Former Chicago Fire forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco is among 18 players
selected by Mexico coach Javier Aguirre for next Wednesday's
exhibition against Bolivia in San Francisco.
The 37-year-old, who moved to second-division team Veracruz
this season, played for El Tri in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups but
was bypassed for the 2006 roster.
Aguirre also selected 21-year-old forward Javier Hernandez,
who scored eight goals in the first five games for Chivas
Guadalajara.
Only Mexico-based players were picked. El Tri then faces New
Zealand in Pasadena, Calif., on March 3, when European clubs are
required to release players to national teams,
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Luis Michel (Guadalajara), Jonathan Orozco
(Monterrey).
Defenders: Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Adrian Aldrete (Monarcas),
Hugo Ayala (Atlas), Efrain Juarez (Pumas), Jonny Magallon
(Guadalajara), Jorge Torres (Atlas)
Midfielders: Israel Castro (Pumas), Braulio Luna (San Luis),
Luis Noriega (Puebla), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul)
Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas), Cuauhtemoc Blanco
(Veracruz), Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey), Enrique Esqueda (America),
Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Angel Reyna (America)
