Why Mexico Coach Miguel Herrera Was Wrong Not to Call William Yarbrough

Leon goalkeeper William Yarbrough has finally landed a spot with the national team...the United States national team that is, and Mexico coach Miguel Herrera is fine with it.

El Piojo will have to put together two teams for this year's Copa America and Gold Cup, which means he must cap between four and six goalkeepers.

Guillermo Ochoa, Jesus Corona and Alfredo Talavera will most likely fight for the starting position, but Herrera is still missing the subs.

Yarbrough was the perfect pick, or at least he seemed to be.

The keeper returned to the 2015 Clausura in good spirits after a shaky 2014 Apertura tournament, in which he broke a finger that sidelined him for a month.

In the current season, he has made 39 saves (10 matchdays) and has allowed 13 goals, per Fox Sports.

At 25 years old, Yarbrough has been Leon’s starting goalkeeper since 2013. Despite being a youngster, he has already proved himself with Leon.

His undeniable talent put him on El Piojo's radar.

Last January, El Tri coach gave a press conference in which he recognized that the goalkeeper was the position that worried him the least.

He named Yarbrough among those he had been following closely, per Mi Seleccion (in Spanish).

The Leon footballer said a couple of days later that everyone dreams of playing with the national team, and if his name was mentioned, it was because he was doing something good, per Goal (in Spanish).

Little did he know, it would be Team USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann and not Herrera who would call him.

Since the goalie’s parents are from Texas, he holds dual citizenship, and so he accepted the offer.

In response, El Piojo said there were between eight and nine goalkeepers at the same playing level than Yarbrough, per MedioTiempo.com (in Spanish).

But Herrera is wrong. Sure, there are very talented goalies in the Liga MX, but assessing the age/talent relation, Yarbrough is as good as it gets.

Let's take a look.

Those with a chance to make El Tri for this month's friendlies: Moises Munoz (35), Cirilo Saucedo (33), Meliton Hernandez (32), Jonathan Orozco (28), Luis Michel (35).

The current goalkeepers are: Guillermo Ochoa (29), Jesus Corona (34) and Alfredo Talavera (32).

The upcoming jewels: Raul Gudino (18) and Richard Sanchez (20).

As you can see, there's quite a gap between those who are already fighting for a spot with the national team and those who will do so in the near future.

Mexico will have to make a generational transition soon, and it might not be very easy. That's why Yarbrough had to be capped.

He works well under pressure, has two Liga MX championships under his belt, has a strong aerial game and he knows how to come out from his goal with the feet, which is essential for Herrera.

Now, Yarbrough will have to wait for his chance with the USMNT, as Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are clearly Klinsmann’s top picks.