The replacement of Andrés Guardado for Mexico National Team is already playing in Europe

Mexico National Team just announced the games they will play as preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, starting with a friendly match against Nicaragua at the end of April, where Gerardo “Tata” Martino will have the chance to try new players, like he did on the game against Chile back in December.

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The decision of having a roster without the starting players has to do with the fact that the game will not be played in a FIFA match window, but it opens the possibility for younger players to have a taste of what if feels to play with the senior squad, as well as showing why they deserve to be taken into consideration for the final roster.

One of the priorities for the Mexican national team is to play under the same idea in all the zones of the pitch, as they have been lacking a solid midfield, as neither Andrés Guardado nor Héctor Herrera have played at the same level they do with their teams.

Gerardo Martino will have at least five games to try different players, including potential replacements for some of the regular players on the roster, as he knows that El Tri needs to improve their performances if they want to be a competitive team in Qatar 2022, something they won’t be able to do if they keep playing like they did during the CONCACAF Qualifiers.

The replacement for the midfield plays in Portugal

The games that El Tri will play in the Mextour, as well as the two official matches of the CONCACAF Nations League will open the doors for players that haven’t been considered before and that could be a revelation for the Mexican coaching staff.

It’s yet to be know if they will call 18-year-old midfielder Alejandro Alvarado, who can represent both Mexico and United States as he was born in Los Angeles on a Mexican household, but his addition would be an instant upgrade, as he already debuted in Portugal’s top flight.

Alvarado is currently playing for Primeira Liga side FC Vizela, team that he joined for the current season out of the academy of LA Galaxy. Although he was considered for their U-23 squad, his performances have opened a place for him in the first team.

Can he play for Mexico?

So far, Alvarado hasn’t received any call-ups to the Mexican academy teams as he started the process in the US Soccer YNT, where he played for the U-16. Alvarado can play for the Aztec squad if Martino was to give him his first cap.

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