Manchester United striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez was included on Friday as Mexico national team coach Miguel Herrera revealed a 23-man World Cup squad with almost no surprises.
• Canales: Rosters shows midfield importance
• Marshall: El Tri reaps rewards from youth
• Hernandez: Those who missed the cut
"This list was made with my head and not my heart," Herrera said. "I am looking for a team that has ball possession and is physically powerful. These 23 players know what it means to be champions."
Herrera said he hopes to have Mexico's seven "European" players healthy for the World Cup. He included Villarreal's Giovani dos Santos, who is recovering from an injury as well as Bayer Leverkusen winger Andres Guardado, who re-started training this week.
Herrera had four choices at goalkeeper and opted to leave out Moises Munoz in favour of Alfredo Talavera while including Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesus Corona and Ajaccio's Guillermo Ochoa.
#INSERT
type:image
caption:Miguel Herrera included Guillermo Ochoa at goalkeeper.
END#
Herrera also left off Villarreal midfielder Javier Aquino and Juan Carlos Valenzuela while including Club Tigres midfielder Carlos Salcido, 34, a 2006 and 2010 World Cup veteran. The seven European-based players, who will join training on May 18, will team up 16 players from Mexico's Liga MX.
Club América, Herrera's former club, has the most players in the squad with five.
Should Marquez be named captain as expected, he would be the first player in Mexico history to captain his team at four different World Cups.
Mexico will play friendlies vs. Israel on May 28 at Estadio Azteca; vs. Ecuador on May 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina June 3 at Chicago's Soldier Field and vs. Portugal on June 6 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Mexico are in Group A and will open play against Cameroon on June 13 before taking on hosts Brazil on June 17.
Gio dos Santos sent his initial reaction out via Twitter, saying: "Very happy! One of the happiest days of my life! Very happy to represent my country in this!"
Muy feliz! Uno de los dias mas felices de mi vida! Muy feliz de poder representar a mi pais en este... http://t.co/mgnOANnsAF
- Giovani Dos Santos (@OficialGio) May 9, 2014
Complete roster:
Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Miguel Layun (America), Rafa Marquez (Leon), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Diego Reyes (Porto), Maza Rodriguez (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres)
Midfielders: Juan Carlos Medina (America), Gallito Vazquez (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto), Carlos Peña (Leon), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Luis Montes (Leon)
Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres), Giovani Dos Santos (Villarreal)