Chivas USA forward Julio Morales selected to Mexico U-20 World Cup squad

Following a series of call-ups in recent months to the Mexican U-20 national team, Chivas USA forward Julio Morales has reached the biggest accomplishment yet in his young career. The roster was released yesterday, and Morales was one of just two players not playing in Mexico to make El Tri's U-20 World Cup squad, along with FC Dallas goalkeeper Richard Sanchez.

Mexico will play in Group D in the upcoming World Cup, held this year in Turkey, alongside Greece, Mali, and Paraguay. They open their tournament officially June 22, when they face Greece. In the warm-up games prior to the World Cup, including the just-concluded Toulon Tournament in France, Morales was rotated in and out of the lineup, scoring one goal at Toulon. It is unclear if Morales is more of an option off the bench, or if Mexico U-20 coach Sergio Almaguer was cycling through his options to see who would be most suitable at the real deal.

Mexico finished third in the last U-20 World Cup, in 2011.

Congrats, and good luck to Julio!

Here's the full roster:

Goalkeepers: Richard Sanchez (FC Dallas), Gibran Lajud (Cruz Azul), Alberto Gurrola (Atlas)

Defenders: Antonio Briseño (Atlas), Jose Carlos Van Rankin (Pumas), Javier Abella (Santos Laguna), Bernardo Hernandez (Monterrey), Hedgardo Marin (Chivas), Abel Fuentes (Chivas), Francisco Flores (Cruz Azul)

Midfielders: Jesus Corona (Monterrey), Raul Lopez (Chivas), Jorge Espericueta (Tigres), Uvaldo Luna (Tigres), Carlos Treviño (Atlas), Armando Zamorano (Morelia), Arturo Gonzalez (Atlas)

Forwards: Julio Morales (Chivas USA), Alonso Escoboza (Santos Laguna), Marco Bueno (Pachuca), Luis Madrigal (Monterrey)

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