Mexico name nine Europe-based players for friendlies

MEXICO CITY - Mexico manager Gerardo Martino has named nine Europe-based players in his squad for friendlies against Wales and Costa Rica later this month.

The 26-man list includes Real Betis midfielders Diego Lainez and Andres Guardado, Napoli forward Hirving Lozano, Porto winger Jesus Corona and Atletico Madrid midfielder Hector Herrera, the Mexican Football Federation said late Tuesday.

Also called up were Ajax center-back Edson Alvarez, Celta Vigo defender Nestor Araujo, Racing Genk full-back Gerardo Arteaga, and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Erick Gutierrez.

Mexico will meet Wales in Cardiff on March 27 and Costa Rica in the Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt three days later.

Martino has said he will use the matches to test his players ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July and 2022 World Cup qualifiers, starting in September.

Following is the Mexico squad:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (America), Alfredo Talavera (Pumas UNAM), Hugo Gonzalez (Monterrey), Jonathan Orozco (Tijuana).

Defenders: Jorge Sanchez (America), Cesar Montes and Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Luis Rodriguez and Carlos Salcedo (Tigres UANL), Edson Alvarez (Ajax, Netherlands), Nestor Araujo (Celta de Vigo, Spain), Hector Moreno (Al-Gharafa, Qatar), Luis Romo (Cruz Azul), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk, Belgium).

Midfielders: Hector Herrera (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Jonathan Dos Santos (Los Angeles Galaxy, United States), Diego Lainez and Andres Guardado (Real Betis, Spain), Orbelin Pineda (Cruz Azul), Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami, United States) , Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands).

Forwards: Henry Martin (America), Jesus Manuel Corona (Porto, Portugal), Efrain Alvarez (Los Angeles Galaxy, United States), Hirving Lozano (Napoli, Italy), Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City, United States).