Giovani dos Santos (pictured) most recent appearance for Mexico came at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)
MEXICO CITY – The inclusion of Giovani dos Santos and Alan Pulido highlighted a Mexico roster announcement made Thursday for a pair of friendlies in the United States next month.
Juan Carlos Osorio called up the attacking duo for the first time since he was handed the managerial reins nearly a year ago.
Dos Santos has been outstanding for the LA Galaxy this season, registering 14 goals and 12 assists in 26 games for the Major League Soccer side, while Pulido recently joined Guadalajara after the winning the 2015/16 Greek title with Olimpiacos.
Mexico is slated to face New Zealand in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 8, and will square off against Panama three days later in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Also meriting selection in the 20-man squad was Pachuca forward Hirving Lozano, who is the joint-top scorer in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League on five goals with Vancouver Whitecaps’ Cristian Techera.
Mexico is preparing for the start of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It will open at the United States on November 11 in Columbus, Ohio.
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Rodolfo Cota (Guadalajara), Moises Muñoz (Club America)
DEFENDERS: Oswaldo Alanis (Guadalajara), Adrian Aldrete (Cruz Azul), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Jesus Dueñas (Tigres), Hedgardo Marin (Guadalajara), Jordan Silva (Toluca), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres)
MIDFIELDERS: Isaac Brizuela (Guadalajara), Jonathan dos Santos (Villarreal/Spain), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Elias Hernandez (Leon), Jesus Molina (Santos), Orbelin Pineda (Guadalajara), Luis Robles (Atlas)
FORWARDS: Giovanni dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA), Marco Fabian (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Oribe Peralta (Club Aerica), Alan Pulido (Gudalajara), Angel Sepulveda (Queretaro)
