90min

Diego Cocca names 23-player roster for Mexico vs. USMNT friendly

By Lizzy Becherano

Mexico manager Diego Cocca named 23-player roster for USMNT friendly.
Mexico manager Diego Cocca named 23-player roster for USMNT friendly. / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages
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Mexican national team head coach Diego Cocca named the 23-player roster for the upcoming friendly against the US men’s national team on April 19 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with Henry Martin and Julian Araujo headlining the squad.

The roster leans heavily on Liga MX figures, with 22 of the 23 coming from the Mexican league. Araujo stands as the only player joining El Tri from abroad, making the trip from FC Barcelona after joining the Spanish team in January in a dramatic last-minute transfer.

The squad sees the return of nine World Cup players: Nestor Araujo, Jesus Gallardo, Kevin Alvarez, Carlos Rodriguez, Luis Chavez, Martin, Roberto Alvarado, Alexis Vega and Martin.

Vega is set to feature for the first time under new manager Diego Cocca, after failing to make recent call ups due to injury. The Chivas de Guadalajara player was previously sidelined for eight weeks following a knee surgery for an injury sustained during the match vs. Atletico San Luis on January 13. 

Though the squad includes its fair share of veterans and reliable figures, Cocca also called up seven players that could possibly make their senior national team debut: Roberto de la Rose, Jose Antonio Rodgriguez, Ozziel Herrera, Aldo Rocha, Victor Guzman, Omar Campos and Angel Malagon. 

The inclusion of young Liga MX figures enables the Mexican national team to begin a generational shift, and widen its scope for the two Concacaf tournaments coming up this summer.

Here's the full roster:

Goalkeepers

  • Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
  • Angel Malagon (Club America)
  • Jose Antonio "Tono" Rodriguez (Club Tijuana)

Defenders

  • Nestor Araujo (Club America)
  • Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca)
  • Julian Araujo (Barcelona)
  • Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey)
  • Victor Guzman (Monterrey)
  • Israel Reyes (Club America)
  • Gilberto Sepulveda (Chivas)
  • Omar Campos (Santos Laguna)

Midfielders

  • Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)
  • Fernando Beltran (Chivas)
  • Alan Cervantes (Santos Laguna)
  • Luis Chavez (Pachuca)
  • Aldo Rocha (Atlas)
  • Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul)
  • Erick Sanchez (Pachuca)

Forwards

  • Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul)
  • Ozziel Herrera (Atlas)
  • Alexis Vega (Chivas)
  • Roberto de la Rosa (Pachuca)
  • Henry Martin (Club America)
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