Mexico will head into the Copa América with some major questions at the goalkeeper position.
El Tri appeared to turn the page on the Guillermo Ochoa era last month, leaving the legendary goalkeeper off the team’s roster for the tournament.
The rationale made some sense: Ochoa, 38, is a free agent looking for a new club, and Mexico had a ready-made replacement in the form of Club América star Luis Angel Malagón.
But the injury bug has now hit Malagón as the worst possible moment. The 27-year-old suffered a muscular injury that knocked him out of the Copa América, Mexico manager Jaime Lozano confirmed last week.
“I can confirm the news regarding Angel Malagón,” Lozano said.
“Unfortunately he’s been injured and he had to return to his club. There won’t be enough time for him to recover and take part in the Copa América. We have already spoken to Carlos Acevedo, who will take (Malagón’s) place for the Copa América.”
Santos Laguna goalkeeper Acevedo is expected to serve as the third goalkeeper at the tournament, but there isn’t a clear-cut option to replace Malagón.
The job now appears to be Julio González’s to lose. But the Pumas shot-stopper has been up-and-down in his club form, and the 33-year-old had never been capped by Mexico until this month.
But with the inexperienced Raúl Rangel struggling in his Mexico debut against Uruguay last week, there doesn’t seem to be much of an alternative to González.
That doesn’t bode well for a Mexico side that will enter the Copa América having lost three of four, with the lone win a 1-0 victory over Boliva in a friendly featuring a second-choice roster.
El Tri has been drawn in Group B alongside Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica, with its first match on June 22 against the Reggae Boyz.
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