SAN ANTONIO — Giovani dos Santos is starting and wearing the captain's armband while midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez begins on the bench for the first Mexico match of 2018.
The LA Galaxy star will play in the midfield of a 4-3-3 formation to begin the contest against Bosnia and Herzegovina with Chivas midfielder Orbelin Pineda and Monterrey midfielder Jesus Molina, who typically is on the Monterrey bench behind Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, a Mexican-American dressed for El Tri for the first time since filing a one-time change of association earlier this year, can enter as one of six substitutes.
With the match falling outside a FIFA date, Mexico's squad is entirely composed of Liga MX- and MLS-based players. LAFC forward Carlos Vela is in the starting lineup as well, playing on the left wing. Leon's Elias Hernandez will start on the other wing while Club America's resurgent forward Henry Martin starts between them.
At the back, Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota begins between the sticks as anticipated with Guillermo Ochoa still in Europe and Jesus Corona resting instead of entering the squad. Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez of Tigres starts at right back with his club teammate Hugo Ayala next to him. Though he hasn't played with Chivas yet this season after missing preseason because of a contract dispute, Oswaldo Alanis begins the match as the left center back with Pumas winger Jesus Gallardo at left back as Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio continues his conversion.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's starting lineup doesn't differ much from the squad that fought the United States to a scoreless draw Sunday. They too have an MLS midfielder wearing the captain's armband as the Philadelphia Union's Haris Medunjanin leads Robert Prosinecki's men into the friendly.
On the bench along with Gonzalez are club teammate Cesar Montes, LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos, Santos center back Nestor Araujo, America defender Edson Alvarez, Pachuca midfielder Jorge "Burrito" Hernandez, Tigres winger Javier Aquino, Chivas attacker Rodolfo Pizarro, Tigres winger Jurgen Damm and reserve goalkeepers Jonathan Orozco and Gibran Lajud.
