Thursday, July 31, 2008

Sven's first list

Sven Goran Eriksson released his first list of callups to the Mexican national team. There weren't any European players on the list (this is just for a short three-day camp) nor were there any MLS players (he said thanks but no thanks to Cuauhtemoc).

There were two foreigner-born players, including one American, but not the Argentine many thought would get the call.


Edgar Castillo got the call while Francisco Torres did too. But it's Edgar's teammate on Santos, not Texas-born Jose Francisco Torres of Pachuca. In total, there were six Chivas players (might have been seven if Luis Michel wouldn't have broken his arm) and four Santos players.

The biggest surprise was Leandro Augusto of Pumas. The Brazilian-born Augusto was a favorite of Hugo Sanchez but was never called in by his former boss. Another surprise was Carlos Ochoa of Monterrey, who hasn't proven himself to be anything special during most of his career.

There will be another roster on Aug. 11 or thereabouts, and that will be for the qualifier against Honduras.

Here's the roster:

Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sánchez (Santos), Guillermo Ochoa (América), José de Jesús Corona (Tecos)

Defenders: Omar Esparza (Chivas), Óscar Rojas (América), Jonny Magallón (Chivas), Leobardo López (Pachuca), Edgar Dueñas (Toluca), Diego Martínez (Tigres), Fausto Pinto (Pachuca), Edgar Castillo (Santos).

Midfielders: Luis Pérez (Monterrey), Gonzalo Pineda (Chivas), Jaime Correa (Pachuca), Leandro Augusto (Pumas), Fernando Arce (Santos), Alberto Medina (Chivas), Ramón Morales (Chivas), Francisco Torres (Santos).

Forwards: Adolfo Bautista (Jaguares), Luis Ángel Landin (Morelia), Carlos Ochoa (Monterrey), Omar Arellano (Chivas).


ADD: And just to be sure that I didn't get misinformed about the Torres who was called in, this is a picture of Torres from the FMF web site, which I'd link to if it weren't the most gawdawful site to nagivate.

I interviewed Jose Francisco Torres a couple of weeks ago and this, I can say with 100 percent certainty, is not the same guy I talked to.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

why landin keeps getting picked is BEYOND me.

A.C. said...

He's cute.

Considering that shouldn't be a factor in a soccer decision, however, I see your point.

rosyf said...

Why do they keep picking Oswaldo? and yeah, Landin is a cutiepie.

Anonymous said...

Beside Landin being cute (wait, what the hell, yikes!! think manly thoughts!! think manly thoughts!!)

I've always thought he was a very strong, talented, and intelligent player on the field. He finds himself in dangerous positions 95% of the time. The trick is getting him to put them away.

Problem with Landin is, he's a major headcase. His dad thinks he's John Travolta, and it's rubbed off on the kid.

CACuzcatlan said...

Aren't Sanchez's days as the Mexican keeper numbered? If not, they should be. Ochoa is the future. I think of him as the Mexican Brad Guzan.

I wonder if the next call up will be all non-Mexico based players.

Anonymous said...

im glad he didn't pick that fat fuck cuathemoc, he's useless

all of the other picks are spot on, castillo should be great

at risk of being ostracized, corona should take over when oswaldo retires

Anonymous said...

wait Ochoa reminds you of Guzan?

Let me know when Guzan plays in Libertadores and Sudamericana not to mention NOT crapping his thong playing in Copa America.

CACuzcatlan said...

We sent a B/C team to Copa America. You can't blame Guzan for that debacle when the the rest of the squad wasn't doing their jobs.

Anonymous said...

Mexico sent a B team to Copa America and got 3rd place.

America made it to the final of the Copa Sudamericana and Libertadores semis because of Cabanas and Ochoa.

The Hammer said...

Err... Cuauhtemoc wasn't "not picked" as in he was left out. In case you didn't notice 'anonymous' Sven only called players in the Mexican league.

Blanco will be called up to the next one.

Anonymous said...

Omar Arellano is the truth!

Luis Perez????????

BBSC