America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who helped Mexico to a semifinal berth at last year's Copa America, led a 24-man roster Thursday selected by manager Hugo Sanchez for the country's under-23 side that will compete in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying next month.
Besides Ochoa, the roster includes six players who won the U17 World Cup in Peru 2005. Sanchez did not called players from Europe, who will not be available because due to their club committments.
Sanchez still believes that he can qualify for Beijing.
"I do not have any doubts. I hope that the players don't have any doubts, and if I see anyone doubting, he will not be part of the roster," Sanchez said in a press conference.
The team will gather for camp Jan. 28-Feb. 12 in Cancun, and will play seven friendly matches as preparation.
The team will face Chile (Feb. 19) in Toluca, Ecuador (Feb. 22) in Queretaro and Paraguay (Feb. 27) in Tijuana.
After that, Mexico will fly to the U.S. to face Australia (March 2) in Oakland, California, and Finland (March 6) in Dallas.
The Olympic qualifying tournament will take place in the United States. Tampa will host United States, Honduras, Cuba and Panama in Group A. Mexico, Canada, Guateamala and Haiti will play Group B in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson.
"We want to be at the Olympic Games. It's a beautiful experience, and Mexico could not afford not to be there, because we can use it as preparation for the 2010 World Cup," Sanchez said.
Sanchez also said that forward Antonio De Nigris, who plays at Ankaraspor in Turkey, could be called on to face the U.S. in their friendly match of Feb. 6.
Sanchez said that the roster for that match will be released next week and that he has already sent invitations to most of the Mexicans abroad.
"I send letters to Antonio de Nigris, Pavel (Pardo), Ricardo (Osorio), (Carlos) Salcido, Giovani (Dos Santos), "Rafa" (Marquez), Carlos Vela and (Andres) Guardado," Sanchez added.
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Olympic Roster:
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey), Jorge Villalpando (Puebla).
Defenders: Severo Meza (Monterrey), Daniel Guerrero (Atlante), Julio Cesar Dominguez (Cruz Azul), Rodrigo Inigo (America), Omar Hernandez (Necaxa), Francisco Gamboa (Toluca), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia), Efrain Velarde (Pumas).
Midfielders: Pablo Barrera (Pumas), Patricio Araujo (Guadalajara), Alan Zamora (Atlante), Gerardo Rodriguez (Pachuca), Juan Carlos Silva (America), Edgar Castillo (Santos), Cesar Villaluz (Cruz Azul), Sergio Avila (Guadalajara).
Forwards: Enrique Esqueda (America), Ismael Valadez (Toluca), Edgar Andrade (Cruz Azul), Santiago Fernandez (Toluca), Luis Angel Landin (Morelia).
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