Mexico’s ‘El Tri’ head coach Ricardo La Volpe has named a 26-man preliminary squad for the lead-up to the World Cup Finals in Germany.

The squad will be trimmed down to 23 for Germany, where Mexico has been drawn in Group D, alongside Portugal, Iran and Angola.

La Volpe has included Atlas starlet Andres Guardado and veteran defender Claudio Suarez, as well as Guadalajara striker Omar Bravo, who scored two goals in Mexico's 2-1 triumph over Paraguay in March.

Naturalised Brazilian-born midfielder Antonio Naelson "Sinha" has also been named.

La Volpe has controversially excluded striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco from the line-up.

La Volpe, an Argentinean, says Blanco does not fit it into his "football system”. Blanco, who is known for his caustic comments on and off the field, claims that he has been left out because of a personal grudge.

But La Volpe, who says Blanco's exclusion is purely tactical, has insisted that no new players will be added to his squad.

The striker, who has never been on good terms with the Argentine coach, appeared to seal his fate last year when he pulled out of the Confederations Cup squad on the eve of the tournament, saying he was tired.

Blanco, who is arguably Mexico's most creative player, was excluded from the provisional 26-man squad named on April 2 from which coach Ricardo La Volpe will pick his final 23 players.

His exclusion has caused an uproar amongst Mexico fans, but the team refuse to be affected by the exclusion.

The list includes four foreign-based players - Mexico's all-time record goalscorer, Bolton striker Jared Borgetti, Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez, Chivas USA defender Suarez and naturalised Argentine Guillermo Franco from Spanish Champions League semi-finalist’s Villarreal.

La Volpe's squad travels to Europe on May 20 for friendlies against France on May 27, and the Netherlands on June 1.

Mexico's preliminary World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sanchez (Chivas), Jose de Jesus Corona (Tecos), Guillermo Ochoa (America).

Defenders: Jose Antonio Castro (America), Mario Mendez (Monterrey), Joel Huiqui, Ricardo Osorio (both Cruz Azul), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (Guadalajara), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Spain), Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA), Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara), Jose Andres Guardado (Atlas), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara), Rafael Garcia (Atlas).

Midfielders: Luis Perez, Jesus Arellano (both Monterrey), Pavel Pardo (America), Antonio Naelson "Sinha" (Toluca), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara), Israel Lopez (Toluca), Jaime Lozano (Tigres)

Strikers: Omar Bravo (Guadalajara), Francisco Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Franco (Villarreal, Spain), Jared Borgetti (Bolton Wanderers, England)