Giovani dos Santos faces fitness check for Mexico vs. Panama semi
ATLANTA -- Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said he plans to check on the fitness of ailing forward Giovani before naming his starting XI to face Panama in their CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday night.
Dos Santos missed the quarterfinal victory over Costa Rica on Sunday with an adductor injury sustained in the 4-4 draw with Trinidad & Tobago last Wednesday.
Herrera said in the wake of that affair that he did not want to play the recent LA Galaxy signing against Panama if he was not fully fit to feature.
“He's fine,” Herrera said through a translator during a press conference at the Georgia Dome on Tuesday. “We’ll see how he is in training [tonight]. We’ll consider him unless he tells me he isn’t 100 percent.”
Dos Santos’ potential recovery creates selection questions up front. Herrera restored Oribe Peralta to the starting XI in dos Santos’ place against the Costa Ricans. Peralta responded by drawing the controversial penalty to pave the way for Andres Guardado’s winner in extra time, but the Club América forward -- and partner Carlos Vela, for that matter -- missed a handful of chances to decide the match earlier.
It remains to be seen whether Herrera plans to risk the fit-again dos Santos from the start or whether he might hold him in reserve in a bid to use him as a second-half substitute. Herrera is already forced into one change in defense with Oswaldo Alanis expected to step into the back three after Yasser Corona sustained a left knee injury on Sunday.
Herrera declined to name his starting XI -- as he often does prior to a match -- before his team trained at a local university on Wednesday night.
The impending date against Panama -- the same side that knocked El Tri out of the Gold Cup at this stage two years ago -- prompted Jonathan dos Santos to wave away a questions about his brother’s recent move to MLS.
LA Galaxy purchased Giovani dos Santos from La Liga side Villarreal last week and signed him to a long-term contract as a Designated Player. Jonathan dos Santos said he preferred not to discuss the matter ahead of the pivotal encounter here tomorrow night.
“There’s nothing to say,” Jonathan dos Santos said through a translator. “I’m here to talk about the game tomorrow. I’d prefer not to talk about that. It’s his decision and he’s made it.”
