Hernandez Hears Call of Mexico
So what if the Galaxy is deep into its Major League Soccer playoff run. National pride is more important to Mexico than MLS Cup 2000.
Enrique Meza, the new Mexican national team coach, has called up Galaxy forward Luis Hernandez for Mexico’s World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago next Sunday.
The call-up puts in jeopardy Hernandez’s availability for the Galaxy’s semifinal series-deciding Game 3 at Kansas City on Friday.
Yet while Mexico’s match is two days after the deciding match of the Galaxy-Wizard series, with the winner advancing to the title match, Meza wants his players to start reporting to Mexico for training today.
Apparently, the Galaxy is hoping Mexico will allow Hernandez to join the Mexican team immediately following Friday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid, who also is the organization’s vice president of soccer operations, said a resolution should come today or Tuesday morning.
“He’s OK for Tuesday,” Schmid said of Hernandez’s status for Game 2, which is Tuesday night at 7:30 at the Rose Bowl. “We’ve already had preliminary discussions with the [Mexican] Federation and the coach. We just need to finalize it. But I feel very positive that this thing will work out.
“They’re about to embark on a new era with a new coach and I understand him wanting to have all of his horses on board to show that they’re united.”
Meza, who was hired Sept. 14, has led Mexico to exhibition wins against Ecuador, 2-0 in San Diego on Sept. 20, and Bolivia, 1-0 in San Jose on Wednesday, without the services of Hernandez, one of Mexico’s all-time leaders in international goals scored.
Meza has won three Mexican league first-division titles with Toluca and also will lead Mexico against the U.S. on Oct. 25 and Argentina on Dec. 20 in “friendlies” here at the Coliseum.
But there is no doubt that he wants his team at full strength for his home debut Sunday in front of what is sure to be a huge crowd at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.
Hernandez, meanwhile, has been enjoying his first club playoff run of any kind since the 1996 season with Necaxa of the Mexican first division. He has said that he had a gentlemen’s agreement, of sorts, with former Mexican national team coach Manuel Lapuente that he would not be called up while the Galaxy was still alive in the MLS postseason.
“I haven’t spoken with Enrique; I haven’t heard from anyone associated with the Mexican national team,” Hernandez said late last week, before the call-up was made official. “For now, this is my team. I’m very happy with the Galaxy and until I hear differently, this is my team and my home.”
Hernandez, whose contract was purchased for a reported $4 million by MLS from Tigres of Monterrey, joined the Galaxy on May 20.
He was expected to contribute and score immediately and had a rough start but finished with 14 points, four goals and six assists in 16 games. He missed four Galaxy games during the regular season because of World Cup qualifying with Mexico.
However, Hernandez, 31, is the Galaxy’s leading scorer in the playoffs with the five points (a goal and three assists) he had in the 5-2 quarterfinal series-clinching win over the Tampa Bay Mutiny at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 20.
Schmid had been hoping that Hernandez would be spared any call-up during the MLS playoffs as Mexico already has secured a spot in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.
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MLS Playoffs
SEMIFINALS
Galaxy vs. Kansas City
Galaxy 0, Kansas City 0
Tuesday--Kansas City at Galaxy
Friday--Galaxy at Kansas City
New York-New Jersey vs. Chicago
Chicago 3, New York-New Jersey 0
New York-New Jersey 2, Chicago 0
Friday--New York-New Jersey at Chicago
CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 15--At RFK Stadium, Washington
