Dos Santos misses out for Mexico

Barcelona youngster Jonathan dos Santos has been dropped from Mexico coach Javier Aguirre’s final Mexico World Cup squad.

20-year old playmaker Dos Santos, who had made his first-team debut for Barcelona this season is thought to be the major casualty of a side comprised of just three recognised midfielders. Dos Santos has made five international appearences for the Mexicans and actually made his international debut before his club debut. Jonathan’s brother, Tottenham attacking midfielder Giovani Dos Santos, made the final 23-man cut.

Reacting to his son’s omission, Dos Santos’s father Zizinho reacted angrily, claiming his son was ready to quit the international stage.

“We are tired of how he has been treated,” Zizinho told Mexican television. “If there are 23 players better than him, then no problem,” he continued. “But it’s not like that.”

Mexico World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Michel (Guadalajara), Oscar Perez (Jaguares).

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas), Jonny Magallon (Chivas), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres).

Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas).

Forwards: Guillermo Franco (West Ham), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray), Pablo Barrera (Pumas), Adolfo Bautista (Chivas), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Alberto Medina (Chivas), Javier Hernandez (Chivas).