Rafael Marquez (green jersey #4) was named to Mexico's roster for an international friendly against Iceland to be played in February 2017. (Photo: Mexsport)
MEXICO CITY – Mexico named Tuesday a 23-player roster for its 2017 opener against Iceland at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on February 8.
The squad is highlighted by the inclusion of FIFA World Cup veterans defender Rafael Marquez (16 games/3 goals) and forward Giovani dos Santos (8/1).
Also meriting selection are Pachuca forward Hirving Lozano, who is the joint-top scorer in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League with five goals; and four players from 2016 Liga MX champion Tigres, led by defender Hugo Ayala, who played every minute of that campaign’s regular season.
Mexico is using the match as preparation for the resumption of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Tricolor (1W-1D-0L, 4 points) currently sits second in the six-team table, two points behind Costa Rica (2-0-0. 6).
ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Hugo Gonzalez (Monterrey), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
DEFENDERS: Oswaldo Alanis (Guadalajara), Nestor Araujo (Santos), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas), Raul Lopez (Pachuca), Rafael Marquez (Atlas), Luis Reyes (Atlas), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres)
MIDFIELDERS: Edson Alvarez (Club America), Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Jesus Dueñas (Tigres), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Jesus Molina (Monterrey), Orbelín Pineda (Guadalajara)
FORWARDS: Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy/USA), Elias Hernandez (Leon), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Luis Montes (Leon), Alan Pulido (Guadalajara), Angel Zaldivar (Guadalajara),
