Mexico vs. Colombia: Chicharito and More Dynamic El Tri Stars to Watch

Mexico faces a stiff, friendly test on Wednesday night against Colombia, which is likely why manager Jose Manuel de la Torre felt the need to call up many of his star players for the clash. With World Cup qualifying set to begin this summer, he wants to make sure his players develop some chemistry.

Here are three Mexican stars to keep an eye on during the match.

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez

Hernandez has had another good season for Manchester United, scoring eight goals in 21 appearances, but his best work has come for Mexico. He found the net seven times in six Gold Cup games last summer, and has 23 in 33 career caps.

He holds the key to Mexico establishing dominance over CONCACAF. The United States were unable to contain him in the Gold Cup Final because of his terrific pace and finishing ability, which will surely be on display tonight.

The goal for Chicharito against Colombia should be to show he has what it takes to be the main man for Mexico. If he grows into that role, they'll become very dangerous.

Giovani dos Santos

This game is more important to dos Santos than any other Mexican player. He hasn't received much playing time for Tottenham during the current campaign, so it's crucial for him to prove the lack of game play hasn't affected his form.

It's not a shortage of talent keeping him sidelined, as evidenced by his 11 goals for Mexico, but rather his club's terrific depth. That's something young players like him don't consider nearly enough before deciding to join an elite club.

Mexico would surely like to see him getting more pitch time, but he's simply too talented to leave off the squad at this point. It will be interesting to see how he's used.

Andres Guardado

Guardado is one of the team's veterans and even he's only 25 years old, which speaks to the bright future of Mexico's national team. He has already accumulated 77 caps, making it time for him to step into a leadership role.

The Deportivo La Coruna star brings a lot of creativity to the midfield. That helps open up space for Hernandez and dos Santos by stretching the defense thin and then attacking the middle. So you really can't overstate the importance of Guardado's presence.

Mexico will want to build up some momentum heading into the summer so the early qualification stages don't become more problematic than they should be. Look for Guardado to lead that charge starting tonight.