Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, famous for his sideline celebrations during last year's World Cup, said Thursday he expects more of the same during the Copa America despite not calling up his biggest stars.

Herrera, a former hard-tackling defender nicknamed "The Louse," told AFP in an interview that he wanted his team to perform well in Chile after a dismal 2011 campaign in Argentina.

But the 47-year-old manager has saved his best players for the Gold Cup in July, the tournament of the CONCACAF nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, currently on loan at Real Madrid, Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela and Villareal's Giovani dos Santos were all left out of tje Copa squad, along with Dutch league player of the year Andres Guardado of PSV Eindhoven.

Instead, Atletico Madrid forward Raul Jimenez and veteran defender Rafa Marquez of Italian side Verona will lead the Copa America squad in the June 11-July 4 tournament.

"We have put together a team with experience and youth. None of them are little boys. They are young men who are first choice on their teams," Herrera said.

While Mexico failed to win any games at the 2011 Copa, Herrera noted that CONCACAF had restricted the team to under-23 players.

Although Mexico is part of CONCACAF, where it faces off against its arch-rivals the United States, the country is invited to play in South America's own championship, which this year will feature Neymar for Brazil and Lionel Messi for Argentina.

Asked about his decision to leave out Hernandez and other stars, he said: "You feel like you could have put together a better side. But unfortunately the competitions are coinciding."

The Gold Cup begins on July 7, three days after the Copa America final.

Herrera said this year's Copa America could be the most competitive in years, with Colombia and Chile fielding strong sides while Uruguay is also a threat.

"There's no big difference between teams today even though there's a Messi in Argentina or a Neymar in Brazil. Today you don't see Brazil and Argentina as superior to the others," he said.

Mexico's first game is June 13 against Bolivia followed by a June 16 clash with hosts Chile and its June 19 Group A finale against Ecuador.

Herrera, who became a social media icon at the World Cup in Brazil for pumping his fists and running down the sidelines when his side scored, vowed to keep celebrating.

"It's important to never lose this passion for what you like to do," said Herrera, whose team lost 2-1 to the Netherlands after a controversial last-minute penalty in the round of 16.

"I like to be euphoric, express myself in the moments of jubilation," Herrera said.