Mexico announce call up list for Netherlands and Algeria friendlies

Mexico announced a mostly European based squad for the upcoming friendlies against The Netherlands and Algeria. Mexico called up the majority of players in top European teams with the exception of Eugenio Pizzuto for their games to be played on October 7th and 13th. Mexico’s training staff and the Mexican based players (all of which were called up for the friendly against Guatemala) traveled to the Netherlands on Thursday and are already in European soil. The Euro players will travel after their games.

The call up list was the following:

Goalkeepers: Alfredo Talavera (Pumas), Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Hugo Gonzalez (Monterrey)

Defenders: Nestor Araujo (Celta de Vigo), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Jesus Gomez (Boavista), Gerardo Arteaga (KRC Genk), Hector Moreno (Al-Gharafa), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Gilberto Sepulveda (Chivas), Luis Rodriguez (Tigres)

Midfielders: Hector Herrera (Atletico de Madrid), Andres Guardado (Betis), Carlos Rodriguez (Monterrey), Diego Lainez (Betis), Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Omar Govea (FC Zulte), Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami)

Forwards: Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton), Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Jesus Corona (Porto), Henry Martin (America), Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City)

Among the most notable call ups is the return of Omar Govea to the National Team. Govea, who is based in Belgium, had been called up during Juan Carlos Osorio’s tenure but this wil be the first time with the National Team with Gerardo Martino. Also notable is the first Senior team callup to Jesus Gomez. The youngster was part of the 2019 U17 World Cup team that finished in second place and has just moved to Boavista, where he started the last two games.

There were rumors of Liga MX players protesting, which might explain why there were so many few callups especially since the players would miss the weekend’s Liga MX matches. The Netherlands plays two Nations League game on October 11th and 14th, which is why the Mexico match had to be so early in October and why Mexico had to depart early. While these are just rumors and Coach Martino said there were no negotiations with Mexican clubs, what is officially known is that MLS teams protested the fact that players would have to go to Europe to play the games. MLS currently is also refusing to release South American players for CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers in what is an ongoing situation. Mexico will be playing against The Netherlands for the first time since 2014, when they defeated them 3-2 in a friendly played in Amsterdam.