Mexicans Abroad: An update on European-based players

Mexican players across the world enjoyed a productive weekend, but some left us wondering what will happen next in their careers.

Team Mexico coach Gerardo Martino is already making a list of players to invite to El Tri’s upcoming training camp. Here are some players toiling abroad who will surely get consideration.

Raul Jimenez, the Mexican striker who plays in the English Premier League, has had a brilliant first season with Wolverhampton Wolves. He has been a consistent force up front and a productive contributor.

On Saturday, Jimenez (pictured at top) scored his 11th goal of the season and assisted on his team’s opening goal in Wolves’ 2-0 win over Cardiff City. He now has 6 assists on the season.

Jimenez has more goals than several touted players, including Manchester United strikers Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford , Manchester City’s Leroy Sane and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.

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One of the outstanding players Mexico’s national team has produced in recent years, Jimenez will certainly lead the El Tri on the road to Qatar 2022.

Also in the Premier League, Javier Hernandez played a total of 70 minutes and caused a penalty in favor of his team as West Ham United defeated Newcastle.

Other members of El Tri enjoying successful seasons in Europe are Hector Herrera and Jesus Corona both with FC Porto in Portugal’s Primeira Liga. Even so, Porto lost on Saturday against their main rival, Benfica, and the Dragons fell 2 points behind Benfica in the title race. Herrera played the entire 90 minutes while Corona came on as a sub and played just over an hour.

Herrera, now in his 6th season with Porto, has been an integral player with the club, often wearing the captain’s armband. In recent years, his name has been associated with some of Europe’s biggest clubs. It is suggested that he could be headed to Italy’s Serie A after this season.

Also in Primeira Liga is Antonio Briseño, a defender who has been forgotten even though he once hoisted the U-17 World Cup trophy as captain if Team Mexico. Briseño has now played 50 games in Europe. His team, Feirense, lost over the weekend 4-0 against Belenenses. Briseño played the full 90 minutes and his solid performances in Portugal could very well earn him an invitation to Team Mexico training camp.

Goalie Guillermo Ochoa who plays for Standard Liege in Belgium’s First Division played a solid game against Royal Excel Mouscron, but had to settle for a 1-1 tie.

Spain’s La Liga is also home for several national team players.

After being signed in late January by Legañes, defender Diego Reyes was given his first start and he played 70 minutes in his team’s 1-0 victory over Levante.

Center back Hector Moreno did not see any activity, while his team, Real Sociedad, lost to second-place Atletico de Madrid. Defender Nestor Araujo has been brilliant with Celta Vigo, earning a starting spot in his first season in Europe. However, Celta has been lurking close to the relegation zone and the weekend loss to Eibar did not help.

Over at Real Betis, Andres Guardado played the entire 90 minutes while young star Diego Lainez watched the game from the bench as Betis lost to Getafe. This was not a great week for Betis as they lost in the Copa del Rey semifinals against Valencia.

In Holland’s Eredivisie, Hirving Lozano played 87 minutes in a 2-0 win against Excelsior while compatriot Erick Gutierrez did not see any action. Their team PSV Eindhoven remains in first place and Lozano has 14 goals on the season.

The MLS kicked off their season this past weekend and seeing action for the LA Galaxy were Efrain Alvarez, Uriel Antuna and Jonathan Dos Santos. The Galaxy won 2-1 as the 16-year-old Alvarez came in off the bench and made a beauty assist to tie the game at 1-1. Marco Fabian scored his team’s only goal on his MLS debut with Philadelphia Union, though his club lost.

On the other side of the coin, Giovanni Dos Santos – once the hope of Team Mexico’s future – is without a team after he was released by the Galaxy. There is much speculation about where he might continue his career and some observers suggest a move to Liga MX could be the best option for him.

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