Mexico Faces Must-Win Match Against Panama to Qualify for 2014 World Cup

Friday, October 11, 2013 is going to be a monumentally important day for Mexico’sNational Soccer Team. As World Cup Qualifiers are coming to an end, Mexico finds themselves in fifth place in the CONCACAF table. The United States and Costa Rica have both mathematically qualified, leaving only one guaranteed slot and one intercontinental playoff slot in which CONCACAF’s 4th place team will face New Zealand in a home and away playoff. 

Mexico’s most likely chance of qualification will come through the intercontinental playoff. However, for them to even have a chance to reach this playoff, Mexico must first beat Panama on Friday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. In the past, Azteca has been a fortress for Mexico in which they were usually guaranteed a win or at least a tie. But the reason the find themselves in this current predicament is that their form at Azteca has been off, only securing 3 points in their last four matches at Azteca with three ties and a loss.

As they approach this crucial match, Mexico is looking at their European based players to have a major impact on the game. This list includes Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Giovanni Dos Santos and Javier Aquino but unfortunately does not include Héctor Moreno (injury) and Andrés Guardado (form). Another notable inclusion into Mexico’s roster is Rafael Marquez. The Mexican veteran and previous captain had retired from international duty but head coach Victor Manuel Vucetich has called him back in the hope that the team will benefit of his experience and veteran presence. 

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Is De la Torre the right coach to take Mexico forward?

Mexico coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre talked on Monday about the importance of winning ugly, picking up points and getting El Tri over the line and qualified for Brazil 2014.

El Tri produced the ugly soccer against Costa Rica on Tuesday, but failed to win or even score in the Estadio Azteca. That makes it three consecutive 0-0 draws this year in World Cup qualifying inside the massive stadium. It makes Mexico’s qualification for Brazil 2014 anything but secure and De la Torre’s job seriously under-threat for the first time.

Chants of “Chepo out” bellowed down from the steep bleachers towards the end and it isn’t difficult to see why. Fans of other CONCACAF nations may mock the Mexican public’s vocal and possibly hasty criticism of Chepo, but it comes in a context of El Tri winning Olympic gold and enjoying unprecedented success at youth level. This was supposed to be the qualifying campaign to cement Mexico as the undisputed dominant force in the region.

Instead, it has turned into the traditional dogfight involving the United States and Central American nations, none of which are in the top 25 of the FIFA rankings.

“There are 12 points left, there are still a lot of games,” De la Torre told Mexican TV company Televisa after Tuesday’s game.

While it is almost unthinkable that Mexico won’t be at Brazil 2014, suddenly games against Honduras (h), USA (a), Panama (h) and Costa Rica (a) don’t look so tempting with the pressure right on. And those statements from Chepo about how many games are left are starting to wear thin.

Yes, it is difficult against decent CONCACAF teams that come to defend and hope for goals on the counterattack. It is also true Mexico is more naturally adept playing that way itself, when there is more space in the final third.

Continue reading more on Mexico's De la Torre here: http://bit.ly/194rvfx

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Mexico: Projecting El Tri's World Cup Roster in 2014

The new generation of Mexican footballers is ready to take El Tri to the first spot of next year's Hexagonal as well as to the fifth match of the World Cup, something the squad has never achieved while playing outside the country.

Although we are almost two years away from Brazil 2014, José Manuel de la Torre has already given us a clear idea of what his team will look like.

He may try out some different footballers along the way, but the list should be close to this:

Goalkeeper

Starter: José de Jesús Corona

Subs: Guillermo Ochoa and Alfredo Talavera

Defenders

Starters: Jorge Torres Nilo (LB), Héctor Moreno (CB), Javier Rodríguez (CB) and SeveroMeza (RB)

Subs: Adrián Aldrete (LB), Diego Reyes (CB), Hirám Mier (CB) and Israel Jiménez (RB)

Midfielders

Starters: Andrés Guardado (LM), Jorge Enríquez (CM), Javier Aquino (RM) and Giovanidos Santos (CAM)

Subs: Héctor Herrera (LM) Carlos Salcido (CM) and Ángel Reyna/Elías Hernández (RM)

Strikers

Starters: Javier Hernández, Oribe Peralta

Subs: Aldo de Nigris, Carlos Vela

Read more about the Projecting El Tri World Cup 2014 Roster at BleacherReport.com!

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A Texas-sized triumph as Mexico tops Brazil

The Mexican national football team stunned Brazil in Arlington, Texas on Sunday with a 2-0 victory. First half goals from Premier League duo Giovani Dos Santos of Tottenham Hotspur, and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez of Manchester United secured the victory for El Tri.

The game was billed as a final warm-up before Mexico’s World Cup Qualifier against Guyana on Friday 8 June, and fine-tuning for Brazil in preparation for the Olympic Games in London – but it was Mexico who proved the better equipped outfit.

It was the second straight game in which Mexico's top two forwards each scored a goal, indicating the Mexican attack is in top form at the right time.

Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said:

"This game served us well in our plans for qualifying.

"We killed two birds with one stone in beating a strong opponent and preparing ourselves for qualifying."

Read more on the Mexican National football team at Mexicotoday.co.uk

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