MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican coach seizes every opportunity Javier Aguirre immediately emphasize the leadership of Guillermo OchoaThey are preparing for their sixth World Cup.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper’s teammates are also happy to have him around.
Ochoa is preparing for the Mexican national team by participating in their training camp this week. world cup His impact on the locker room was immediate in the opening game on June 11th.
“It’s great to be able to share the field and training camp with him,” striker Guillermo Martinez said Wednesday. “You can feel the energy that he’s going through this. He’s someone we look up to.”
Ochoa, who played as a substitute in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010, could join two of the game’s biggest stars, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, in his sixth World Cup in North America.
Ochoa thus far joins Andres Guardado, Rafael Marquez and Antonio Carvajal as the only Mexican players to appear in five World Cups.
Martínez, who will be playing in his first World Cup, added: “What he has achieved is not easy and is something that the whole country can admire. God willing, we will all work together for him.” “What I can say is that Ochoa is one of the great players in the world, and we certainly know that. We can learn a lot from someone of his stature and leadership.”
Despite Ochoa’s influence, Aguirre has yet to confirm his spot on the final roster. Currently, only two goalkeepers have guaranteed spots. Raul Rangel started in this year’s friendlies and is expected to start in the opening match against South Africa on June 11, while Carlos Acevedo is scheduled to make his World Cup debut.
Ochoa, who plans to retire from professional soccer after the tournament, arrived in Mexico early to film a commercial after finishing the season with AEL Limassol in Cyprus. He then arrived at the national team camp considerably earlier than other European-based players.
“He is an icon for everyone. For me he is a legend because I grew up watching the national team and ‘Memo’ was already a goalkeeper,” said midfielder Eric Lira. “I know he’s going to experience this World Cup differently because it’s his last tournament. He’s like a kid again and he’s always the first one in the gym. It’s a real honor to share the field with him.”
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