Tijuana Xolos: Gibran Lajud, Miller Bolanos Get National Team Call-ups

The international break around the world of soccer will start up after Week 8 of the Liga MX 2018 Apertura.

National teams around the globe will try to start new projects and move past the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Mexico did not have the best performance at the World Cup, getting knocked out in the round of 16 against Brazil.

That World Cup marked the end of a generation for El Tri with a few aging players that will not likely be important in the 2022 World Cup. Mexico parted ways with former manager Juan Carlos Osorio and for now will be led by Tigres UANL’ boss, Ricardo Ferretti, serving as an interim manager. The experienced coach released his 25-man squad for upcoming friendly matches against Uruguay and the United States.

The roster included several young players, including the Xolos’ 24-year-old goalkeeper, Gibran Lajud.

The Mexican shot-stopper received a call to the national team earlier this year for a friendly match against Bosnia, but he did not play in the game. Lajud will be looking to make his first appearance for Mexico as he will compete with Guillermo Ochoa and Necaxa’s Hugo Gonzalez. El Tri will play against Uruguay on Sept. 7 and against the United States on Sept. 11.

Miller Bolanos also received a call-up to the Ecuador national team as he has looked solid for Club Tijuana over the past couple of seasons.

Ecuador failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has started a new project with former Panama manager Hernan Dario Gomez. “Bolillo” released a 22-man squad that will participate in friendlies against Jamaica on Sept. 7 and against Guatemala on Sept. 11.

¡Ser ecuatorianos un orgullo, ser tricolor un privilegio! ¡Por el objetivo país, #JuntoshaciaQatar #2022 ! #ConvocadosTri 🇪🇨 #FEF #Quito pic.twitter.com/icoeooyn2G

— FEF 🇪🇨 (@FEFecuador) August 30, 2018

Bolanos was included on the roster along with other Liga MX players like Club America’s Renato Ibarra, Tigres’ Enner Valencia, and Santos’ Ayrton Preciado. The 28-year-old has 20 caps for Los Amarillos and has scored eight goals. Club Tijuana has not always had a lot of international representation, but is starting to receive a bit more this year.

Here we go!! 👊🏼⚽️ These are the players called up for our upcoming matches against 🇺🇾 and 🇺🇸!#PasiónyOrgullo pic.twitter.com/BJVWH11W1R

— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) August 29, 2018

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.