Braulio Luna

After a five year abscence from the National Team Braulio Luna finally made his long awaited return to the Tricolor in Mexico's 2-1 defeat against Colombia. Despite the defeat the San Luis team captain showed his worth and played a key role in Mexico's loan goal. Wether or not his performance was enough to warrant a second call-up remains to be seen.

Dijo mi Mama que siempre No..

"México se retira de la participación en el proceso de licitación para los Mundiales 2018 y 2022," anuncio el secretario general de la Federación Mexicana de Futbol (FMF), Decio de María, en conferencia de prensa.

"La Federación Mexicana de Futbol informa que consultadas las divisiones profesionales decidió separarse de la licitación para dichos Mundiales. Primero por el entorno económico mundial y la inversión económica que se requeriría".

Layun's debut

"I felt the type of adrenalin one feels during a match but with nerves included for playing in a league game. It was a very special match for me and the moment I stepped into the field I knew that it would be a very important moment for me," Miguel Layun told Record newspaper after making his Serie A debut in Atalanta's one-goal draw against Chievo Verona.

Runnin' With The Devil

Omar Arellano

A double salvo by Omar Arellano, in the span of five minutes, helped Club Deportivo Guadalajara defeat Chivas USA 2-0 in a friendly exhibition match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Arellano, who entered the match in the second-half, looked like his old self; fast, agile, and very lethal.

What makes Arellano special for the Chivas faithful is not his potential but that he is Chivas Royalty. Arellano is the son of Omar Arellano Nuno who won a league championship with Chivas in the 86-87 season. Arellanos granfather, whom he takes his nickname from, is Raul "La Pina" Arellano was part of the lengendary Campeonisimo squad.

Indeed, the young Arellano is a third generation Chivas player. And one of the most promising upstarts Chivas has seen since Carlos Vela was whisked away by Arsenal. All that remains for Arellano, who has proven to be very injury prone, is to remain healthy enough to prove his worth.

Arellano already missed the first-half of the Mexican Apertura season but already he has been called to the Mexican national team for the friendly against Colombia.

Jonathan Dos Santos

Jonathan Dos Santos was expected to follow in his older brothers Giovani's footsteps and lead the Mexican U-17 team to glory but that never happened as former youth national team Coach Jesus Ramirez left him out of the squad that would be competing in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship.

Not only was Jonathan left out of the squad but also embarrassed in the process as he was stripped off his Tricolor uniform at the airport on his way home. Jonathan was never called back by Ramirez and the Tricolor team failed to reach the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The comparisons with Giovani, who won the tourney two years earlier, stopped and Jonathan faded into obscurity.

Jonathan, however, continued working in the Barcelona youth squads and soon news of a possible call up to the Spanish youth national team began making the rounds. The Mexican media began questioning Jonathan's prior treatment. Jonathan received even more attention as he was included in Barcelona's first team pre-season squad that tourned the United States.

While Jonthan's career has been limited to the Barcelona youth squads Mexico boss Javier Aguirre has seen fit to call up the younger of the Dos Santos. Perhaps, it is a move to cap tie the upstart or perhaps he is convinced that the lad can compete for a spot in Mexico's senior national team. In any case on September 30th Jonathan should be making his debut against Colombia.

Brian Leyva

Over a year ago news about Real Madrid's interest in signing unknown youngster Bryan Leyva hit the net. This had come after the Tricolor had won the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup which had unearthed the gems that are Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela. Another gem, specially one that had never been seen before, seemed too good to be true.

Leyva did indeed go to Madrid where he had some try outs but for one reason or another he did not sign with the Spanish Giants. And as the months passed the prospect of Leyva being the next best thing began to dwindle. News that Leyva would sign with Tigres UANL or Chivas de Guadalajara made their rounds but instead Bryan settled for MLS outfuit FC Dallas Juniors.

I have yet to see Bryan play, aside from a few YouTube videos here and there, but his recent call up to Mexico's U-17 squad that is set to compete in the 2009 FIFA Youth World Cup in Nigeria has once again lighted up interest in him. Should Bryan make Mexico's World Cup squad he will certainly be amongst one of the players that will be closely followed and expected to make a difference in the field.