Mexico’s forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco will miss this summer’s World Cup finals after being letf out of coach Ricardo La Volpe’s provisional 26-man squad.

Blanco, 33, is the most notable absentee from a squad which will not lack for experience with the inclusion of 37-year-old defender Claudio Suarez and 32-year-old midfielder Jesus Arellano.

The issue of whether Blanco would be selected for Germany has turned into a long-running saga in Mexico. A member of the 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads, Blanco appears to have paid the price for withdrawing from last year’s Confederations Cup, although indifferent recent form has not helped his cause.

La Volpe has included two naturalised players – striker Guillermo Franco, who was born in Argentina, and Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson – in the squad.

Mexico are one of the eight seeds for the finals and will play Portugal, Angola and Iran in Group D.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sanchez (Guadalajara/Chivas), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jesus Corona (UAG/Tecos)

Defenders: Jose Antonio Castro (America), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Spain), Mario Mendez (Monterrey), Ricardo Osorio (Cruz Azul), Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara/Chivas), Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara/Chivas), Joel Huiqui (Cruz Azul), Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA, U.S.), Andres Guardado (Atlas), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara/Chivas)

Midfielders: Luis Perez (Monterrey), Pavel Pardo (America), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Rafael Garcia (Atlas), Jaime Lozano (UANL/Tigres), Jesus Arellano (Monterrey), Israel Lopez (Toluca), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara/Chivas)

Forwards: Jared Borgetti (Bolton Wanderers, England), Guillermo Franco (Villareal, Spain), Francisco Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara/Chivas)

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