Mexico names team for friendly vs. Ivory Coast

Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre has picked his Mexico team (who thought they would ever read that again?) for next week's friendly vs. Ivory Coast in East Rutherford, NJ. The roster includes many of the familiar names, although Javier Chicharito has been left off the team with an injury.

Jesus Corona is expected to start in goal despite a positive doping test. Corona said that the positive test was a result of bad meat, something that isn't uncommon in Mexico, where cows are often given a cocktail of chemicals.

The defense includes Diego Reyes and Hector Moreno, who will hopefully get the start over Francisco Javier "Maza" Rodriguez. Elsewhere at the back, Carlos Salcido looks like to play fullback with several other central midfielders on the roster and Jose Torres Nilo the only other left back called in, while Miguel Layun is getting another look after a strong Gold Cup.

Jesus Zavala, Gerardo Torrado, Luis Montes and Fernando Arce make up the central midfielder as Chepo continues to look for an answer at the position, while Damian Alvarez and Christian "Chaco" Gimenez are surprisingly in the squad as well. With those two, along with Torrado, Chepo clearly isn't a big believer in aging (and wants to anger the anti-naturalized players contingent, but that's another story).

The team only includes two forwards, Oribe Peralta and Raul Jimenez, but with Giovani dos Santos in the team (after a phenomenal preseason for Villarreal) and likely to play underneath whoever starts at striker, that isn't much of a concern.

Goalkeepers: Jesús Corona, Alfredo Talavera

Defenders: Severo Meza, Miguel Layún, Maza, Diego Reyes, Héctor Moreno, Jose Torres Nilo, Carlos Salcido

Midfielders: Jesús Zavala, Gerardo Torrado, Chaco, Luis Montes, Fernando Arce, Giovani dos Santos, Ángel Reyna, Damián Álvarez

Forwards: Oribe Peralta, Raul Jimenez