Soccer-Jimenez and Lira return for Mexico against Ecuador


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - Mexico v South Korea - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 18, 2026 South Korea's Lee Jae-sung in action with Mexico's Erik Lira REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

MEXICO CITY, June ⁠30 (Reuters) - Mexico coach Javier Aguirre restored Erik ⁠Lira and Raul Jimenez to his ‌starting lineup for the World Cup round of 32 match at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday while Ecuador manager ​Sebastian Beccacece kept faith in ⁠the side that beat ⁠Germany.

• Aguirre recalls several players to his starting ⁠lineup ‌after resting them for the final group match against the Czech Republic ⁠when they had already won Group A.

• ​Striker Jimenez ‌leads the line for Mexico and Lira ⁠is recalled ​in midfield.

• Captain Edson Alvarez drops to the bench, with defender Cesar Montes wearing the armband.

• ⁠Beccacece names an unchanged lineup ​from Ecuador's 2-1 win over Germany.

• Enner Valencia starts in attack looking to add to his ⁠record tally of 49 goals for his country.

Mexico: Raul Rangel, Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Gallardo, Erik Lira, Luis Romo, Gilberto ​Mora, Raul Jimenez, Julian Quinones, ⁠Roberto Alvarado.

Ecuador: Hernan Galindez, Piero Hincapie, Joel ​Ordonez, Willian Pacho, Pedro Vite, ‌Alan Franco, Moises Caicedo, John ​Yeboah, Enner Valencia, Gonzalo Plata, Nilson Angulo.

(Reporting by Christian Radnedge,Editing by Ed Osmond)

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