Off-form strikers called up to Mexico squad

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MEXICO CITY - Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's selection problems were underlined on Sunday when he called up several off-form forwards for this month's World Cup qualifier away to the United States.

Giovani dos Santos, who has barely seen any action for Tottenham Hotspur in the last three months, was included alongside Omar Bravo, a regular substitute with Spanish club Deportivo Coruna.

Guillermo Franco, who has struggled for form with Spain's Villarreal, was also named. Given a rare start in Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Deportivo Coruna, he was taken off after halftime.

Shakhtar Donetsk's Nery Castillo, another of Eriksson's choices, will also be rusty because the Ukrainian season is in the middle of a long winter break.

Mexico, who have won only once in their last six outings, staggered into the final stage of the CONCACAF region's World Cup qualifying competition despite losing away to Honduras and Jamaica and drawing in Canada.

The match against the U.S. on February 11 kicks off their campaign in the six-team group which decides CONCACAF's representatives in South Africa.

Eriksson's squad included four naturalised players - Argentine-born Franco and Matias Vuoso as well as Brazilian-born Antonio Naelson and Leandro Augusto.