As both international squads continue preparations for the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the United States Men’s National team and Mexican National squad recently announced their respective rosters for an April 2 friendly. Set to square off against one another for the first time since the USMNT upended El Tri in WC qualifying back in September, the 2014 tournament participants will surely use their remaining pre-Cup matches as a way to analyze the overall level of talent before the highly-anticipated summer games begin. Knowing he’ll need the best possible roster once the United States nationals open their respective tournament against Ghana on June 16, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said recently that each player knows they need to start performing well now in order to be fully prepared in Brazil.
“Everyone knows the clock is ticking and that they need to impress in those games with their club, and the only way you can impress is if you play from the beginning on,” he said recently. “So the players have a sense of urgency now. With whomever I communicate, whether it’s a text message or on the phone, I hear from the players that now they have to step it up. We have players who shoot us an email or a text real quick asking if there’s something additional they can do, which they should. We give them the input right away. We’re trying to be more connected and in communication every week. It’s really important now that they get a sense of the timing that we are only a couple weeks away.”
Klinsmann and the United States won’t have an easy opening road after being randomly selected to a group that also features Portugal and Germany but while they’ll be tasked with the chore of moving through top-level teams, Mexico boss Miguel Herrera is focused on solidifying a roster that will be able to compete on both ends of the pitch with early opponents in Cameroon, Brazil and Croatia, who join El Tri in Group A. Despite hearing that fellow managers in Jose Luis Trejo (Pumas) and Tomas Boy (Atlas) feel the former Liga MX boss not the right man for the job, Herrera says he’s ready for the challenge of leading Mexico throughout the upcoming event.
“Being Mexico manager is the best that I can dream no doubt,” El Piojo said. “The worst thing is that everyone criticizes and claims to be better than you. But well, that's part of dealing with it. Yes, I can be direct, but I need to take a big breath before I express myself. I am in the eye of the hurricane and must let them speak. Fortunately the team has had good results, but honestly speaking I am preparing my team for a World Cup and they are only working so their teams do no fall back to the second division.”
Mexico’s opening match at the 2014 World Cup will be against Cameroon on June 13.
Mexico vs. United States – Rosters for April 2 Friendly at University of Phoenix Stadium
El Tri Squad
Goalkeepers: Moises Munoz (America), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Paul Aguilar (America), Rogelio Chavez (Cruz Azul), Miguel Layun (America), Rafael Marquez (Leon), Enrique Perez (Atlas), Miguel Angel Ponce (Toluca), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America)
Midfielders: Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Juan Carlos Medina (America), Luis Montes (Leon), Carlos Pena (Leon), Jesus Zavala (Monterrey)
Forwards: Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Raul Jimenez (America). Alan Pulido (Tigres)
USMNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Forwards: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
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