23 for 2010 – Mexico: World Cup squad analysis

With their familiar green shirts, rousing anthem and passionate fans, Mexico are one of the teams synonymous with the World Cup despite being a side that have appeared in the quarter finals just twice in the history of the competition, both times  as hosts in 1970 and 1986. Banned in 1990 for fielding an overage player in a youth competition, they have been ever present at the last four World Cups, qualifying from the group stage but falling as mentioned at the first knockout round.

Qualification for this tournament has not been as easy as one would normally expect for one of the heavyweights of CONCACAF. Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson was appointed as manager in June of 2008, taking charge of the team after their comfortable second round win over Belize.

The 3rd round saw them qualify ahead of Jamaica purely on goal difference having won just 3 of the 6 games. The 4th round started with a loss to the United States. A win against Costa Rica couldn’t stop the disenchantment with Eriksson’s time in charge, and after a loss to Honduras a week later his fate was sealed. While some would argue Eriksson was a scapegoat being blamed for a lower standard of player than the country had been used to, he was sacked nonetheless. Days later Mexico had a familiar face in charge of their national team in Javier Aguirre.

Aguirre lost his first game in charge, but would go on to lead Mexico to win 6 of their 7 remaining games of qualification. During that time, he also lead Mexico to its fifth Gold Cup win. Alongside the loss to El Salvador Aguirre has lost just one other game, a friendly defeat to Colombia.

The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, determined to have a strong World Cup named a training camp of 17 Mexican based players that have been largely unavailable for selection by their club sides. This training camp squad has since been changed to a 26 man “Pre-World Cup” squad including the European based players.  Miguel Sabah, originally part of the 17 man squad is the player to miss out, but this is down to injury.

While it is pleasing to see an Association take this attitude towards the competition, one that you could never see being taken by one of the major European nations, it remains to be seen whether it would be a wise one. While we can all expect an “upset” on the opening game of  the tournament and the Mexicans should comfortably beat hosts South Africa and should qualify alongside France, it seems very difficult to see them getting to the quarter finals for only the third time in their history.  One can only hope that they can take their strong Qualifying & Gold Cup winning form into the competition.

While I would love to predict that Mexico will get to the quarter finals, they should be considered massive outsiders to do so. I fully expect them to beat the host nation on the opening day of the competition and to qualify for the second round. However, with Argentina likely to be awaiting them in that stage of the competition, I cannot see them going further.

The Squad.

Mexico have named a provisional 26 man training squad.  Three players will inevitably miss out, but with such a strong mix of experience and youth and with the old warhorses being able to offer the experience while the youth continually impress when given the chance, who those three will be is anyone’s guess and I suspect that even Aguirre himself is still undecided.

Goalkeepers:

Guillermo Ochoa (América)
Luis Enesto Michel (Guadalajara)
Óscar Pérez (Chiapas)

‘Memo’ Ochoa is absolutely the number 1 for Mexico now. The impressive 24 year old looks to have a strong future in the game. That being said, he has two experienced players waiting in the wings should they be needed.

Defenders:

Rafael Márquez (Barcelona)
Carlos Salcido (PSV)
Francisco J. Rodríguez (PSV)
Héctor Moreno (AZ)
Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart)
Paul Aguilar (Pachuca)
Efraín Juárez (UNAM)
Jonny Magallón (Guadalajara)
Juan Carlos Valenzuela (América)
Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas)

Rafael Márquez is undoubtedly the star of the back line and quite possibly the best player in the squad. While he has found himself as the third man in a two man central defence at Barcelona, he still has the quality that Mexico will need when coming up against the best players the world has to offer. Ricardo Osorio will likely join him at the center of a back four and he will be hoping to build on his strong performance that led to his signing by Stuttgart in the 2006 World Cup.

Flanking the two of them are likely to be Efrain Juárez & Carlos Salcido, a blend of youth and experience. The two compliment each other very well and will be expected to deliver strongly for their side in both attack and defence.

Player likely to miss out: Paul Aguilar. While a stalwart for his club, other players both experienced and youthful have been ahead of him in the pecking order. With Juárez a certainty to start at right back and with the versatility of Magallón to play both right back and in the center, he is the natural choice to be left on the sidelines.

Midfielders:

Andrés Guardado (Deportivo La Coruña)
Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray)
Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona)
Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul)
Israel Castro (UNAM)
Adrián Aldrete (Morelia)

While the midfield looks low on numbers on paper,  it is made up for by the versatility of the forward players. Israel Castro & Gerardo Torrado are likely to be the central pair who will be expected to provide support for the back line. Both are defensive minded. They should provide a difficult proposition for any team that wants to move through the midfield.

Andres Guardado & Giovani dos Santos are likely to provide the attacking outlet from midfield, the two of them providing the skilful, pacey trickery that evokes so many warm memories of Mexican teams of the past. Aldrete aside, the backups for the midfield are likely to come from the versatility offered by the defensive & offensive backups.

Forwards:

Guillermo Franco (West Ham United)
Carlos Vela (Arsenal)
Pablo Barrera (UNAM)
Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara)
Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Veracruz)
Alberto Medina (Guadalajara)
Javier Hernández (Guadalajara)

Mexican legend Blanco is still a vital cog in the Mexican national side. At 37 years old, he still offers enough qualities that put him ahead of his peers playing just of the striker. This is surely his last World Cup and he will undoubtedly put everything he has into getting his side into the quarter finals.

With the injury to Miguel Sabah almost certainly ruling him out of the World Cup, the striker’s berth in this Mexico side is up for grabs. A number of possibilities exist, but it’s likely that Manchester United bound Javier Hernández will be given the chance considering his performances in his first four starts for the national side. The remaining players all have the ability to slot into the supporting roles and will give the side options should they suffer any further disruptions to their first choice XI.

Players to miss out: Paul Aguilar, Jonathan dos Santos, Adolfo Bautista.

Many World Cups  beckon for Aguilar & dos Santos jr in years to come, but their youth and inexperience could weigh against them when Aguirre finalises his squad.

Though sadly, it looks like Bautista seems fated to never play in the competition. A strong backup player, he lacks the versatility, the legendary status or the youthful exuberance of his peers that could ultimately see Aguirre avoid sentiment and neglect to select him in the final 23. If Aguirre does choose to take him, it could well be Jorge Torres Nilo or Pablo Barrera that misses out.

One to watch: Javier Hernández

The name may be familiar, and no, the former Mexican international has not found the elixir of eternal youth. The man bearing the same name is his son. Javier Hernández has been in sensational form this season that saw him score 21 goals in 28 appearances for Chivas and capping it with 4 goals in 4 games for the national side.

The young man has promised much in his development but had failed to deliver in his previous seasons. His performances leading up to the World Cup were enough to prompt Manchester United to sign him before the competition begins, worried that a good tournament could see them lose out if other sides became interested. With the injury to Sabah already detailed, “The little pea” could take this opportunity to announce himself to the world. Definitely one to watch for this tournament.

23 for 2010, Mexico, Squad Analysis, World Cup 2010