Team Analysis | Mexico: The same old story?

With Brazil waiting in the round of 16, the script is unlikely to change for El Tri

June 02, 2018 07:25 pm | Updated 07:25 pm IST

Mexico's national football team players and assistants are seen during a training session at the High Performance Centre (CAR) on the outskirts of Mexico City ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018

Mexico's national football team players and assistants are seen during a training session at the High Performance Centre (CAR) on the outskirts of Mexico City ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018

Nickname: El Tri

Appearances: 16

FIFA ranking: 15

Best finish: Quarterfinals (1970 & 1986)

Coach: Juan Carlos Osorio

Since 1994, Mexico has entered the round of 16 at every World Cup but failed to go any further. Expectations may have been higher this time but that changed once the draw was made. Mexico has been grouped alongside Germany, Sweden and an improving South Korea, but more importantly, second-place is likely to result in a meeting with Brazil in the round of 16.

Still, there are grounds for optimism. With a core of talented Europe-based players, Mexico breezed through qualifying in CONCACAF. Juan Carlos Osorio has lost only seven games (out of 45) since taking charge as coach in 2015. Two of those defeats, though, were painful ones and have lingered in the public memory: a 7-0 humbling by Chile in the Copa America Centenario in 2015, and a 4-1 rout by Germany in the semifinals of last year’s Confederations Cup.

There are injury concerns for Mexico, with centre-back Nestor Araujo already ruled out of the World Cup while midfielder Andres Guardado (Real Betis) and the versatile Diego Reyes (Porto) are battling to recover in time. Osorio likes to experiment with tactics and personnel but he has largely preferred a 4-3-3, with Guardado, Reyes and Porto’s Hector Herrera in the middle. Up front, the experienced Javier Hernandez will have Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano for company.

Fixtures

June 16: vs Germany

June 23: vs South Korea

June 27: vs Sweden

The rising star: Hirving Lozano

The 22-year-old winger joined PSV Eindhoven last summer and played a pivotal role in its Eredivisie triumph, scoring 17 times. Plays on the right or left of a front three, and likes to drive into the box from wide positions. Nicknamed Chucky, after the character in the Child’s Play horror series. Could well give defenders nightmares with his sensational pace and dribbling.

The Orchestrator: Hector Herrera

Possibly the first name on the team-sheet. A box-to-box midfielder but more than just a grafter; can play long passes and create chances. Played a key role in Porto’s title triumph this season. Will have greater responsibility in central midfield if Diego Reyes is forced to play in defence.

Did you know

Javier Hernandez is a third-generation Mexico international. His father, Javier Hernandez Gutierrez, and grandfather Tomas Balcazar turned out for Mexico in the 1986 and 1954 World Cups respectively. With 49 goals, he is Mexico’s all-time leading scorer

Coach quote:

“The All Blacks are the best team ever, in my opinion. I admire them greatly; I have read all the books. I wanted to find out what they do and they all have mental coaches. So I tried to bring one for us and I think it is working very well” — Coach Juan Carlos Osorio on drawing inspiration from the All Blacks to hire a mental coach for Mexico

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