Mexico Coach Shakes Up Team’s Roster
Dissatisfied at having failed to win either of his first two games in charge, Mexico Coach Ricardo Lavolpe on Thursday made major changes in his roster, dropping the country’s best-known striker, recalling a veteran goalkeeper and introducing several new players to the team.
Lavolpe excluded Club America forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco from the list of 22 players who will report to a three-day training camp Monday in preparation for Mexico’s March 19 match against Bolivia in Dallas.
He also brought Club America goalkeeper Adolfo Rios back into the fold. Rios, 36, last played for the national team in the 1999 Copa America.
The new players invited into camp were forwards Christian Patino of Club America and Daniel Osorno of Atlas; midfielder Octavio Valdez of Toluca, and defenders Omar Briseno of UNL and Ignacio Hierro of Monterrey.
Mexico lost to Argentina, 1-0, and tied Colombia, 0-0, earlier this month in Lavolpe’s first two matches since taking over from Javier Aguirre. The roster was released in Mexico City by the Mexican soccer federation and Lavolpe was not available to comment on the changes.
Earthquakes Tie
Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes and Rubin Kazan of Russia tied, 1-1, at the eight-team La Manga Cup in Spain.
Ronnie Ecklund scored on a 24th-minute penalty kick for the Earthquakes after Landon Donovan had been hauled down by the Rubin Kazan goalkeeper, but the Russian team tied it on a penalty kick 10 minutes later after a controversial hand ball call against San Jose defender Craig Waibel.
Donovan left the game just before halftime after injuring his right big toe in the collision with the Russian goalkeeper.
MLS Update
The Galaxy, which plays Torpedo Moscow today at the La Manga Cup, has tentatively set its two-game CONCACAF Champions Cup series against CD Motagua of Honduras for March 16 on the road and March 23 at Cal State Fullerton, according to Soccer America magazine.... Andy Swift, general manager of the Dallas Burn, announced that the team has canceled plans for a preseason trip to South Africa and instead will train in Chile for two weeks, from March 12-26.... Spanish midfielder Mario Rosas scored a goal and Argentine playmaker Daniel Garnero, 34, formerly of Independiente, created one as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars routed the U.S. under-17 national team, 4-0, in Bradenton, Fla. Both players are trying to make the roster.... Former Galaxy goalkeeper Matt Reis was beaten twice within seven minutes late in the game as Palmerias of Brazil came from behind to defeat the New England Revolution, 2-1, in Aguas de Lindoia, Brazil.
Security Concerns
Egypt and Kuwait agreed to postpone their planned March 3 friendly international in Kuwait, citing concerns over the tense situation in the Middle East and the looming threat of a U.S.-led war against Iraq. The match was rescheduled for Oct. 20.
FIFA Rankings
The latest FIFA rankings of the world’s 204 national teams released this week showed little change among the leading countries.
Germany, beaten last week by Spain, dropped from fourth to fifth, allowing Argentina to overtake it even though the South Americans were themselves beaten by the Dutch.
It was the only change involving teams in the top 10, which also features Brazil (1), France (2), Spain (3), Netherlands (6), Turkey (7), England (8), Mexico (9) and the United States (10).
England’s upset loss to Australia, Mexico’s failure to win its two most recent matches and the U.S. team’s loss to Argentina have not yet affected their standing.
