |
Forward | Alexis Vega | Chivas (MEX) | 24 | 20 |
Final 26-man messi psg youth jersey Mexico World Cup roster
Martino will use the friendly against Iraq in Girona, Spain to determine his final 26-player roster. Here's a projected look at a plausible 26-man list, assuming all players are fit and ready.
There's no way Martino will take four center forwards. It's likely only one between Rogelio Funes Mori and Raul Jimenez will make it, and it will come down to which one is fittest. It's also hard to see how Tecatito Corona will return in time from breaking his leg despite Tata Martino's hopeful words in recent weeks.
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Carlos Acevedo | Santos Laguna (MEX) | 26 | 4 |
Goalkeeper | Guillermo Ochoa | Club America (MEX) | 37 | 129 |
Goalkeeper | Alfredo Talavera | FC Juarez (MEX) | 40 | 38 |
Defender | Kevin Alvarez | Pachuca (MEX) | 23 | 5 |
Defender | Nestor Araujo | Club America (MEX) | 31 | 60 |
Defender | Gerardo Arteaga | Genk (BEL) | 24 | 16 |
Defender | Jesus Gallardo | Monterrey (MEX) | 28 | 76 |
Defender | Cesar Montes | Monterrey (MEX) | 25 | 27 |
Defender | Hector Moreno | Monterrey (MEX) | 34 | 124 |
Defender | Jorge Sanchez | Ajax (NED) | 24 | 24 |
Defender | Johan Vasquez | Cremonese (ITA) | 23 | 6 |
Midfielder | Edson Alvarez | Ajax (NED) | 24 | 58 |
Midfielder | Luis Chavez | Pachuca (MEX) | 26 | 5 |
Midfielder | Andres Guardado | Real Betis (SPA) | 36 | 177 |
Midfielder | Erik Gutierrez | PSV (NED) | 27 | 33 |
Midfielder | Hector Herrera | Houston Dynamo (USA) | 37 | 101 |
Midfielder | Orbelin Pineda | AEK Athens (GRE) | 26 | 48 |
Midfielder | Carlos Rodriguez | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 25 | 33 |
Midfielder | Luis Romo | Monterrey (MEX) | 27 | 25 |
Forward | Uriel Antuna | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 25 | 33 |
Forward | Santiago Gimenez | Feyenoord (NED) | 21 | 8 |
Forward | Raul Jimenez | Wolves (ENG) | 31 | 96 |
Forward | Diego Lainez | Braga (POR) | 22 | 20 |
Forward | Hirving Lozano | Napoli (ITA) | 27 | 59 |
Forward | Henry Martin | Club America (MEX) | 29 | 23 |
Forward | Alexis Vega | Chivas (MEX) | 24 | 20 |
Mexico national team stars, strengths & weaknesses
Mexico has been a regular in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the last seven editions, reaching the Round of 16 on each occasion.
But that's where the road has ended, with seven straight defeats in the Round of 16 to the likes of Brazil (2018), Argentina (2006 & 2010), Netherlands (2014), Germany (1998), Bulgaria (1994), and rivals USA (2002).
El Tri hired Argentine manager Tata Martino to help guide them to the dreamed of Quinto Partido ("Fifth Game," or a quarterfinal appearance).
Stars
If they're going to reach their stated goal or even go further, they are going to need Napoli winger Hirving "Chucky" Lozano to be a difference-maker and inspire them in attack. He has the skills to send opposing defenders into scramble mode and open up spaces for his teammates.
Strengths
Mexico's squad is technically and tactically sound, qp shirt with players who are savvy at keeping possession and managing a game. The question is whether they can hurt the opposition with it?
That's where Chucky Lozano comes in.
Along with Alexis Vega and Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona — if he can make it back in time from his broken left fibula and ligament damage to his left ankle suffered in practice with Sevilla — the wingers are essentially the team's playmakers. If opposing teams can shut them down, Mexico will have a tough time threatening.
Weaknesses
It's goalscoring and set-piece defending, which don't make for a terribly promising combination.
Much is made of Mexico's revolving door at the forward positions, but the problem is less about their finishing ability and more about lack of service. As mentioned above, if the wingers aren't cooking, there's little chance creation coming from anywhere else.
When healthy, Wolves forward Raul Jimenez is the incumbent starter, and Santiago Gimenez is his backup. But there's an argument to be made for Henry Martin, a hard-working forward who is unselfish and comes back to help with the attacking buildup. On some days, Mexico need that extra help in midfield.
MORE: Complete FIFA World Cup 2022 match schedule, dates & times
Mexico World Cup group
El Tri, No. 13 in the FIFA world rankings, were drawn into Group C of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Only the top two teams in each group will advance.
Mexico will hope to have mustered enough points from their first two matches, against Robert Lewandowski's Poland and Lionel Messi's Argentina, to be in position to advance on the final matchday against Saudi Arabia.
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 22 | Argentina v fc barcelona messi kit s. S. Arabia | 5 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 22 | Mexico vs. Poland | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
Sat, Nov. 26 | Poland vs. S. Arabia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Sat, Nov. 26 | Argentina vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Wed, Nov. 30 | Poland vs. Argentina | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
Wed, Nov. 30 | S. Arabia vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Mexico vs. Poland squad, lineup
The assumption would be that Martino would opt for the tried-and-tested Monterrey pairing of Cesar Montes and Hector Moreno against Lewandowski. Ajax right-back Jorge Sanchez and Genk left-back Gerardo Arteaga would be the first choice fullbacks to join them in the four-man backline.
Ajax's Edson Alvarez is a fixture for Mexico at the deep holding midfield position. It'll be either veteran Andres Guardado or livewire Luis Chavez to his left, and PSV Eindhoven's Erick Gutierrez or ex-Atletico Madrid man Hector Herrera to his right.
In addition to Chucky Lozano, the speedy Uriel Antuna would provide a real psg no 10 jersey weapon at the other winger position. If Raul Jimenez is not yet match fit, Feyenoord target man Santi Gimenez projects to be the next best option to bang bodies with the Polish center-backs.
Mexico projected starting XI vs Poland
GK: Guillermo Ochoa
DFs: Jorge Sanchez — Cesar Montes — Hector Moreno — Gerardo Arteaga
MFs: Erick Gutierrez — Edson Alvarez — Andres Guardado
FWs: Uriel Antuna — Santiago Gimenez — Hirving Lozano
Can Mexico replace players on World Cup roster?
Once the final 26-man roster is official, participating teams at the World Cup can only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
According to the official tournament rules (page 32), "a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team's first match."
The team in question would need to submit a medical report to FIFA and if the world governing body determines "the injury o psg shirt 4th r illness is messi 30 jersey psg sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the FIFA World Cup" then the replacement will be allowed.
The replacement player must come from the preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October.