While El Tri’s XI is lean on World Cup experience, “Chucky” and the Wolves forward are set to challenge an experienced defense
Interim manager Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti is leaning on youth during his first match in charge of the Mexico national team.
The Tigres boss is calling upon two of his club players, right back Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez and center back Hugo Ayala in the starting XI for El Tri’s match Friday against Uruguay.
Guillermo Ochoa, who was Mexico’s first-choice goalkeeper during the World Cup, starts against the South Americans but is one of the few players who saw time in Russia in Ferretti’s XI as the team looks to the future. With that in mind, Santos Laguna’s 20-year-old Jesus Angulo is set to start, likely as the right center back. He’ll be next to Ayala, who also played minutes in Russia. So too did Jesus Gallardo, a converted winger who previous manager Juan Carlos Osorio leaned on as a left back.
In the middle, Jonathan dos Santos and Erick Gutierrez look set to pair in the middle with star attacker Hirving Lozano and Elias Hernandez on either side. Both wingers come into the international dates in excellent form, Lozano helping PSV to the Champions League group stage and first place in the Eredivisie and Hernandez taking a new look Cruz Azul to the top of Liga MX.
Up front, Wolves forward Raul Jimenez is set to partner with Chivas forward Alan Pulido, who is familiar with Ferretti after his stint with Tigres.
Uruguay has a much more experienced team than Mexico, with team’s World Cup base present in Houston for the team’s only match during this FIFA window. The back line is made up of Martin Caceres, Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Laxalt.
In the middle, Juventus’ Rodrigo Betancur, his Serie A rival Matias Vecino and recent Arsenal signing Lucas Torreira. Barcelona star Luis Suarez leads the attack with Monterrey attacker Jonathan Urretaviscaya and Lozano’s PSV teammate Gaston Pereiro accompanying him in the absence of Edson Cavani.
Full lineups:
Mexico XI: Ochoa; Rodriguez, Ayala, Angulo, Gallardo; Hernandez, Dos Santos, Gutierrez, Lozano; Pulido, Jimenez
Uruguay XI; Muslera; Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Laxalt; Torreira, Vecino, Betancur; Urretaviscaya, Suarez, Pererio
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