It is more than clear that Mexico has proven to be a powerhouse at the Under 17 level in national teams. There is no doubt. And yes, most of the recent successes began when a group, in 2005, achieved what no one had achieved before, with a message: limits were meant to be broken, lifting the youth title with Jesús Ramírez as the intellectual architect... Since then, out of the following five World Cups in the category, El Tri has won a championship as the host, reached another Final, and positioned themselves in the semifinals in the most recent one.
However, it is from the two most recent editions of this tournament that different young players who are under 22 years old have begun to forge outstanding careers, gradually establishing themselves, aspiring to be starters in prestigious clubs within Mexican soccer and even venturing outside of Mexico. They are different generations, for a couple of summers, but they have the same intention: to transcend, unlike the other generations, including the 2005 champions and most of their members.
Four years ago, in the United Arab Emirates, a team coached by Raúl Gutiérrez reached the final of the tournament, where they lost to Nigeria, but nevertheless, within this squad there were players who are now trying to make their way in the top league. With the number '9' on his back, Alejandro Díaz stood out for his tactical flexibility, fulfilling the role of a reference in the opposing area, but also for his defensive effort, stretching the field in favor of Gutiérrez's players and serving as a post. In the World Cup, he scored two goals and is now Silvio Romero's replacement at América.
Behind Díaz played Iván Ochoa, a creative attacking midfielder, who would either move to the wings to serve a teammate or drive with the ball at his feet to bring it closer to Álex; this forward, developed at Pachuca, ended up being Mexico's most valuable player, earning the Bronze Ball of the tournament and scoring four goals. In an effort to better exploit his qualities, the Tuzos loaned him to Everton in Chile a year ago, where he is a regular starter every weekend; it is said that he will return to Pachuca in the coming months to assume a starring role.
The attack was the best weapon that the team representing Mexico in 2013 had, not for nothing did they finish as the second-best offense, behind champions Nigeria, with 14 goals in their favor. And yes, Potro Gutiérrez had plenty of options from midfield forward. One of them was Víctor Zúñiga, who played three games, always as a substitute, to bring speed and pace to the team in the final third. In Cruz Azul, his development team, they are still waiting for his talent to materialize more frequently so that he can secure a starting position in La Noria.
The strings in that midfield were dominated by Ulises Rivas, who not only served as a secure defensive midfielder but also captained the team, Gutiérrez's trusted man; now, he is a constant presence in the starting XI for Santos Laguna. In that same area of the field, Omar Govea also appeared, being more versatile, with a greater offensive presence, even daring to shoot from outside the opposing area. Now, the product of América shines brightly in the Belgian League, with Royal Excel, as the revelation of the season.
As for the defensive zone, it goes without saying that Raúl Gudiño, the goalkeeper who was then playing for Chivas, signed with Porto more than three years ago and is now in Cyprus, with APOEL; Érick Aguirre, a full-back/winger, the youngest of the group, was brought back by Pachuca after a couple of semesters of inconsistency at Morelia and under Diego Alonso's tutelage, he stands out in terms of speed and individual technique in the Primera División, while Salomón Wbias, the one who scored the Panenka-style penalty against Brazil (Quarterfinals), is trying his luck in the US Second Division, with Orange Country.
As for the most recent generation, the one that reached the semifinals of Chile 2015, although now with Mario Arteaga as the head coach, there are several young players who seem to meet the requirements to aim for the maximum at their clubs, but the reality is that few of them have even made their debut in the Primera División and among them is Pablo López, chosen as the best player of the Concacaf Premundial and the defensive/offensive engine of the national team. His goal is to establish himself at Pachuca, the same case as Kevin Magaña, but with Chivas... They are promises in the process of being fulfilled.
THE PROSPECTS BY NAME, CLUB, AGE, POSITION, EDITION
Alejandro Díaz, América, 21, Forward, Emiratos 2013
Érick Aguirre, Pachuca, 20, Midfielder, Emiratos 2013
Ulises Rivas, Santos, 21, Midfielder, Emiratos 2013
Víctor Zúñiga, Cruz Azul, 21, Midfielder, Emiratos 2013
Kevin Magaña, Chivas, 19, Forward, Chile 2015
Pablo López, Pachuca, 19, Midfielder, Chile 2015
ABROAD
NAME, CLUB, AGE, POSITION
Raúl Gudiño, APOEL, 21, Goalkeeper
Salomón Wbias, Orange Country, 21, Defender
Iván Ochoa, Everton, 21, Midfielder
Omar Govea, Royal Excel, 21, Midfielder