ATLANTA -- Giovani dos Santos is set to feature in Mexico's Gold Cup semifinal against Panama on Wednesday if required, coach Miguel Herrera confirmed Tuesday.
Dos Santos missed the quarterfinal against Costa Rica with a hip complaint sustained in his team's final group stage match vs. Trinidad and Tobago, but will be under consideration for Wednesday's crucial game.
"Giovani is doing fine," Herrera said. "Today in the afternoon we'll see how he is in training. We'll consider him unless he tells me he isn't 100 percent."
The Mexico coach added that a final decision is likely to be made on the team selection after Tuesday's session, although ESPN's John Sutcliffe reported that El Tri's starting XI is set to be the same as one that started against Costa Rica last Sunday, with the exception of Oswaldo Alanis replacing the injured Yasser Corona.
Herrera also reserved praise for Giovani's brother Jonathan dos Santos, who has wrestled a starting position in midfield away from Jose Juan "Gallito" Vazquez during the tournament.
"Jonathan controls the ball and distributes it well; he's going through a great moment," Herrera said. "His attitude pleases me. He has a battle with 'Gallito' [for the starting place] and through 'Gallito's' injury, Jonathan won the spot."
Herrera admitted Porto midfielder Hector Herrera's below par performances this Gold Cup has been a concern.
"It worries me that Hector Herrera improves," Herrera said. "We have to speak to him so that the confidence returns and he shows the great player that he is."
Herrera added that he is expecting a hard-fought game against a physically strong Panama side and said he considers the match a type of revenge game for Los Canaleros knocking Mexico out the same stage of the Gold Cup two years ago.
More than 70,000 fans are expected at the Georgia Dome, with the United States playing Jamaica earlier in the afternoon in the other semifinal.