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Being the leader of the tournament and having one of the best Mexican goal scorers was not enough for Pumas to get any of their players into the Mexican National Team.
It has been a long time since this club has provided relevant players to the national team, but what they have already achieved is becoming a protagonist again in the Mexican tournament. This week they will define, in a face-to-face match against León through FOX Play, who is the best team of the Apertura 2015. The university team has 25 points, 27 goals scored, 13 goals conceded, and no players called up to the latest version of the Mexican team.
But, has the Mexican National Team missed out on something by not calling up Pumas players?
At least it seems that it is not the case, as the national team is unbeaten in 12 matches (two games before the start of the Gold Cup); the last four were in the brief era of Ricardo Ferreti, which ended with a spot in the Confederations Cup, where the team performed quite well on the field. And in those games, eight of them managed by Miguel Herrera, no Pumas players have been considered.
Eduardo Herrera, the second Mexican with the most goals in the tournament (seven goals), was the last Puma to be considered, playing in the Copa América. That is why he was not called up for the Gold Cup, and his absence in the 'Tuca' process was purely a technical decision.
And that is despite Ferreti's affection for Pumas...
Perhaps that is the only 'but' that could be said about Guillermo Vázquez's cohesive team. Among their starting eleven, there are about six Mexicans who are regular starters, but none of them seem attractive to the national team selectors, except for the opinion of Juan Carlos Osorio.
Alejandro Palacios
He is not a goalkeeper within the orbit of the national team, despite having the second least beaten goal. The ups and downs of 'Pikolín' and the large number of goalkeepers in the national team have made it difficult for him to have opportunities with the 'Aztec' team.
Marcelo Alatorre and Luis Fuentes
The Pumas full-backs (along with Josecarlos Van Rankin) compete for a place on the wings of the national team, positions that seem to be well occupied by Miguel Layún, Paul Aguilar, or even Jorge Torres Nilo.
Alejando Castro
Mexico is used to playing with a single defensive midfielder, so the veteran Pumas midfielder should first take the place of 'Gallito' Vázquez, then Jona dos Santos, also Rafael Márquez if he plays in that position, as well as Javier Güémez, and prove that he is as capable as Guardado or Herrera, who also assume that role.
Eduardo Herrera and Javier Cortés
The attacking positions are for those who play in Europe, whether it be Carlos Vela, Chicharito, Raúl Jiménez, or even Jesús Manuel Corona. For the Liga MX, Oribe Peralta appears. Then Herrera would come in; Cortés's case is more complicated due to the inconsistency he has shown throughout his career.
But for Pumas, these players work perfectly. They have almost secured a spot in the Liguilla and could confirm themselves as the best team in Mexico on Saturday at the Estadio León.