Herrera’s Mexico chase Gold Cup crown instead of Copa America

Another hero of the World Cup, Guillermo Ochoa, has not been favoured for club (Malaga) or country since the Brazil finals, and can get the chance to really put himself back on the footballing map if he impresses again. But it is Cruz Azul stopper Jose de Jesus Corona who has been selected for the Copa America, meaning Ochoa is Herrera’s pick for the Gold Cup.

Legendary Rafael Marquez, who hasn’t been called up for Mexico since the World Cup due to moving to Serie A side Hellas Verona in the summer, meanwhile, is in the Copa squad. The 36-year-old centurion has still yet to call time on his international career, and this will likely be his swansong for his nation, where he should be named captain.

Dos Santos brothers, Giovani and Jonathan, will not be separated for Mexico’s expeditions, as they miss out on the Copa squad, but Europa based duo Javier Aquino and Jesus Corona are still excellent additions.

El Tri certainly seem to have most of their talent in attack, which means Atletico Madrid’s Raul Jimenez will head to Chile too, as Oribe Peralta, Hernandez and Vela are seemingly the favoured forwards for the Gold Cup.

Mexico have done well over the years in their eight Copa America appearances, reaching the semis at least on five of those occasions, so they will certainly be under pressure to do well, especially as they failed to progress through the group stage last time out.

This year, they are in a pool with hosts Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, and they are capable of finishing at least second, which would automatically qualify them for the quarters, despite having a much-weakened squad.

Herrera has perhaps the hardest job in football this summer, and he is going to need a lot of strength, character and a hint of craziness – characteristics all of which he possesses – in order to spur on his two battling teams.

He proved at the World Cup his side have what it takes to battle against the odds, drawing to Brazil and taking the Netherlands all the way until conceding two late goals against them.

Mexico’s squad of 23 for Copa America:

Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Edgar Meliton Hernandez (Veracruz), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca).

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Hellas Verona), Gerardo Flores (Cruz Azul), Julio Cesar Dominguez (Cruz Azul), Adrian Aldrete (Santos Laguna), Hugo Ayala (Tigres UANL), George Corral (Queretaro), Efrain Velarde (Monterrey), Carlos Salcedo (Guadalajara), Luis Fuentes (Pumas UNAM).

Midfielders: Mario Osuna (Queretaro), Javier Guemez (Tijuana), Juan Carlos Medina (Atlas), Marco Fabian (Guadalajara), Miguel Herrera Equihua (Pachuca), Javier Aquino (Rayo Vallecano).

Forwards: Raul Jimenez (Atletico Madrid), Eduardo Herrera (Pumas UNAM), Matias Vuoso (Jaguares Chiapas), Enrique Esqueda (Tigres UANL), Jesus Corona (Twente).