MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) -- Olympiakos forward Nery Castillo, the subject of a tug-of-war involving three countries, has been included in new Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez's squad for his first match in charge.

Sanchez also recalled gifted but volatile forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was left out of last year's World Cup squad by his predecessor Ricardo La Volpe.

Mexico faces the United States in Phoenix on Feb. 7 where it will attempt to end a dismal recent run of results away to its neighbor and bitter rival.

Castillo, 22, was born in Mexico of Uruguayan parents and raised in Uruguay where he began his career with Danubio as a 15-year-old. He moved to Greece one year later to join Olympiakos.

Mexico and Uruguay both tried to persuade Castillo to play for them two years ago but the player said he needed more time to decide on his choice.

There were also reports last month that Greece was interested in him. However, Castillo said in a recent television interview that he had chosen to represent Mexico.

"I don't think there will be many difficulties for Nery to blend in," said Sanchez, widely regarded as the finest player Mexico has produced. "Taking into account the equality and talent of the players, and his intelligence, I think the adaptation will be easy."

Blanco, who has won 93 caps, played only nine games during La Volpe's four years in charge and made his last appearance in a friendly against Norway in January last year.

Mexico has lost six and drawn one of its last seven matches away to the United States, failing to score in any of those games. It last beat the U.S. away in a friendly in 1975.

According to the Mexican federation, Mexico has faced the United States 52 times with 30 wins and 12 defeats.

"This match has the conditions of a classic," added Sanchez. "We're playing for a lot of things -- our pride and this domination which the United States has enjoyed. We want to start with a win, playing well, and leave a good image. That's the way we're thinking."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sanchez (Santos Laguna), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Sergio Bernal (Pumas UNAM)

Defenders: Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara), Jaime Lozano (Tigres UANL), Joaquin Beltran (Necaxa)

Midfielders: Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Pavel Pardo (VfB Stuttgart), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara), Andres Guardado (Atlas), Gerardo Galindo (Necaxa), Nery Castillo (Olympiakos)

Forwards: Jared Borgetti (Cruz Azul), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Francisco Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (America).

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