Forward Javier Hernandez (pictured) was called up for a pair of Mexico World Cup qualifiers to be played in October 2017. (Photo: Mexsport)
MEXICO CITY – Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio named Friday a 25-player roster to close out the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Mexicans have already clinched a berth at Russia 2018 and sit atop the table with a 5W-3D-0L record. They will be guaranteed a first-place finish in the Hexagonal for the second time, and first since 1998, by taking four points from matches against last-place Trinidad & Tobago (October 6, home) and fifth-place Honduras (October 10, away). Second-place Costa Rica (4-3-1, 15) is the only team that has a chance of overtaking the Tricolor.
Forwards Javier Hernandez and Hirving Lozano are featured on what’s basically a full-strength squad. Hernandez has three goals in six English Premier League games with West Ham, while Lozano has netted four in five Dutch Eredivisie outings since joining PSV Eindhoven from 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League champion Pachuca.
Osorio also called up brothers Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos, who both play for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer.
Mexico is the only team in CONCACAF not to lose a match in the current World Cup Qualifying cycle, posting an overall mark of 10-4-0.
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Rodolfo Cota (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege/Belgium)
DEFENDERS: Oswaldo Alanis (Guadalajara), Edson Alvarez (Club America), Nestor Araujo (Santos), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Miguel Layun (Porto/Portugal), Hector Moreno (Roma/Italy), Diego Reyes (Porto/Portugal), Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany)
MIDFIELDERS: Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA), Andres Guardado (Real Betis/Spain), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Elias Hernandez (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto/Portugal)
FORWARDS: Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus Manuel Corona (Porto/Portugal), Javier Hernandez (West Ham/England), Raul Jimenez (Benfica/Portugal), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Oribe Peralta (Club America), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad/Spain)
