Players from teams in the top professional soccer leagues in Denmark and Mexico fill the rosters for Sunday’s international friendly match between those nation’s Under-23 teams at UCSB’s Harder Stadium.
Nine first division teams will be represented on Mexico’s squad for the 2 p.m. clash. Chivas of Guadalajara has the most players on the team with six, led by midfielder Marco Fabian, who also has played for El Tri’s senior national team and is considered a candidate to be on that squad for this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.
Other players who were on first team rosters for their respective clubs last season include midfielders Ervin Alejandro Trejo and Moises Adrian Velasco of Toluca, defender Oswaldo Alanis of 2009 champion Monterrey, David Cabrera of Pumas, Armando Pulido, a midfielder for Tigres and Antonio Ocampo, a defender for Chivas.
Denmark brought players from eight teams that compete in the country’s Superliga. Winston Reid, a 6-3 defender for FC Midtjylland, is a prospect that could get a call up to the national team for the World Cup.
The Danes also have a player with a name that should be familiar to those who follow European soccer: Andreas Laudrup. He is the son of Danish great Michael Laudrup, who played for Barcelona and Real Mardrid and made 104 apperances for the Danish national team. Andreas trained in the Real Madrid system and now plays professionally in Denmark.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for children ages 6-12.
