Francisco "Kikin" Fonseca, Ricardo Osorio, Pavel Pardo and PSV striker Carlos Salcido have all been omitted from the Mexican squad for the Copa America 2007, by El Triclore head coach Hugo Sanchez.

UANL Tigres striker Kikin Fonseca - who has made 37 appearances for El Tricolore and scored 21 goals - has been left out of the 22-man squad by coach Sanchez, much to the disappointment of Fonseca.

“It hurts not to be in the America Cup, not to be with my teammates,” said Fonseca after the team was announced on Friday. “But that is part of soccer and part of life.”

“Obviously if I’m not there, it’s because he (Sanchez) doesn’t have the same confidence in me he had at one point.”

PSV Eindhoven striker Carlos Salcido made a request to Sanchez to be left out of the squad, saying he was too physically and mentally exhausted to play in the tournament.

“I’m not at 100 percent. I’m not enjoying myself on the field, and in order not to affect things and affect my team-mates, I prefer to step aside,” said Salcido on Friday.

The Mexico squad are currently in Chicago, where the players are preparing for Sunday's CONCACAF Gold Cup final against the United States, before both teams travel to Venezuela to feature in the international tournament.

On Thursday, VfB Stuttgart’s Mexican duo of midfielder Pavel Pardo and defender Ricardo Osorio both said they wouldn't play in the Copa America, choosing to vacation with their families before joining up with Bundesliga team for pre-season training.

Despite the loss of those four veterans, Sanchez has called upon some his World Cup stars, with veteran goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, defender Rafael Marquez and strikers Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Chivas star Omar Bravo and former Bolton Wanderers forward Jared Borgetti all travelling to Venezuela.

Mexico Squad For Copa America Venezuela 2007:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (América), Oswaldo Sanchez (Santos Laguna).

Defenders: Fausto Pinto (Pachuca), Jaime Lozano (Tigres), Jony Magallon (Guadalajara/Chivas), Rafael Marquez (FC Barcelona, Spain), Israel Castro (Pumas), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara/Chivas), Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara/Chivas), Jose Castro (América).

Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Atlas), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara/Chivas), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara/Chivas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Jaime Correa (Pachuca), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara/Chivas), Fernando Arce (Morelia).

Strikers: Nery Castillo (Olympiakos), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire, U.S.), Jared Borgetti (Cruz Azul), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara/Chivas), Juan Carlos Cacho (Pachuca).

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