How Mexico Will Line Up Against New Zealand

The second leg of the playoff between Mexico and New Zealand is hours away and Miguel Herrera should start this crucial match with the best players he has to keep the World Cup dream alive.

Goalkeeper

Moises Munoz will be in charge of the goal. The America keeper has not had much work lately, but he is certainly an experienced player who can step up when needed.

Defenders

Veteran Rafael Marquez will lead the five-man defense. The former Barcelona centre-back has brought leadership to Mexico’s most shaky line. His fine touch and technique is a valuable asset for the midfielders.

Marquez has two players that help him in the box.

On the right he can rely on Juan Carlos Valenzuela. El Topo has had his most successful tournaments with America in 2013 (Clausura and Apertura), and despite his young age, he has worked hard to secure the starting position with his club.

On the left, Francisco Rodriguez will cover tightly, especially when the left-back leaves his position to help in the attacking zone.

Talking about the left flank, Miguel Layun will be Herrera’s choice. The 25-year-old has proven to be very valuable when he makes runs through the sideline. In the previous game he assisted Oribe Peralta twice from that side.

Paul Aguilar will be in charge of the right sideline. Aguilar not only passes the ball to the midfielders and forwards, he also takes his chance with long-distance shots.

Midfielders

The commander in the midfield will be Juan Carlos Medina. He is great with through balls and ball possession. Medina will be in charge of creating plays and feeding balls to his teammates.

Carlos Pena will play on the left, next to Medina. He has given the team a new look thanks to his creativity and depth. He can finish plays and become a reliable attacker if the forwards are well covered.

Luis Montes, another Leon footballer, is set to play on the right. Montes has an enviable long-distance shot, plus he is very skillful when he has the ball on his feet.

Forwards

Raul Jimenez and Oribe Peralta will lead the offense. Jimenez is great when he comes from behind because he surprises the rivals’ defense, and that is why he usually starts at the back of Peralta. He is also fantastic with headers.

Peralta is the most lethal scorer of the team right now. The Santos forward has put the ball away seven times in the last seven games. El Cepillo is fast and knows how to handle pressure inside the box.

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