March 20 – Mexico coach Jaime Lozano (pictured) has left Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez off his Concacaf Nations League roster as the country bids to win the event for the first time in its third edition.
Jiménez is recovering from injury and has only just returned for Fulham. The feeling was that his rehabilitation would be better suited to staying with his club as Mexico build towards to the Copa America 2024 to be played in the US this summer.
In 2019 Mexico lost in the final to the USA, while in 2023 they lost their semi-final against USA, but won the third place match against Panama.
Mexico face Panama again in the 2024 semi-final with Lozano likely to start up front with Henry Martin (Club América), and PSV’s Hirving Lozano.
Mexico beat Panama 1-0 in the final of the 2023 Gold Cup with a goal by Santiago Giménez. The young Feyenoord striker has still to earn a starting place but has been in sparkling form for his club with 36 goals in 57 matches.
But with Lozano opting for experience over youth in his squad selection, it is unclear whether he is ready to give Gimenez a start just yet. Mexico will continue to rely on veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to lead the team, backed up by West Ham’s Edson Alvarez.
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