New Zealand vs. Mexico: El Tri Needs to Make Statement in WC Qualifier

If all goes according to plan for the Mexican national soccer team on Wednesday, it will waltz to the World Cup with a victory over an underdog New Zealand squad.

Wednesday's match in Wellington, New Zealand, serves as the second leg between these two teams in the last step of 2014 World Cup qualifying. By virtue of its 5-1 win at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City last week, El Tri could lose by three goals on Wednesday but still qualify for the World Cup by aggregate score.

Looking at the tape and the stats from the first leg, it's clear Mexico was a dominant force:

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera must have been pleased to see his squad outshoot the All Whites by 21-3 and hold a 73-27 percent advantage in time of possession.

El Tri led 2-0 at halftime, pouring it on with three more scores after intermission before New Zealand ruined Mexico's clean sheet with a goal from Chris James in the 85th minute.

ESPN Stats and Information shared that Mexico is essentially a lock to reach the World Cup in Brazil by virtue of its big win in the first leg:

While it would be easy for the Mexican side to ease off the gas pedal heading in to the contest with a four-goal advantage, Herrera said that won't be the case, via ESPNFC.com: "We are going in with the idea that this is 0-0 and we aren't going to risk anything. We are going into this match with the same attitude of being as or even more determined than we were in the previous match."

That's the right kind of mindset for an international organization that has been a mess during the World Cup qualifiers, as Herrera is already the team's fourth manager during this process.

Herrera's lineup last week, made up solely of Mexican League players instead of those like Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez who play abroad, injected new life into the national side.

The five goals almost equaled the seven that Mexico posted in the first 10 games of qualifiers.

It's clear El Tri is more talented and skilled than the All Whites, so it should flex its muscle by winning by at least two goals on Wednesday.

With a trip to the World Cup a mere formality at this point, it's important Mexico makes a statement to its people and the rest of the world by winning in dominant fashion.

Punching a ticket to Brazil by winning big would make the early qualifying struggles a distant memory.

Herrera signed on for these two contests against New Zealand and the Mexico Football Federation said it will revisit his status in December (via Reuters). 

A solid victory could also help Herrera secure the full-time job with the national side and give stability to an organization that desperately needs it.