Mexico interim manager Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti is bringing in five players from Europe and relying on domestic-based players to fill in the rest of his roster for September friendly matches against Uruguay and the United States.
Star attacker Hirving Lozano leads the squad, which was announced by the Mexican federation Wednesday afternoon. Standard Liege goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, Wolves forward Raul Jimenez, Frankfurt center back Carlos Salcedo and Real Oviedo center back Oswaldo Alanis also accepted call-ups. Salcedo said his El Tri future was up in the air after the 2018 World Cup but will be part of the squad for the team's first matches since a last-16 exit to Brazil.
A number of Mexico's biggest stars based in Europe requested not to be called in, with Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Miguel Layun and Hector Moreno looking to stay behind to earn playing time with their clubs. Diego Reyes also is settling into life in Turkey while Marco Fabian looks to close a move away from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Porto midfielder Hector Herrera and winger Jesus Corona also will remain with their teams. Nestor Araujo was not ready to make his Mexico return, either. Now with Celta de Vigo in La Liga, the former Santos Laguna center back last represented Mexico in a March friendly against Croatia. He left the field with a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the club season and forced him to miss the 2018 World Cup.
Despite the matches taking place in the United States, only one of the three players based in MLS who were on El Tri's World Cup roster are included. Both Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos were nursing injuries in recent weeks, but Carlos Vela has been fit for LAFC. Jona has recovered and will take part in the friendly matches after saying earlier this month he wanted more from his debut World Cup experience.
With most Europe and MLS-based players declining to take part, the bulk of the roster plays in Liga MX. That includes a number of rising stars with teenage sensations Roberto Alvarado, Diego Lainez, Jonathan Gonzalez and Jesus Angulo all part of the squad. They're expected to make up the base of Mexico's team heading into the next cycle.
The 2019 Gold Cup will be the next major tournament for Mexico, and while plenty have their sights set on 2022, players like Cruz Azul winger Elias Hernandez and Tigres defender Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez will look to provide experience to the team in face of the regional competition.
Mexico faces Uruguay on Sept. 7 in Houston before heading to Nashville to take on the U.S. on Sept. 11.
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege), Hugo Gonzalez (Necaxa), Gibran Lajud (Tijuana)
Defenders: Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), Oswaldo Alanis (Real Oviedo), Edson Alvarez (America), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Jose Abella (Santos Laguna), Luis Rodriguez (Tigres), Jesus Angulo (Santos Laguna), Gerardo Arteaga (Santos Laguna)
Midfielders: Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul), Diego Lainez (America), Jonathan González (Monterrey), Orbelín Pineda (Chivas), Víctor Guzman (Pachuca), Erick Aguirre (Pachuca), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Elias Hernandez (Cruz Azul)
Forwards: Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven), Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton), Angel Zaldivar (Chivas), Alan Pulido (Chivas)
