Diego Lainez was supposed to become Mexico’s “next big thing” just like Christian Pulisic is for the USMNT. That hasn’t exactly happened for the young Real Betis midfielder. Lainez has yet to score for Betis in his three seasons at the club.
On the international front, Lainez has scored 3 times in 14 outings for El Tri, his last goal coming in a friendly against Panama. Nonetheless, Tata Martino has not had Lainez in the last few qualifying call ups, mostly due to injury and drop in form.
Now with Mexico set to take on Canada in the Azteca and two more games after that, Mexico will have to continue their road to Qatar 2022 without Diego Lainez as he was left off the roster. Here is why Diego Lainez is not with Mexico.
Diego Lainez out of Mexico squad
Diego Lainez #10 of Team Mexico (Getty)
Diego Lainez is coming back from injury with Betis, and this was one of the reasons Tata Martino left him off the roster for these three games. Martino thought it best that Lainez return to full fitness at the club level and come back stronger for Mexico. Kind of what Gregg Berhalter did with Pulisic and Gio Reyna for the USMNT.
Martino is slated to put out Ochoa; Guardado, Araujo, Montes, Sanchez; Dos Santos, Herrera, Pineda; Corona, Jimenez, and Funes Mori for tonight ‘s game against Canada. Mexico sits first in Concacaf octagonal World Cup qualifying.
