Mexico call up Argentine
Mexico, who have already booked a berth at next year’s World Cup, called up Argentine-born striker Guillermo Franco for their remaining two qualifiers while Cuauhtemoc Blanco was again overlooked.
The possibility of a call-up for Monterrey’s Franco had re-ignited a fierce debate over the presence of foreign-born players in the squad.
Coach Ricardo La Volpe, himself an Argentine, has already caused controversy by selecting Brazilian-born forward Antonio Naelson for the squad, although he was left out on this occasion.
Guadalajara striker Adolfo Bautista, who has been unable to win a place in the squad recently, has been one of the most vociferous critics of La Volpe’s policy.
Mexico made sure of a top-three finish in the final stage of the CONCACAF qualifying competition by beating Panama 5-0 last month.
They are level with the United States, also qualified, on 19 points from eight games.
The inspiration behind America’s 27-match unbeaten run in domestic games, Blanco has not been picked since he pulled out of the Confederations Cup squad in June saying that he needed a holiday.
Blanco reacted angrily when he was left out of the qualifier at home to Costa Rica in August, saying that La Volpe did not have big enough trousers to pick him.
He later apologised for the comment.
Forward Jesus Arellano, who played in the 2002 World Cup, was given a recall by La Volpe, one day after scoring a hat-trick for Monterrey in a 3-1 win at Sinaloa.
A number of regulars, including Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez and Bolton Wanderers forward Jared Borgetti, were rested.
Mexico host Guatemala on October 8 and visit Trinidad & Tobago four days later.
More: sbs.com.au
Mexico call-up for Argentines
Mexico have called up uncapped Argentine-born forward Guillermo Franco and striker Luis Angel Landin for a World Cup warm-up against fellow finalists Ghana next Wednesday (Thursday AEDT).
Coach Ricardo La Volpe also recalled Bolton Wanderers striker Jared Borgetti to an 18-man squad but he overlooked the experienced Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
The match will be played across the US border at the Pizza Hut stadium in the Texan city of Frisco.
Mexico are in Group D with Angola, Iran and Portugal at the World Cup in Germany. Ghana are in Group E with Italy, Czech Republic and the US.
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Ruben Aguilar, chief spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox, said Mexico never considered severing diplomatic relations with Argentina - even though Fox was irked by the behavior of his Argentine counterpart, Nestor Kirchner, during the Americas Summit in the Argentine resort city of Mar del Plata last week.
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Argentine soccer player Walter Gaitan told Mexican sports daily Record on Friday, that he is willing to change nationality and play for Mexico in the soccer World Cup, after an invite from Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe.
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Gaitan could become the third nationalized player in Lavolpe's squad, alongside Argentina-born Guillermo Franco
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La Volpe already has two naturalised players in his squad -- Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson and Argentine-born foward Guillermo Franco -- and the subject has split Mexican football down the middle.
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They called on the Mexican government to join the international movement for establishment of a cease-fire in the occupied territories of Palestine and Lebanon.
The envoys of the Muslim states which are members of the Organization of Islamic Conference also invited all parties involved to sit at the negotiating table as the only alternative to solve Middle East issue.
We condemn every kind of
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Borgetti has scored over 30 goals for his country since making his debut against Ecuador in February 1997. He was an integral part of the Mexican team that reached the World Cup
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To the casual observer, it sometimes appears that footballers go to absurd lengths to give their team an all-important edge. The wearing of lucky underwear, taking a statuette of the Virgin Mary to the ground, always stepping onto the pitch with a certain foot first; all of these and more are perfectly acceptable in the hothouse atmosphere that is the beautiful game.
However, recent years have seen an even more powerful lucky charm emerge for those teams seeking silverware: Argentine-born tactician Americo Gallego, the man who has won titles with every team he has
