5 Mexico Players with a Point to Prove vs. Netherlands
Mexico are set to continue their preparation ahead of the 2015 Copa America and Gold Cup, when they face the Netherlands on November 12.
Miguel Herrera has capped most of the European-based footballers, but he has also brought on some of the youngest and most promising players of the Liga MX.
Carlos Vela's return to El Tri is one of the most exciting pieces of news so far. The Real Sociedad forward will catch a lot of media attention, so he needs to make the most of this call-up.
Diego Reyes and Jonathan dos Santos also need to step up and show they have what it takes to make one of the two teams that will represent Mexico next year.
There are some new names too. This is the case of George Corral, who has proved to be a ferocious defender, which will come in handy since El Piojo hasn't found a solid base of players for the back line.
Let's take a look at the five footballers who have to prove themselves next week.
Carlos Vela
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After three-and-a-half years, Carlos Vela is set to make his comeback with Mexico.
The Real Sociedad footballer declined to attend the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2013 Hexagonal and the 2014 World Cup.
He is ready to wear La Verde again, but he needs to prove his worth. Vela must shut down all the drama with good performances.
This season he has not been very sharp. According to Squawka, he has only put the ball away once in 10 appearances; plus he has only created 10 goal opportunities.
In the 2013/14 season he had scored two times in the same number of appearances, and he had produced twice the scoring chances.
If he can shake off the shaky performances with Real Sociedad and put all his efforts to make a difference with El Tri, his future with the national team will be bright.
Jesus Manuel Corona
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Jesus Manuel Corona has become a key figure for Twente.
At age 21, the former Monterrey midfielder has scored twice with for the Dutch side this season. His goals have meant points for the club.
He bagged his first one against Go Ahead in the 31st minute; it was Twente's second and the winner. His latest, versus Ajax, was the opener in the one-goal draw.
Corona's speed and fine touch set him as a valuable asset for Mexico coach Miguel Herrera. So far, Tecatito has an average pass accuracy of 83 percent, including two assists and six key passes, more than half of them through the center of the pitch.
Although he can work through both sidelines, he is more prolific when playing on the left, a position in which Marco Fabian has struggled to deliver good results.
George Corral
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George Corral debuted with America when he was 18 years old. However, he left for Chiapas after just 11 appearances.
Corral established himself as a reliable defender with Jaguares and secured the starting position since the 2012 Clausura tournament.
He is currently playing his third season with Queretaro, where he came from less to more until he earned his first call-up for the national team.
After 15 matchdays in the 2014 Apertura, Corral has made 21 interceptions, 21 clearances and two blocks. He has also been a good addition to the attack, as he has created nine goal opportunities.
Coach Miguel Herrera will use Corral through the right flank as an alternate for Paul Aguilar, who despite having El Piojo's confidence hasn't had a reliable sub since Herrera took over.
Diego Reyes
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This could be one of the last chances for Diego Reyes to make an impact on the pitch.
The centre-back has had Miguel Herrera's trust since 2013, mainly because he was instrumental in America's Liga MX title.
But the now-Porto footballer hasn't had much playing time with his team, which has hurt his rhythm and physical shape.
The last time he had activity with the Dragons was two months ago, when he played 30 minutes against Sporting in a Primeira Liga match.
With other defenders playing on a regular basis, like Pachuca's Miguel Angel Herrera and Santos Laguna's Oswaldo Alanis, Reyes has a lot of competition in front of him.
Jonathan dos Santos
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Jonathan dos Santos is another player who returns to the Mexico national team but in different circumstances than Carlos Vela.
The younger of the dos Santos brothers was barely playing with Barcelona; last season he appeared three times in La Liga (18 minutes), which hurt his chances of wearing La Verde.
His move to Villarreal has given him more playing time and the chance to display all what he learned at La Masia.
So far he has played in seven games for a total of 235 minutes. His average pass accuracy equals 82 percent, and he has crafted two goal opportunities.
Dos Santos is creative and elusive, which makes him a threat for any defense.
He is the kind of player Miguel Herrera lacks in the midfield, especially through the right flank from where Javier Aquino has failed to make an impact.
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