By: Jonny Rico
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It will be an exciting summer for the Mexican National Team with participation in the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. With two important tournaments on the horizon Mexico prepares its best troops for battle and glory.
Copa America Centenario carries the priority of the Mexican National Team as it sends in its absolute best available squad. El Tri had been sending reserve and youth squads to the previous editions of Copa America due to conflicting schedules with the CONCACAF Gold Cup. But this summer there is not stopping Mexico from sending its best to the special edition continental competition.
Playing in the Summer Olympic Games will require Mexico to send an Under-23 squad with the exception of three players with no age limit. Being the reigning Olympic Gold Medal holders, Mexico will also want to send a strong and competitive team in search for another historic feat like in London 2012.
The reality that Mexico now faces is that some of its best players will need to put in double international duties playing in both Copa America and Olympic Games.
Defender Jorge Torres Nilo addressed members of the media on Friday afternoon at the team’s hotel in Phoenix, Arizona prior to the Copa America debut against Uruguay on Sunday. He spoke about the possibility of also participating in the Olympic games and said he would be “excited and open” to the idea of playing in both tournaments.
The Tigres left-back is one of many players currently in the Mexican National Team Copa America roster that could put in the double duty. Both Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona and Hirving Lozano fall in the U-23 category and are age-eligible for the Olympic squad. Other names being discussed as possible ‘over age reinforcements’ are goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera, midfielder and vice-captain Andres Guardado and striker Raul Jimenez.
Jimenez went ahead and asked his club S.L. Benfica (Portugal) for permission to participate in the Olympic Games before being called upon by the coaching staff led by Raul ‘Potro’ Gutierrez. The moves makes it quite obvious that the striker wants to play in Rio despite already being with the National Team in Copa America.
Mexico has had a long history of quality goalkeepers and a long history of using one of its three ‘no age limit’ spots at the Olympics with a goalkeeper. Four years ago it was Jesus Corona who led the Mexican National Team to Gold standing in the goal. The name that has been rumored to go this time around s that of Toluca goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera who is also expected to start for Mexico during Sunday’s Copa America opener against Uruguay.
Copa America
