Pan Am champs lead Mexico U-23s
By Joseph D'Hippolito (CONCACAF.com)
Eight members of Mexico's team that won last year's Pan American Games lead the 20-man roster that will represent El Tri in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
Six of those gold-medal winners are defenders: Nelson Araujo, Darvin Chavez, Hiram Mier, Diego Reyes, Hugo Rodriguez and Sacramento-born Miguel Ponce.
The other two are midfielders: Javier Aquino and forward Jeronimo Amione, who scored the only goal in the 1-0 triumph over Argentina that gave Mexico the gold mdeal.
Joining them are Guadalajara's two offensive sensations, Erick "El Cubo" Torres and Marco Fabian, and two members of UANL Tigres' team that won the Apertura 2011 championship, defender Israel Jimenez and forward Alan Pulido.
Also included among coach Luis Fernando Tena's selections are midfielder Nelson Calderon and goalkeeper Liborio Sanchez. Calderon won two league championships with Toluca and was named the best rookie for the 2008 Apertura season. Sanchez made the roster for Guadalajara's team that finished second in the 2010 Copa Libertadores.
"They're very conscientious, very intelligent players," Tena said. "They understand what it takes to be here, in a tournament like this. They understand what it means to wear the national jersey."
Tena also said that his roster reflects his tactical philosophy: "to possess the ball as much as possible with fast distribution, and to attack with lots of people without losing shape in the back."
Amione said he welcomes the pressure that comes with being one of the sides favored to claim one of two berths from CONCACAF for the 2012 London Olympics.
"It's really a good thing," Amione said. "It's important because it gives us confidence. All we have to do is know how to play each game at 100 percent. Step by step, we'll earn a berth."
Mexico U-23 Roster
GOALKEEPERS: Liborio Sanchez (Queretaro), Antonio Rodriguez (Veracruz), Hugo Gonzalez (Club America).
DEFENDERS: Israel Jimenez (UANL Tigres), Hiram Mier (Monterrey), Nestor Araujo (Cruz Azul), Hugo Rodriguez (Atlas), Diego Reyes (Club America), Darvin Chavez (Monterrey), Miguel Ponce (Guadalajara).
MIDFIELDERS: Jorge Enriquez (Guadalajara), David Cabrera (UNAM Pumas), Hector Herrera (Pachuca), Javier Cortes (UNAM Pumas), Javier Aquino (Cruz Azul), Nestor Calderon (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Guadalajara).
FORWARDS: Jeronimo Amione (Atlante), Alan Pulido (UANL Tigres), Erick Torres (Guadalajara).