Morales Headed to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Published on June 8, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


Morales Headed to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup

First-year Chivas USA forward and California native Julio Morales has made the final roster for Mexico's U-20 National Team set to compete in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey. Morales and El Tri will form part of Group D - which includes Greece, Mali and Paraguay - and will kick off their play under the leadership of Head Coach Sergio Almaguer on June 22 against Greece.

Mexico recently competed in the 2013 Hopefuls' of Toulon Tournament in France, where they ended with a record of 1-1-2 and five points. Morales contributed to the team early on by tallying a score in Mexico's opening match 2-0 win against Nigeria. In their final game, Mexico came away with a disappointing last-minute draw against Belgium, which prevented them from extending their stay in the tournament and face home country France in a battle for third place.

Morales will look to contribute to Almaguer's team once again, as the lefty has slowly but surely begun to receive frequent call-ups with Mexico's youth national teams. In April, Morales was called up to participate in a one-week concentration in Indiana, and played in scrimmages against Notre Dame and Indiana Universities. Though the young forward has been away from his club since May, Chivas USA support the California player's participation with Mexico and congratulate him on his accomplishments with Mexico's National Team.

Chivas USA Players Remember Past Preseason

In his first season in Major League Soccer and with Chivas USA Mario de Luna was told before his arrival that the Red-and-White and sister club Chivas Guadalajara would have a very tight connection under the club's new leadership. The team from the 107-year institution arrived in Los Angeles yesterday as part of their preseason preparations for the upcoming Apertura 2013 season.

De Luna, 25, made his pro debut with Guadalajara in Mexico's First Division in November of 2008 and says that seeing many of his friends and former teammates come to LA and give their legions of fans the opportunity to be a part of their preseason is something special and something that he remembers fondly.

"I got the opportunity to come to Los Angeles while I was with Guadalajara, and the fans treat you amazing," said De Luna. "As a player the support motivates you to keep working and doing great things."

He also mentioned what a key time preseason is to form team chemistry and unity during the double-day duties. De Luna is not the only first-year member with the Rebaño Angelino to share those memories, as Giovani Casillas and Edgar "Chore" Mejia also made their debuts with Guadalajara's First Team. During that time they were also part of countless preseason days with the Mexican side.

"Preseason is important because it bring the players closer together," said 19-year-old Casillas. "The new players start to gel with the team. You live together, eat together, interact together, and get to know your teammate more as a person, which makes it like a family."

In addition, both Aaron Ponce and Julio Morales also spent time with Guadalajara's renowned youth academy and took part in preseason activities at Chivas' training complex in Verde Valle as well as on the road.

"It gives you great confidence knowing that both clubs are unified," said Ponce, who arrived to Chivas USA in May. "It is extra motivation knowing that they are here and that brotherhood exists. Preseason time is unforgettable. Those moments shape you. Working with the First Team is exciting and makes you work a hundred percent. As a young player, the veterans lend support and protect you and begin to show you what it takes to be on par."

Chivas USA Conclude Tactical Work Week

Chivas USA returned to full squad training on Saturday morning after a day off to rest and recover their work week. The team initiated the session with a team jog around The Home Depot Center's Field 6 and proceeded to continue their warm-ups with a period of light stretching before breaking out into agility and conditioning drills.

The sequence first consisted of a 10-yard run around positioned cones. Afterwards, the players broke out into three rows to continue with cone work in variations of movements and direction for added difficulty.

The players then broke up into pairs to incorporate the ball into their morning work. Teammates touched and played the ball at distances of about 15 yards around the pitch for five minutes before beginning tactical work. The technical exercises ran nearly the full length of the field for approximately one hour. Afterwards, the morning concluded with a team stretch before being dismissed. Meanwhile, a group of attacking players completed additional ball work around the box and took shots at goal.

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