World Cup 2014 Team Spotlight – Mexico
Team Mexico heads to the World Cup in Brazil in a familiar position – with a ton of promise but questions whether or not they can advance past the Group stage.
Mexico
(FIFA Rank #19)
Odds to Win World Cup: 100/1
Odds to in Group A: +900
Remember – this is a nation that struck Gold in the 2012 Olympics in London!
But at no time have the Mexicans entered the biggest tournament on the planet with more doubts about their ability to succeed. Qualifying was a complete disaster for this side – they were forced into a playoff with New Zeeland just to get the chance to compete in Brazil. Internal strife and a preference toward players in Mexico’s domestic leagues may also lead to their undoing.
Let’s start with the strife. This is a team that inexplicably lost 10 qualifiers – 10! Names like Javier Hernandez, Guillermo Ochoa, Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela who is Mexico’s best play have already declined an invitation to play or may be left off the squad all together – Manager Miguel Herrera will definitely have his hands full trying to guide this seemingly dysfunctional group.
The likely starters are as follows:
Forwards: Raul Jimenez, Alan Pulido, Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos, Oribe Peralta.
Midfielders: Juan Carlos Medina, Juan José Vázquez, Isaac Brizuela, Luis Montes, Carlos Pena, Marco Fabian, Hector Herrera.
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Defenders: Paul Aguilar, Miguel Layún, Diego Reyes, Rafael Márquez, Hugo Ayala, Hector Moreno, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado.
There is class all over the pitch for Mexico – the trick is getting their talent to meet the expectation for this team. Perhaps the biggest coup for Mexico ahead of the World Cup is the Group that they are playing in.
Cameroon in their opener should be a win; a loss against Brazil is a formality with a showdown with Croatia in their final game being the key.
Mexico should be able to handle Croatia here – the European squad has been just OK in qualifying and they are likely to have their share of issues with the heat and humidity of Brazil.
It won’t be a home game for Mexico against Croatia but the elements and familiar surroundings should help Mexico immensely – allowing them to defeat Croatia and move on.
World Cup Prediction
Mexico looks to be in decent shape to advance past the Group stage for the third time in history and the first time since they hosted the World Cup in 1986.
That said a date with Spain, Holland or Chile looms.
While I expect Mexico to move on, the uncertainties on this team are far too plentiful to expect them to advance past the round of 16. Their potential round of 16 opponent is also daunting – to say the very least!
