Mexican and Colombian fans will be making their way to South Florida over the next few days for Wednesday night?s friendly at Sun Life Stadium. As of Friday, ticket sales were approaching 35,000, and thousands of those fans were expected to be traveling from out of state.
The club-level seats are sold out, and lower bowl seats are almost sold out. The game surely will draw the second-largest soccer crowd in that stadium?s history, behind the 71,000 that showed up in August to see Barcelona against Chivas. Both teams are bringing their best players, as they are using the match to prepare for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Colombian fans are especially interested because it is the debut of new coach Jose Pekerman, who was hired in January. Coincidentally, Pekerman?s contract negotiations took place in Miami.
The highest-profile name missing from Pekerman?s first roster is Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin, who is on loan to the Italian club from Porto FC but has yet to make his debut after sustaining a calf injury. Guarin was hopeful he?d be healthy enough to play, but Pekerman left him off as a precaution.
Eighteen of the 22 players on the roster play professionally outside Colombia. Atletico Madrid?s Radamel Falcao is coming, after missing the World Cup qualifier against Argentina in November because of injury. Other notable names on the roster include Bernardo Espinosa of Spanish Liga club Racing Santander, Mario Yepes of Milan, Porto?s James Rodriguea and Aldo Ramirez of Mexican club Morelia.
The Mexican?s star-studded roster includes Manchester United forward Javier ?Chicharito? Hern?ndez, Deportivo La Coru?a?s Andres Guardado, New York Red Bulls defender Rafa M?rquez and brothers Jonathan Dos Santos of FC Barcelona and Giovani Dos Santos of Tottenham.
A new name to watch for is Damian Alvarez, a naturalized citizen of Mexico who was born in Argentina, and is playing his first international match. Arsenal forward Carlos Vela, on loan at Real Sociedad, was invited but couldn?t make it for personal reasons. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster, the stadium box office, and South Florida soccer supply stores.
Colombia roster
Goalkeepers: David Ospina [Nice-FRA] and Luis Martinez [Once Caldas].
Defenders: Mario Yepes [Milan-ITA], Pablo Armero [Udinese-ITA], Camilo Zuniga [Napoli-ITA], Luis Perea [Atletico de Madrid-ESP], Christian Zapata [Villareal-ESP], Bernardo Espinosa [Racing Santander-ESP], Aquivaldo Mosquera [America-MEX].
Midfielders: Carlos Sanchez [Valeciennes-FRA], Abel Aguilar [Hercules-ESP], James Rodriguez [Porto-POR], Juan Guillermo Cuadrado [Lecce-ITA], Elkin Soto [Mainz 05-GER], Giovanni Moreno [Racing-ARG], Aldo Leao Ramirez [Morelia-MEX], Gustavo Bolivar [Deportes Tolima].
Forwards: Radamel Falcao [Atletico Madird-ESP], Jackson Martinez [Jaguares-MEX], Teofilo Gutierrez [Racing-ARG], Dayro Moreno [Once Caldas] and Dorlan Pabon [Atletico Nacional].
Mexico roster
Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (AC Ajaccio/FRA); Jes?s Corona (Cruz Azul/MEX).
Defenders: Rafa M?rquez (New York Red Bulls/USA), H?ctor Moreno (RCD Espanyol de Barcelona/SPA), Francisco Javier Rodr?guez (Club VfB Stuttgart/GER), Enrique P?rez (Morelia/MEX), Efra?n Ju?rez (Celtic/ESC), Hugo Ayala (Tigres/MEX), Carlos Salcido (Tigres/MEX).
Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/25/2661123/ticket-sales-brisk-for-mexico.html
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