Giovani dos Santos will have to wait a while longer for that second chance with El Tri.
The LA Galaxy star was not called up by Mexico for their upcoming brace of World Cup qualifiers, one of the most prominent absentees along with Real Sociedad's Carlos Vela and injured strikers Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Oribe Peralta. Mexico visit El Salvador on September 3 and host Honduras on September 7.
Gio's brother Jonathan dos Santos was also left off due to recent injury concerns, while former New York Red Bull Rafa Marquez, now with Liga MX side Atlas, remains an ageless ever-present in the squad at 37.
Dos Santos, 27, has 90 career caps but was left off on El Tri's roster for this summer's Copa America Centenario, with manager Juan Carlos Osorio suggesting that he chose to opt out of the event. LA's attacking centerpiece has more recently expressed his desire to earn another call-up, however. Dos Santos has racked up nine goals and eight assists for the Galaxy in 21 MLS games (20 starts) this season.
“I've been working for it, I always work for it,” he told FutbolMLS.com during MLS All-Star week.“I've always said it, every player wants to play for the national team. I want to do things well and if they call me be ready to return.”
“The doors of the national team were never closed neither on my side or [Osorio's], that needs to be clear,” dos Santos added. “The doors of the national team are open, we had a normal conversation, we have a good relationship and the possibility of returning was always there.”
Mexico have already clinched the top spot in Group A of CONCACAF's penultimate round of qualifying for Russia 2018 with a 4-0 record. Canada, Honduras and El Salvador all remain in contention for second place and a spot in the Hexagonal round.
Full Mexico roster
Goalkeepers: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Granada), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca)
Defenders: Rafa Marquez (Atlas), Nestor Araujo (Santos Laguna), Diego Reyes (Porto), Hector Moreno (PSV), Yasser Corona (Cub Tijuana), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (Club America), Miguel Layun (Porto)
Midfielders: Jesus Molina (Santos Laguna), Jesus Dueñas (Tigres), Andres Guardado (PSV), Hector Herrera (Porto), Carlos Peña (Chivas)
Forwards: Raul Jimenez (Benfica), Hirving Lozano (Pachuca), Jesus "Tecatito" Corona (Porto), Javier Aquino (Tigres), Candido Ramirez (Atlas), Angel Sepulveda (Queretaro), Martin Barragan (Atlas), Angel Zaldivar (Chivas)
