Soccer: Mexicans leave out top overseas players

The prospect of leaving out the best overseas-based players would be unthinkable if it were the All Whites, but it won't necessarily make their task of trying to beat Mexico for a place at next year's World Cup any easier.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera confirmed yesterday he won't be calling on any European-based players for the two-leg playoff against New Zealand on November 14 and 20.

That means no Javier Hernandez, of Manchester United fame, or Villarreal's Giovani Dos Santos.

"There will be no [further] callups at this moment," Herrera said after Mexico's 4-2 win over Finland in San Diego.

"The team is very solid. There isn't any [European-based] player who can make a lot of difference compared to those who are here," he said.

"They are all good players but the most important thing is making local conditions count."

That's what Herrera is banking on the most and there's sense in his thinking. El Tri will be stacked with Club America players, the side Herrera guided to the Mexican league title last season, and will be settled. They will all have played a lot together, be acclimatised to the altitude and know how the coach wants to play against the All Whites.

That makes them dangerous and New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert was impressed by their "togetherness" when watching the game against Finland.

The All Whites have also often struggled against club sides - they recently drew with Ventura County Fusion (1-1) and MLS outfit Chivas USA (0-0) and in 2006 played Charlton (1-1), Blackburn (0-5) and Seville (1-5).

They might feel a little more empowered if the likes of Hernandez and Dos Santos aren't staring them down, which will make the task of qualifying for the World Cup seem a little more possible.

On top of that, some of Mexico's domestic-based players might not be used to long-range travel and playing in Wellington, with its wind and cool temperatures, could be even more foreign than it will be for many All Whites to play at the Azteca.

The crucial thing for the All Whites is ensuring the tie is still alive by the time the two teams head to Westpac Stadium. Mexico expect to qualify for the World Cup - they've done that for the past five tournaments and 14 times overall - and the pressure will be immense. That will only build if the All Whites are still a chance heading into the second leg.

"If they're not vulnerable now I don't think they'll ever be," Herbert told TV3 before flying out to watch Mexico play Finland.

The All Whites will gather in Los Angeles on November 10 (NZT) before heading to Mexico City less than 48 hours before the first match.

One thing to their advantage is their familiarity with the demands of travel. But on most other measures, Mexico still hold the advantage.