MEXICO CITY (AP) — Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez will not be going to the World Cup in Qatar after he was left out of Mexico's preliminary roster on Wednesday, with coach Gerardo Martino opting to include injured duo Raúl Jiménez and Jesús Corona instead.
Martino had insisted he would wait as long as possible to announce his selection in order to give Jiménez and Corona time to recover, and both were part of a 31-man roster that will later be winnowed down to 26 for next month World Cup in Qatar.
Despite the fact that two of his key attacking players are currently injured, Martino decided to exclude Hernández, the former Manchester United striker who now plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Argentine coach had hinted at that decision ahead of a couple of September friendlies, saying “we are simply going with other forwards."
Hernández has played in three World Cups and is Mexico’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals. The 34-year-old forward hasn’t featured for Mexico since a friendly in 2019. According to media reports, Hernández's absence is due to disciplinary issues.
Jiménez has a groin injury that has limited his playing time with Wolverhampton in the Premier League. He hasn’t played since August and has only featured in three league games this season. Corona tore ligaments in his left ankle in August during training with Spanish club Sevilla and continues in his rehabilitation.
Jiménez has been continuing his rehabilitation in Mexico City in recent weeks.
“We have a great team headed by Gerardo Martino and an extraordinary group of players,” said Yon de Luisa, head of the Mexican Soccer Federation. “I have no doubt that this team will leave its mark on the World Cup.”
Mexico will open Group C against Poland on Nov. 22. Next up is Lionel Messi and Argentina on Nov. 26 before a game against Saudi Arabia on Nov. 30.
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Mexico squad:
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (América), Alfredo Talavera (Juárez), Rodolfo Cota (León)
Defenders: Jesús Angulo (Tigres), Jorge Sánchez (Ajax), Néstor Araujo (América), Héctor Moreno (Monterrey), César Montes (Monterrey), Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey), Gerardo Arteaga (Genk), Kevin Álvarez (Pachuca), Johan Vázquez (Cremonese)
Midfielders: Andrés Guardado (Real Betis), Jesús Corona (Sevilla), Edson Álvarez (Ajax), Erick Gutiérrez (PSV Eindhoven), Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Luis Chávez (Pachuca), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Diego Lainez (Bragal), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Carlos Rodríguez, (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Monterrey), Erick Sánchez (Pachuca)
Forwards: Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Alexis Vega (Chivas), Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey), Henry Martín (América), Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord).
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