Mexico faces pre-Copa America test vs. Paraguay with untried side
The picture is beginning to come together for Mexico's summer. With both the Copa America and the Gold Cup to contend, the fans and members of the press have continually asked who Miguel Herrera will take where.
We still don't have our answers yet, but we're starting to get some clues. After a side of familiar faces knocked off Ecuador 1-0 Saturday, Herrera's starting lineup for Tuesday's match against Paraguay has far less experience.
Jorge Torres Nilo, the Tigres defender who will be the left wingback with Miguel Layun headed back to Watford, is the most experienced starter with 38 international caps. It filters down to Jesus Duenas, his Tigres teammate who will make his international debut in Arrowhead Stadium and Pumas forward Eduardo "Lalo" Herrera who essentially crossed the sideline as the official was blowing for full time in his first cap Saturday.
The fact that Miguel Herrera was OK with sending Layun and Porto midfielder Hector Herrera back to their clubs in the first place and also is bidding farewell to new fathers Guillermo Ochoa and Andres Guardado, who will tend to their families rather than suit up Tuesday, indicates this was the manager's plan all along: To play his strongest team Saturday and use Tuesday to try out inexperienced players.
That, coupled with Herrera's statement Monday that, "There's a base of players who were at the World Cup which will go to the Gold Cup," confirms Mexico's best and brightest will look to clinch the Gold Cup and with it a playoff against the United States for a Confederations Cup slot. It leaves this group forming the basis of El Tri's Copa America squad.
While it has less international experience, it isn't a rookie squad by any means. Goalkeeper Meliton Hernandez and midfielder Juan Carlos Medina are in their 30s but have never broken through with El Tri. Julio "Cata" Dominguez is closing in on 300 appearances with Cruz Azul. Young guns like Raul Jimenez and Jonathan dos Santos have experience with European clubs, though both have struggled for minutes during their overseas odysseys.
Yet, Jimenez in particular has continued to perform well for Mexico at the international level since his move and was vital during World Cup qualifying when he was still in Liga MX. Dos Santos is getting regular minutes in La Liga, more than can be said about many players who will fill the squads of Mexico's opponents at the Copa America - though of course there will be plenty of La Liga and Premier League stars lining up opposite them as well. Dominguez and Medina have experience in international club tournaments.
Those players will be important for Miguel Herrera, not just against Paraguay, but likely in Chile as well. Herrera will need to have the leadership of players who understand what it means to play in difficult environments and face tough teams in quick succession.
Trotting a team out Tuesday with Copa America in mind can also start to build cohesion, something Herrera has shown he values since day one when he named a side of mostly Club America players for the World Cup qualifying playoff against New Zealand. It likely means we'll see a similar squad when El Piojo names a largely domestic-based team for April's tune-up against the United States in San Antonio.
Though many are likely to be inexperienced, Tuesday's starters could earn the honor of wearing Mexico's crest on their chest in Chile, but only if they perform well. If they struggle, Miguel Herrera has other players he can try and has enough time to try them. Paraguay is the first of what could be many South American tests for this young group, but only if they pass this one.
FOXSoccer.com and Goal.com have teamed up to bring you the best in world soccer coverage. Visit Goal.com, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
More from Goal.com: