Mexico FA chief explains team's lack of int'l games

FIFA set aside Nov. 14-18 for international matches and teams across the globe will play in either friendlies or crucial World Cup qualifying playoff matches.

But the Mexican national team will have no activity as its first true World Cup tune-up will not happen during this international fixture window.

Mexican Football Federation officials said they didn't squander a chance to gather the team together, though.

"It's not that we didn't take advantage of it," FMF executive Nestor de la Torre told Mexican daily Reforma. "We're asking clubs to give us their players for more than 60 days and previously we'd taken them away for the Gold Cup, so we didn't want to take away important players once more."

The Mexican Apertura 2009 season will culminate on the weekend. Six clubs have wrapped up playoff spots but positioning for the postseason is still up for grabs.

Mexico's friendly schedule will commence once more next year, but de la Torre said El Tri's opponents are as yet not finalized.

"I have a meeting regarding one possible national team games but before making any decisions we have to wait until the draw," he said. --Goal.com