(A special 2-part look at the CONCACAF Confederations Cup picture following the recent Gold Cup. Also see “What’s Next For the United States?” )
After a winless Copa America and the firing of their manager, Miguel Herrera, Mexico will be under much more pressure heading into the Confederations Cup playoff against the United States. Herrera, fired after an altercation with TV Azteca reporter Christian Martinoli, had his rocky moments but also experienced some success, including winning the Gold Cup.
Winning the Gold Cup helped to ease some of the controversy, but Mexico still has to focus on punching their ticket to the 2017 Confederations Cup. They will play the United States on October 9 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, with the winner advancing.
The clash against the US team will be crucial as they will be facing a team that seeks redemption after finishing in a disappointing 4th place in the Gold Cup. A win against the US will take some of the pressure off of the Mexican team. They still have a lot to prove, but a win can bring some stability back to their program.
What’s next for the Mexican National Team?
The managerial vacancy brings about many questions of who will be taking the top coaching spot for Mexico. Mexico will need a coach to take control of the team and get them to play to their potential. Victor Manuel Vucetich and Gustavo Matosas are a couple of the names being considered for the position.
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Mexico had a disappointing Copa America, losing to Ecuador and only managing draws against both Chile and Bolivia. The Gold Cup did not start off well, either. They had problems in the group stage, finishing with a win and two draws. The Mexican team could not capitalize on opportunities and had difficulty on defense. They also endured injuries to Javier Hernandez and Hector Moreno. Critics had plenty to feed on after the controversial manner in which Mexico went on to win their knockout round matches that got them to the Gold Cup final.
Between the firing of their head coach and the controversial wins, Mexico finds itself in turmoil heading into a crucial clash against the US team. Their next manager will be under pressure immediately, with a trip to the Confederations Cup in Russia in the balance. The expectations are high for both the new coach and the players.
Mexico has had a reputation of frequent coaching changes that have left a bad taste in the mouth for fans and players alike. Incredibly, Mexico has gone through 10 coaches since the departure of Ricardo De La Volpe of Argentina after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Foreign Coaches
Mexico needs a coach that will bring in some creative tactics to bolster attacks and use their already impactful players. A foreign coach may not be a bad idea for the Mexican team, even though their last experience with one was when they almost did not get into the Hexagonal phase prior to the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers under Sven-Göran Eriksson. A foreign coach could bring the creativity and focus that this team needs, and someone like Marcelo Bielsa would be a candidate.
Mexico’s Young Rising Stars
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The next coach will also be expected to let the younger stars get more chances. Jesus Manuel Corona‘s exceptional performance during both the Copa America and Gold Cup tournaments showed how much impact the young star can have on the team. Mexico will need to rely more heavily on their younger players as they deal with injuries. Besides Corona, they have Jurgen Damm and Hirving Lozano ready to step up. Giving these young players a chance could give the Mexican team what it needs as it moves forward.
Line-up Formations
5-3-2:
It will be interesting to see what the next coach will do tactically. Mexico has been very sluggish with a line of four defensive players. This was exposed in the friendlies leading up to the Gold Cup, where they played to a draw against Honduras and Costa Rica. Herrera’s line of five with two wing-backs gave stability on defense and created more chances on the offensive flanks. They added support to the midfield defense as well.
4-4-2:
Mexico has been having problems with their defense. A line of four defensemen has created problems during the game and created too many open spaces in the midfield. It diminished Mexico’s ability to attack and gave their opponents too many chances. The 4-4-2 formation does not fit the current squad with their current tactics. A new coach could be successful with this formation if they use a different type of controlled game.
Defensive Problems
Mexico’s defense has not been very stable without Rafael Marquez. Marquez provided offensive coverage with creativity and created many chances for Mexico. Having Marquez retiring has Mexico’s defense without leadership and leaves them with less creativity. Mexico needs leadership in the defensive line and more confidence. Diego Reyes has had many flaws exposed in his defense because he does not have the experience of regular playing time, which has affected “El Tri” performances. The back line for Mexico should be chosen wisely against a smart, attack-minded US team that is very tough offensively. Mexico’s defense has not been very bright in the past and it needs a lot of help in coverage.
Players under risk with a new coach
Herrera’s selection has not been very bright, despite the fact that they have played in two tournaments. With a new coach filling in Herrera’s spot there could be a new squad around with different players.
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Giovani Dos Santos is one player whose star has not been very bright lately. He has moved to the Los Angeles Galaxy and it will be seen if he will be around or not. Dos Santos has not been in the form that was seen before his injuries. The individual player performance has been missing lately but he still has more to show.
Reyes was used lately by Herrera and indeed was coached by Herrera while at Club America. Reyes has not been having much playing time in Porto and is very risky in the defensive line with Mexico. Reyes is young but it is preferable for him to find a place to get regular playing time to obtain more confidence, something that he has been lacking throughout his current form.
The selection against the United States will be one to see. With many players around with experience, and youngsters rising, there could be surprising and new faces to see around.
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