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Mexican team

Mexico World Cup prep already in motion awaiting news on Raúl Jiménez

On Wednesday morning the first training session was held at La Vinya in Girona, as Martino orders double work sessions.

MéxicoUpdate:
Mexico World Cup prep already in motion awaiting news on Raúl Jiménez
Adrian Macias

The Mexican national team begins its preparations in the Spanish city of Girona, with eyes on Qatar. On Wednesday, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino led the first training session on Catalan soil at the facilities of La Vinya, the training center of the Girona Fútbol Club, and the feeling surrounding the team are excellent .

Only 19 of the 31 players on the list are available (the rest will be added when their European clubs release them), but there is no time to lose: the World Cup waits for no man. The media could only access the first 15 minutes, from 9:15 to 9:30, which coincided with the warm-up and injury prevention exercises. Players including Ochoa, Herrera, Héctor Moreno and Henry Martín took the focus and there was also the presence of Jaime Ordiales, the sports director, who did not miss a single detail of the first training session.

Hopeful | Raul Jimenez of Mexico controls the ball during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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Hopeful | Raul Jimenez of Mexico controls the ball during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Ian MacNicolDiarioAS

Martino plans to carry out double work sessions during the 15-day stay in Girona as he does not want to miss any opportunity to be at their very best come the World Cup. Of course, there are some doubts that surround the Mexican squad and in Girona one name in particular gets the attention: Raúl Jiménez.

Although the attacker is not in Catalonia, and he remains in England, he accounts for much of the news. The desire to have him during the World Cup is enormous and as AS was able to verify, all the members of Mexico are clear: Raúl Jiménez will be there. What’s more, he is expected next week, once he has the OK from Wolverhampton’s medical services and the English club releases him to join the rest of his teammates in Girona.

Jiménez had been in Mexico, recovering from the injury that has kept him from competing since 31 August. A few days ago he returned to England to undergo medical tests and, despite the fact that the diagnosis is still unknown, there is a lot of optimism and confidence. What is clear is that Martino awaits him with open arms and the striker is ready to win, firstly to play again, and secondly, to wear the shirt of El Tri.

The next few days seem vital to discover the future of Jiménez and, if he finally has a place in the final list for the World Cup, the man to lose out would be Santiago Giménez.