Tecatito returns to Mexico national team for World Cup qualifiers

Jon Arnold

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Tecatito returns to Mexico national team for World Cup qualifiers image

Jesus "Tecatito" Corona is back in the Mexico squad after missing the Confederations Cup with personal problems. 

Corona was announced as one of 25 players who will form the roster for World Cup qualification matches against Panama and Costa Rica early in September.

"We hope with this list of very good players we can complete and, as is our plan, have two good groups to face these two games," Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said at a news conference Thursday. "They're vital and fundamental for our goal to qualify for the World Cup and we hope, as always, they represent Mexican football very well."

Oribe Peralta is not on the squad after suffering an injury in America's 2-2 draw with Tigres that Osorio says will keep him out around 10 days. Defender Carlos Salcedo also misses out through injury, while Rafa Marquez is not in the squad because of his legal difficulties.

The most notable absence may be that of left back Miguel Layun, who has seen few minutes with Porto at the beginning of the season and may be looking for a transfer before the window closes.

"The absence of Miguel is a decision we made mutually, led by him," Osorio said. "We understand his situation, we hope it's resolved in a satisfactory way and surely he'll be with us again in the future."

The Mexican federation also announced that Dennis te Kloese, who was working with the youth national teams, will be the director of national teams while former Mexico midfielder Gerardo Torrado will serve as the sporting director.

Full Roster:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Standard), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Rodolfo Cota (Chivas)

Defenders: Diego Reyes (Porto), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Hugo Ayala (Tigres), Jair Pereira (Chivas), Hector Moreno (Roma), Edson Alvarez (Club America), Jesus Gallardo (Pumas)

Midfielders: Hector Herrera (Porto), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Jesus Duenas (Tigres), Orbelin Pineda (Chivas), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Erick Gutierrez (Pachuca), Elias Hernandez (Leon), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy)

Forwards: Javier Hernandez (West Ham United), Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Jesus "Tecatito" Corona (Porto), Jurgen Damm (Tigres)

Jon Arnold

Jon Arnold Photo

Jon Arnold covered the Mexico national team and Concacaf region in English for Goal until March 2020. His byline also has appeared in the Dallas Morning News, the New York Times Goal blog, FloFC and Pacific Standard. In addition to his written work, he serves as the Concacaf expert on the BBC's World Football Phone-In and has appeared on SiriusXMFC in English and Fox Deportes and Milenio in Spanish. Formerly based in Tijuana and currently living in Texas, Jon covered the 2018 World Cup, the 2015 Copa America, the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the last five Gold Cups.