Chicharito dropped for Portugal friendly

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez. Picture: Eduardo Verdugo

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez. Picture: Eduardo Verdugo

Published Jun 6, 2014

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Foxborough, United States - Manchester United's Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been dropped for Mexico's final pre-World Cup warm-up friendly on Friday against Portugal in the United States.

The 26-year-old striker has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford and now his starting place in Brazil is in doubt, with the Mexicans beginning their World Cup campaign against Cameroon in Natal on June 13.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has always maintained that he wanted to play his best side against Portugal, and on Thursday said that the “basis” of Friday's team will start at the World Cup.

The strikers against a Portugal side missing the injured Cristiano Ronaldo will be Giovani Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta, Herrera told reporters at the Foxborough home of the New England Patriots.

Mexico also face hosts Brazil and Croatia at the World Cup in a tough Group A.

Herrera dismissed criticism of his side, who went down 1-0 to Bosnia in Chicago on Tuesday, with Hernandez getting a chance to impress from the start but failing to put away several chances.

Hernandez spent most of last season on the bench at United and has not scored for his country since last summer.

“Bosnia was a tough, tough team,” said Herrera. “Friendlies are for fixing mistakes. The team is good, the players are close and they worked great today.”

And he shot back at the press: “My only issue is that when things go wrong, you attack us, but when we do something good, you don't give us the benefit of the doubt.”

Sapa-AFP

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