Mexico coach Miguel Herrera acknowledged this week that having to pick the 23 players to go to Brazil this summer is giving him headaches. It isn’t an easy task.
Choosing three goalkeepers of the four that have featured in his squads to date is problematic. Then there is the issue of which strikers to take and whether one of Raul Jimenez or Alan Pulido should miss out. The reoccurring debate over how prominently Mexico’s Europe-based players should feature is also difficult.
With all that in mind, here’s a rundown of a potential Herrera squad this summer.
Goalkeepers
Jesus Corona
Guillermo Ochoa
Moises Munoz
Center backs
Rafa Marquez
Hector Moreno
Diego Reyes
Juan Carlos Valenzuela
Francisco Rodriguez
Wing backs
Miguel Layun
Andres Guardado
Paul Aguilar
Rodolfo Pizarro
Midfielders
Juan Carlos Medina
Jesus Molina
Carlos Pena
Isaac Brizuela
Hector Herrera
Luis Montes
Forwards
Giovani dos Santos
Javier Hernandez
Oribe Peralta
Raul Jimenez
Alan Pulido
Picking the squad was done roughly on the basis of two players per position, plus the three goalkeepers. However, considering the versatility of Mexico’s center backs, five should be enough over the World Cup to cover the three positions, which opens the door for an extra striker. Therefore, the debate of whether Jimenez or Pulido should miss out is solved by both players making the team. It also gives Herrera better attacking options on the bench should Mexico be down.
In the goalkeeping position, Munoz just about gets in ahead of Alfredo Talavera simply because Herrera knows the America ‘keeper well and with neither likely to feature in Brazil, he could well opt for the person he knows better.
At the right wing back spot, Pizarro gest the nod as Aguilar’s backup. Pizarro is used to playing as a wing back at Pachuca and Cruz Azul’s Rogelio Chavez didn’t do himself any favors in the 2-2 draw against the United States earlier this month.
On the other flank, Guardado keeps out Miguel Ponce due to his experience and the fact he could also play in midfield if the need arose.
Javier Aquino is unlucky to miss out after his good season with Villarreal, but as an out-and-out winger, there isn’t much time for him to adapt to an attacking midfield role, although there is a chance he could edge out Montes in the final squad.
In the defensive midfield position, the two America players Molina and Medina beat out Leon’s Jose Juan Vazquez and Monterrey’s Jesus Zavala. Medina was good against the United States and Molina is on form in the Liga MX.