Rafael Marquez (pictured) was one of 25 players called into a Mexican national team training camp that will take place September 22-25, 2013. (Photo: Mexsport)
MEXICO CITY – Veteran and former captain Rafael Marquez was called into the first national team camp of recently-named Mexico head coach Victor Manuel Vucetich, the Mexican Football Federation announced Thursday.
Vucetich is convening 25 domestic-based players for four days of training, September 22-25, in advance of next month’s crucial World Cup qualifiers at home against Panama (October 11) and away to Costa Rica (October 15).
Mexico sits fifth in the CONCACAF Hexagonal on eight points, trailing the Panamanians on goal difference for a place in the Intercontinental Playoff against New Zealand. The United States and Costa Rica have already sealed berths in next year’s World Cup finals, while Honduras holds a three-point lead for the confederation’s third and last automatic spot in Brazil.
Marquez, a mainstay for Mexico in the last three World Cups, has not appeared in a World Cup qualifier since a 4-1 win over El Salvador on October 10, 2009. The 34-year-old is one of four players on the roster from Leon, including midfielder Luis Montes, who scored two goals during an outstanding CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign in July.
MEXICO ROSTER
(Training Camp: September 22-25, 2013)
GOALKEEPERS: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
DEFENDERS: Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Jonny Magallon (Leon), Severo Meza (Monterrey), Hiram Mier (Monterrey), Rafael Marquez (Leon), Miguel Layun (Club America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres)
MIDFIELDERS: Damian Alvarez (Tigres), Fernando Arce (Tijuana), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Christian Gimenez (Cruz Azul), Lucas Lobos (Tigres), Luis Montes (Leon), Carlos Peña (Leon), Angel Reyna (Veracruz), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Jesus Zavala (Monterrey)
FORWARDS: Aldo de Nigris (Guadalajara), Marco Fabian (Guadalajara), Raul Jimenez (Club America), Oribe Peralta (Santos)
