Few will be surprised by the final three cuts Mexico coach Javier Aguirre named on Monday, finalizing El Tri’s 23-man World Cup squad.
Mexico Names Final, 23-Man World Cup 2010 Roster
Barcelona's Jonathan dos Santos will not be joining older brother Giovani in South Africa, the 20-year-old midfielder being amongst Aguirre's exclusions. Jonathan had made five appearances for El Tri since his debut in October but was considered a long shot to make the team, not having played a meaningful role in qualifying.
Neither Club América defender Juan Carlos Valenzuela nor Morelia left-sided player Adrian Aldrete - the other two cuts - were surprise omissions, the players having a combined 16 international caps between them.
Mexico's final roster includes three goalkeepers, with América's Guillermo Ochoa set to start ahead of Óscar Pérez and Luis Ernesto Michel.
Aguirre has selected nine players who are natural defenders, led by Barcelona central defender Rafa Marquez. The captain is joined on a veteran defense by PSV's Carlos Salcido and Francisco Rodríguez, Stuttgart's Ricardo Osorio, and Chivas's Jonny Magallón. Puma's Efraín Juárez plays right back and can also be moved into the midfield, with Pachuca's Paul Aguilar, AZ's Héctor Moreno, and Tigres' Jorge Torres Nilo all possessing fewer than ten appearances for El Tri.
Aguirre has named only three true midfielders - Gerrado Torrado, Israel Castro, and Andrés Guardado - but in addition to being augmented from the defense corps by players like Juárez, Mexico can use Alberto Medina (Chivas), Adolfo Bautista (Chivas), Giovani dos Santos (Tottenham), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Veracruz) and Pablo Barrera (Pumas) in attacking midfield or wingers' roles.
The other attackers selected by Javier Aguirre: Manchester United's Javier Hernández, West Ham United's Guillermo Franco and Arsenal's Carlos Vela.
Mexico plays Italy in Belgium on June 3, their final preparation ahead of June 11’s World Cup opener against South Africa.
Final Squad
Goalkeepers
Michael, Luis Ernesto (Chivas)
Ochoa, Guillermo (Club América)
Pérez, Oscar (Chiapas)
Defenders
Aguilar, Paul (Pachuca)
Juárez, Efraín (Pumas)
Magallón, Jonny (Chivas)
Marquez, Rafa (Barcelona)
Moreno, Héctor (AZ)
Nilo, Jorge Torres (Tigres)
Osorio, Ricardo (Stuttgart)
Rodríguez, Francisco (PSV)
Salcido, Carlos (PSV)
Midfielders
Castro, Isreal (Pumas)
Guardado, Andrés (Deportivo La Coruña)
Torrado, Gerrado (Cruz Azul)
Forwards
Barrera, Pablo (Pumas)
Bautista, Adolfo (Chivas)
Blanco, Cuauhtémoc (Verzcruz)
dos Santos, Giovani (Tottenham)
Franco, Guillermo (West Ham United)
Hernández, Javier (Manchester United)
Medina, Alberto (Chivas)
Vela, Carlos (Arsenal)
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