Juan Carlos Osorio names roster for Mexico's World Cup qualifiers
New Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio has called upon his first El Tri squad for World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador and Honduras, turning to the veteran likes of Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Andres Guardado and Carlos Vela while omitting the likes of Giovani dos Santos.
Mexico will kick off its road to Russia 2018 at Estadio Azteca against El Salvador on Nov. 13 before going to Honduras to face Los Catrachos on Nov. 17.
Paul Aguilar, scorer of the game-winning goal against the USA in the CONCACAF Cup playoff that sent Mexico to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, helps lead the defense along with Europe-based Hector Moreno, Diego Reyes and Miguel Layun. Veteran and four-time World Cup captain Rafa Marquez is out through injury.
Hector Herrera and Guardado anchor the midfield, while Jose Juan Vazquez returns to the fold after missing the CONCACAF Cup with an injury.
Up front, a resurgent Chicharito leads the way, and he's joined by tested veterans Vela, Oribe Peralta and Raul Jimenez.
Here is Mexico's roster in full:
GOALKEEPERS: Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Moises Munoz (America), Guillermo Ochoa (Malaga)
DEFENDERS: Paul Aguilar (America), Diego Reyes (Real Sociedad), Hector Moreno (PSV Eindhoven), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Oswaldo Alanis (Chivas de Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Miguel Layun (Porto), Luis Fuentes (Universidad Nacional)
MIDFIELDERS: Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus Corona (Porto), Carlos Esquivel (Toluca), Carlos Pena (Leon), Andres Guardado (PSV Eindhoven), Jurgen Damm (Tigres), Hector Herrera (Porto), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Jonathan dos Santos (Villarreal), Alejandro Castro (Universidad Nacional)
FORWARDS: Javier Hernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad), Oribe Peralta (America), Raul Jimenez (Benfica)
