New Mexico coach picks squad for match vs. U.S.

MEXICO CITY -- New soccer coach Hugo Sanchez on Thursday announced the squad that Mexico will field in upcoming games, including a much-anticipated chance for revenge in his debut next month against the United States in Glendale, Ariz.

One of Mexico's most bitter rivals, the United States has won five of the teams' last six meetings including a match that eliminated the "Tri" from the 2002 World Cup.

"It's going to be attractive, taking into account that they have a better record than ours in the latest games, so Mexico's streak should begin on Feb. 7," he said. "We're preparing hard to obtain that victory which we need so much."

Mexico and the United States will go head to head Feb. 7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

Nicknamed "Hugol" during his days as a player for Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, Sanchez was named in November to succeed Argentine Ricardo la Volpe at the head of the national team.

Calling it an uncomplicated selection "without surprises," Sanchez picked strikers Francisco "Kikin" Fonseca and Jared Borgetti and keeper Oswaldo Sanchez, all important figures from last summer's World Cup team.

Eight players from reigning league champions Chivas of Guadalajara made the list: Diego Martinez, Ramon Morales, Francisco Rodriguez, Jonny Magallon, Gonzalo Pineda, Alberto Medina, Omar Bravo and Adolfo Bautista.

The team also features seven players Sanchez coached previously with various Mexican squads: Pineda, as well as Sergio Bernal and Israel Castro of Pumas, Joaquin Beltran and Gerardo Galindo of Necaxa and Gerardo Torrado and Israel Lopez of Cruz Azul.

"Undoubtedly knowing some players influenced" his picks, Sanchez said. "If [two players] are at a similar level but I know one of them more than the other ... there will be a certain advantage for those players I have already had the opportunity to coach."

Sanchez had previously announced that he would not pick players currently with foreign clubs, bypassing stars such as Barcelona's Rafael Marquez and PSV Eindhoven's Carlos Salcido.

He also did not consider players for America club, which is busy with a Libertadores Cup qualifier against Sporting Cristal of Peru next Wednesday.

Besides the United States, Mexico will meet Venezuela on Feb. 28 and Ecuador on March 28 in preparation for the Gold Cup and Americas Cup tournaments.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sanchez (Santos Laguna), Sergio Bernal (Pumas UNAM), Jose de Jesus Corona (Tecos UAG), Moises Munoz (Morelia)

Defenders: Diego Martinez (Guadalajara), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Joaquin Beltran (Necaxa), Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Joel Huiqui (Cruz Azul), Jaime Lozano (Tigres UANL), Fausto Pinto (Pachuca)

Midfielders: Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Juan Esquivel (Toluca), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Jaime Correa (Pachuca), Israel Lopez (Cruz Azul), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara), Gerardo Galindo (Necaxa), Luis Perez (Monterrey), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara), Andres Guardado (Atlas)

Forwards: Jared Borgetti (Cruz Azul), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Francisco Fonseca (Tigres UANL)