Javier Hernandez, Giovani, More Left out of Mexico Squad for 2015 Copa America

Mexico have left several of their star players, including Javier Hernandez and Giovani, out of their squad for the 2015 Copa America in Chile.

Coach Miguel Herrera has named a preliminary 23-man squad for the tournament and it contains just four players based in Europe, per Tom Marshall of ESPN.

Veteran defender Rafael Marquez is one of the quartet on the list below, per the official Twitter account of the Mexican national team:

Hernandez, on loan at Real Madrid from Manchester United, is one of many familiar names to have been left out of the squad who are likely to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup instead, per Marshall.

Ringo H.W. Chiu/Associated Press

Herrera conceded in April, per Marca (h/t Tom Beck of the Copa America’s official website), that Hernandez was unlikely to be involved in the Copa America.

"I do not think Chicharito will go to the Copa America,” said Herrera. “We are more committed to the Gold Cup."

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, Hector Herrera, Andres Guardado, Carlos Vela and Jonathan Dos Santos are other regular squad members to be sitting out the Copa America.

Marshall, per ESPN, believes Herrera’s squad for the Copa America shows exactly where his priorities lie this summer. He writes:

"

There's no doubt that this squad is a long way short of Mexico's best. Of all the players in it, it is reasonable to suggest that only Marquez would've got regular minutes in the Gold Cup, although Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesus Corona will be once again annoyed to have lost out to Guillermo Ochoa, who hasn't even played a single minute in La Liga for Malaga. The undisputed spine of Mexico's "A" team-Hector Moreno, Hector Herrera, Andres Guardado, Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela-is absent from the Copa America, with Herrera staying true to his word and prioritizing the Gold Cup.

"

In the Copa America, Mexico have been drawn in the same group as hosts Chile, as well as Ecuador and Bolivia, per the tournament’s official website.

Mexico’s opening game of the competition will be against Bolivia on Friday, June 12 before they face Chile three days later. The group campaign concludes with a game against Ecuador on Friday, June 19.

Prior to the tournament, Mexico will play friendlies away to Peru and Brazil.

Given the squad Herrera has named for the Copa America, it is clear that Mexico are not going to go into the tournament as one of the favourites to win and they will do well to progress beyond the group phase.

But, with a place in the Confederations Cup available to the winners of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, it is no surprise that Herrera has chosen to prioritise that tournament. Mexico have a much stronger chance of winning the Gold Cup, with the United States their chief rivals, rather than having to overcome the likes of Argentina and Brazil to win the Copa America.