5 Players Who Deserve a Chance to Impress Mexico Coach Miguel Herrera
Miguel Herrera capped a bunch of young footballers to face Chile and Bolivia, and he should be happy with the performances of some of them.
El Tri have to prepare for two important tournaments: Copa America and the Gold Cup. Since both competitions take place within a one-month span, Herrera needs to put together two teams.
Luckily for him, there are a lot of talented players in the Liga MX, who despite being young, have hunger to succeed. Plus, El Piojo can rely on the Europe-based footballers, who are far more experienced.
Mexico will face Honduras and Panama next month, which will be another great opportunity for Herrera to take a close look at the future generation of players he has at hand.
Let's take a look at five of these footballers.
Rodolfo Pizarro
1 of 5
Rodolfo Pizarro started the game vs. Bolivia and proved to be a very valuable asset in Mexico's attack.
The right-back can play without hesitation in the midfield, run through the flank and feed balls to his teammates.
Pizarro is not as experienced as Paul Aguilar, the man Herrera has appointed as the undisputed starter, but if he keeps up the good work he can become a key player for the team.
With his club, he has played all seven matchdays of the 2014 Apertura, five of them from the beginning. He has 87 percent of pass completion, including five key passes, as per Squawka.
He needs to understand the Mexico coach's system better, as he usually plays in a 4-4-2 system with Pachuca, whereas Herrera prefers a 3-5-2 (5-3-2) system.
Miguel Ponce
2 of 5
Miguel Ponce made the 2014 Mexico World Cup team but he didn't play once, as Miguel Layun took over the starting position since the warm-ups.
However, Ponce is a very creative and intelligent footballer, who made quite a difference with the U23 squad that won the gold medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
After five appearances with the senior team, Ponce has played 342 minutes. In Miguel Herrera's new process, he started vs. Chile and came on in the 83rd minute against Bolivia.
He was one of the most active players vs. La Roja, as he recovered three balls, sent 22 passes and provided depth through the left flank.
Ponce is also the kind of player who can score from outside the box, and is no stranger to putting the ball away with his head.
Erick Torres
3 of 5
Erick Torres finally debuted with Mexico in their second match after the World Cup, against Bolivia, and he made a good impression.
The Chivas USA forward had several clear goal opportunities, but he couldn't put the ball away. However, he showed other skills.
El Cubo kept the ball inside the box as much as he could or until he located an available teammate, or one who had a better chance at scoring.
He worked well in tight spaces, plus he shot twice on target and completed 20 passes.
It's just a matter of time before he brings the momentum he has had with his club to the national team.
Antonio Rios
4 of 5
Antonio Rios received another chance to represent El Tri in the Bolivia friendly, taking over the center of the pitch.
The 25-year-old hadn't appeared with Mexico since 2010, when Efrain Flores—then interim coach—capped him for two friendlies (Colombia and Venezuela).
With Jose Juan Vazquez sidelined due to a fracture in the little finger, Rios started the game and played a total of 82 minutes.
The Toluca midfielder was sharp, especially in the first half, and managed to keep the center of the pitch tight. He completed 82 percent of the passes he sent and recovered two balls.
If he wants to keep the starting position he needs to work harder, but he can be a good option when Vazquez is not around.
Hiram Mier
5 of 5
Hiram Mier has proved his worth with Mexico U23 and Monterrey.
The center back is an undisputed starter with his club, where he has appeared 106 times in the domestic league since he debuted in the 2010 Apertura at age 21.
During the 2014 Apertura, Mier has played all seven matchdays, has shot once on target and has completed 83 percent of the passes he has sent, as per Squawka.
Mier couldn't show his skills against Bolivia, mainly because El Tri controlled most of the game, hence the defenders didn't catch a lot of attention.
He is a flexible defender, who can play in the center of the box or through the right flank; his speed allows him to join the attack easily.
All stats appear courtesy of Mi Seleccion Gamecast (Spanish), unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
