FWC-Mexico
Mexico:-
“El Tricolor” are due to make their sixth consecutive appearance at the WC finals, after having endured a very horrible qualifying campaign!
It is quite difficult to be able to analyze a certain team’s tactics when so many outside factors contribute to the way the football is being played on the pitch! Mexico’s coaching merry-go-round (due to internal conflicts and ever-present political influences) haven’t created a very harmonious environment for the current players and staff. Here’s a shot nonetheless…
Mexico always seem to come up with extravagant and unorthodox tactics and/or formations at every WC they have played in recent times and it looks like that trend will continue this year with Coach Miguel Herrera clearly favoring a 5-man-defense system.
His SBs are, most probably, going to be converted to proper WBs for large parts of the tournament and a good portion of the defensive responsibilities will therefore ride on the CBs’ shoulders. While Rafa Marquez (who turned 35 a few months ago) is not the fastest of defenders around, he certainly has the experience and tactical awareness to act as cover for his two CB compatriots (think old-school sweeper-role!).
It is a great shame that the Mexican roster of midfield players was hampered by some very unfortunate injuries recently and it will only serve as a huge disadvantage for them going forward. An obvious midfield diamond-like set-up will be their best bet to launch attacks when possessing the ball. The WBs will provide enough width to enable the midfielders to play them into either flanks and deliver crosses to their strikers.
How the midfielders compose themselves with and without the ball is going to be essential to Mexico’s playing strategy and it will be a huge ask of them (due to their considerable inexperience) to cover certain areas of the pitch and dominate play when the ball is at their feet. Then again, this IS the WC after all; where players shine and announce themselves to the world…
Further worries for Coach Herrera are his attacking options. Javier Hernández’s (Chicharito’s) 159 minutes per goal (/1435) from last season with United is not very flattering for a striker who lives off scoring goals every time he is given the ball. It could actually be a tad counter-productive for him to start every game; given the fact that Oribe Peralta has been relatively more prolific.
Therefore, one might expect Coach Herrera to deploy Dos Santos as a support-striker behind Peralta and allow him a free role; so as to enable him to use his pace, dribbling skills and technique with the ball to create more opportunities from the back and hold up play for the wide players AND the target man himself.
Undoubtedly, it looks very grim for Mexico this year but a good amount of stability at the back coupled with some brilliance with the ball from their talented midfielders might just prove enough to send them into the round of 16.
Main men (not easy!): Carlos Peña and Oribe Peralta: Peña’s performance in midfield will, more or less, reflect on the team as a whole, and his combative style and dominance is a true asset for them. Peralta’s excellent finishing skills and superb work-rate might just “bring the goals home” for a Mexican side with so many worries.
Odds (average from top 24 betting firms): 157.41667
“El Tricolor” are due to make their sixth consecutive appearance at the WC finals, after having endured a very horrible qualifying campaign!
It is quite difficult to be able to analyze a certain team’s tactics when so many outside factors contribute to the way the football is being played on the pitch! Mexico’s coaching merry-go-round (due to internal conflicts and ever-present political influences) haven’t created a very harmonious environment for the current players and staff. Here’s a shot nonetheless…
Mexico always seem to come up with extravagant and unorthodox tactics and/or formations at every WC they have played in recent times and it looks like that trend will continue this year with Coach Miguel Herrera clearly favoring a 5-man-defense system.
His SBs are, most probably, going to be converted to proper WBs for large parts of the tournament and a good portion of the defensive responsibilities will therefore ride on the CBs’ shoulders. While Rafa Marquez (who turned 35 a few months ago) is not the fastest of defenders around, he certainly has the experience and tactical awareness to act as cover for his two CB compatriots (think old-school sweeper-role!).
It is a great shame that the Mexican roster of midfield players was hampered by some very unfortunate injuries recently and it will only serve as a huge disadvantage for them going forward. An obvious midfield diamond-like set-up will be their best bet to launch attacks when possessing the ball. The WBs will provide enough width to enable the midfielders to play them into either flanks and deliver crosses to their strikers.
How the midfielders compose themselves with and without the ball is going to be essential to Mexico’s playing strategy and it will be a huge ask of them (due to their considerable inexperience) to cover certain areas of the pitch and dominate play when the ball is at their feet. Then again, this IS the WC after all; where players shine and announce themselves to the world…
Further worries for Coach Herrera are his attacking options. Javier Hernández’s (Chicharito’s) 159 minutes per goal (/1435) from last season with United is not very flattering for a striker who lives off scoring goals every time he is given the ball. It could actually be a tad counter-productive for him to start every game; given the fact that Oribe Peralta has been relatively more prolific.
Therefore, one might expect Coach Herrera to deploy Dos Santos as a support-striker behind Peralta and allow him a free role; so as to enable him to use his pace, dribbling skills and technique with the ball to create more opportunities from the back and hold up play for the wide players AND the target man himself.
Undoubtedly, it looks very grim for Mexico this year but a good amount of stability at the back coupled with some brilliance with the ball from their talented midfielders might just prove enough to send them into the round of 16.
Main men (not easy!): Carlos Peña and Oribe Peralta: Peña’s performance in midfield will, more or less, reflect on the team as a whole, and his combative style and dominance is a true asset for them. Peralta’s excellent finishing skills and superb work-rate might just “bring the goals home” for a Mexican side with so many worries.
Odds (average from top 24 betting firms): 157.41667
Ahmad Al-Omar - 2. Jun, 08:23
