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Old May 14, 2006, 03:35 PM
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Default Mexico put hopes in Europe-based players

Mexico announced its 23-man World Cup squad Saturday, including Europe-based players such as FC Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez and Bolton striker Jared Borgetti.
Injured midfielder Jaime Lozano, Cruz Azul defender Joel Huiqui and Toluca midfielder Israel Lopez were left out, despite the latter two training with coach Ricardo Lavolpe for the past month.
Marquez, who has helped Barcelona win a second straight Spanish league title this season and reach the Champions League final, will captain Mexico in a first-round group including Portugal, Iran and Angola.
Also in defense will be 37-year-old Claudio Suarez, who played in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups but missed the 2002 event because of injuries.
The 33-year-old Borgetti is tied for Mexico's career scoring lead, but since joining Bolton in August has spent more time on the bench than in the penalty area.
Alongside him in attack will be Guillermo Franco, who helped Spain's Villareal reach the semifinals of the Champions League. Franco is an Argentine and naturalized Mexican citizen. Midfielder Antonio Naelson was born in Brazil -- provoking some fans to complain that foreigners are taking Mexican jobs. A notable absentee was striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, known for his "Blanco Bounce" at the 1998 World Cup in France -- hopping past two defenders with the ball between his ankles.


Lavolpe said in April that Blanco would not be included because he does not fit it into his system. Blanco, known for caustic comments on and off the field, claims he was left out because of a personal grudge by Lavolpe.

SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Oswaldo Sanchez (Guadalajara), Jose de Jesus Corona (Tecos), Guillermo Ochoa (America).

Defenders: Jose Antonio Castro (America), Andres Guardado (Atlas), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona/ESP), Mario Mendez (Monterrey), Ricardo Osorio (Cruz Azul), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (Guadalajara), Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara), Claudio Suarez (Chivas, USA).

Midfielders: Jesus Arellano (Monterrey), Rafael García (Atlas), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara), Antonio Naelson 'Sinha' (Toluca), Pavel Pardo (América), Luis Perez (Monterrey), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul).
Forwards: Jared Borgetti (Bolton/ENG), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara), Francisco Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Franco (Villarreal/ESP).
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