Victor Manuel Vucetich names Mexico squad for training camp

Victor Manuel Vucetich has chosen his first Mexico team, and while it is not for any matches, it is for an important training camp. El Tri will hold a training camp next week, for which this roster was chosen and the team for the crucial October World Cup qualifiers will presumably come from the 25-man training camp squad, plus European-based players.

Of note is the return of Rafa Marquez to the Mexico team. The former El Tri captain has been excellent for Club Leon this season and looks set to take the veterans role along the back line from Maza Rodriguez, who has not been called in after being a favorite of former manager Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre for years. The naturalization debate won't go away under Vucetich, as evidenced by his called up Argentina-born Lucas Lobos and Christian "Chaco" Gimenez.

The 25-man roster isn't a complete representation of Vucetich's plans for October because it is made up of only domestic players -- Mexican clubs agreed to release their players for this training camp, but European clubs are under no obligation and, justifiably, have not -- so players like Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Hector Moreno, Giovani dos Santos, Andres Guardado, Diego Reyes and Hector Herrera are not included. Because Europeans players are not included, there is also no indication if Carlos Vela will accept the invitation Vucetich has said he will extend to the player, leaving one of Mexican football's biggest mysteries an ongoing affair.

The training camp is designed to give Vucetich a chance to meet his team and install his system before the team congregates next month. He has been hired with just two matches left in the final round of World Cup qualifying and Mexico's backs against the wall so the FMF and he decided to host the training camp to prepare.

Mexico currently sits in fifth in the Hex, which is not a World Cup place. They are level on points with fourth place Panama, but behind on goals scored. The two sides will meet at the Azteca on October 11, the next matchday, where Mexico almost certainly needs a win because Panama hosts a United States team that has already qualified for the World Cup in their final match and is expected to win.

If El Tri does not beat the Canaleros, they appear unlikely to qualify for the World Cup. Even if they win, they will need to get a result four days later at Costa Rica, who has also already qualified for Brazil. But even doing that will not put Mexico in the World Cup. Fourth place in the Hex is only good for a spot in a play-off against New Zealand, which will be played in November for a World Cup place.

Roster

- Damian Alvarez
- Fernando Arce
- Hugo Ayala
- Isaac Brizuela
- Jose de Jesus Corona
- Aldo de Nigris
- Marco Fabian
- Christian Gimenez
- Raul Jimenez

- Miguel Layun
- Lucas Lobos
- Jonny Magallon
- Rafa Marquez
- Severo Meza
- Hiram Mier
- Luis Montes
- Jonathan Orozco
- Carlos Pena
- Oribe Peralta
- Angel Reyna
- Carlos Salcido
- Alfredo Talavera
- Gerardo Torrado
- Jorge Torres Nilo
- Jesus Zavala