Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa set for historic sixth World Cup

Mexican star Guillermo Ochoa is set to become the first goalkeeper to appear in six World Cup finals after being named in the co-hosts’ squad.

The 40-year-old, who plays for Cypriot outfit AEL Limassol, joins superstars Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Argentina’s Lionel Messi in performing for the sixth time at the quadrennial football festival.

However, while Ronaldo and Messi are automatic first choices, Ochoa is unlikely to have much game time as he has dropped down the pecking order in recent years.

Ochoa, whose first World Cup was in Germany in 2006, headlines the squad along with forwards Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez, who play for Premier League side Fulham and Serie A giants AC Milan respectively.

Two of the squad named on Sunday — Spain-born midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo and Colombia-born forward Julian Quinones — have become pivotal players for the Javier Aguirre-coached team since being naturalised.

Gilberto Mora, the talented 17-year-old attacking midfielder, is set to become the youngest player to represent Mexico at a World Cup.

For Aguirre, 67, it will be his third World Cup in charge, having been in the dugout at the 2002 and 2010 renewals.

On both occasions they have failed to progress beyond the group stage but this time round will hope to follow the sides of 1970 and 1986 — when they also hosted the finals — in reaching the last eight.

Mexico, who are co-hosting with Canada and the US, play in the tournament’s opening game against South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City.

They go on to play South Korea on June 18 and round off the group stage against Czech Republic on June 24.

Mexico squad:

Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol, CYP), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)

Defenders: Israel Reyes (America), Jorge Sanchez (PAOK/GRE), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Johan Vasquez (Genoa/ITA), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chavez (Alkmaar/NED)

Midfielders: Edson Alvarez (West Ham/ENG), Luis Romo (Guadalajara), Obed Vargas (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Brian Gutierrez (Guadalajara), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens/GRE), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Cesar Huerta (Anderlecht/BEL), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis/ESP), Luis Chavez (Dynamo Moscow/RUS).

Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julian Quinones (Al-Qadisiyah, KSA), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan/ITA), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Armando Gonzalez (Guadalajara), Raul Jimenez (Fulham/ENG)

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المصدر: The Namibian