Copa America preview: Atletico Madrid’s Raul Jimenez leads cast of fringe players from Mexico

Mexico has been a guest at the tournament since 1993 but Copa America takes place immediately before their own confederation’s Gold Cup tournament in the United States, which naturally gets priority.

Mexico national soccer team´s Raul Jimenez, left, listens to his coach Miguel Herrera during a training session in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 05 June 2015. EPA/Sebastiao Moreira

Mexico have been invited to take part in the Copa America as guests since 1993 and on many occasions their presence, if somewhat incongruous, has helped beef up the tournament.

They made a particularly healthy contribution in 1993, by reaching the final, and in 2007, when they beat Brazil and thumped Paraguay 6-0 before eventually losing to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in the semi-finals.

This time, however, the tournament takes place immediately before their own confederation’s Gold Cup tournament in the United States, which naturally gets priority.

Photo gallery 12 players to watch at Copa America

As a result, coach Miguel Herrera has been forced to bring what is effectively a B team, choosing from players who are on the fringe of the senior squad.

These include 36-year-old central defender Rafael Marquez, who has played at four World Cups, and Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez.

The Copa America has been blighted in the past by poor organisational decisions and the presence of a reserve team among the finalists can only devalue the tournament.

It also raises the question of why the Mexican federation accepted the invitation in the first place.

Previous appearances: 8 (first in 1993)

Best performance: Runners-up 1993, 2001

Fifa ranking: 23

Key player: Rafael Marquez

At 36, the former Barcelona player has been involved with the Mexico side for 18 years and still shows no signs of wanting to call it a day.

In Brazil last year, he became the first player from any country to captain his side at four World Cups. He is also the first Mexican player to have scored at three successive World Cups.

Marquez spent seven years at Barcelona, then moved to New York Red Bulls where he had an unhappy injury-prone two-year spell.

His career found a second wind when he returned to Mexico to play for Leon and last year’s World Cup display earned him a move to Serie A side Verona.

Coach: Miguel Herrera

A stocky, feisty character with a volatile temperament, the man known as El Piojo (“The Bug”) became one of the most popular figures at last year’s World Cup thanks to his exuberant touchline celebrations.

Herrera was a right back when Mexico made their debut at the Copa America in 1993 and helped the team reach the final where they lost to Argentina.

After coaching Mexican clubs Monterrey, Estudiantes-Tecos, Veracruz and America, Herrera took over the Mexico side at a critical time in 2013 after a disastrous run had left them in danger of missing out on the 2014 World Cup.

He safely guided them through a playoff against New Zealand and to a place in the last 16 at Brazil, where they were within minutes of a famous win over the Netherlands before capitulating to a 2-1 defeat in the dying seconds.

Squad

Goalkeepers Jose Corona (Cruz Azul), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Meliton Hernandez (Veracruz).

Defenders Rafael Marquez (Hellas Verona), Jerry Flores (Cruz Azul), Carlos Salcedo (Guadalajara), Hugo Ayala (UANL), Miguel Herrera (Pachuca), Efrain Velarde (Monterrey), Adrian Alderete (Santos), Julio Cesar Dominguez (Cruz Azul)

Midfielders Mario Osuna (Queretaro), Juan Carlos Medina (Atlas), Javier Guemez (Tijuana), Jesus Manuel Corona (Twente Enschede), Javier Aquino (Rayo Vallecano), Luis Montes (Leon), Marco Fabian (Guadalajara)

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