Mexico vs. Panama: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Mexico and Panama renew their rivalry on Sunday when they take the pitch in what will likely be an unfriendly friendly.
These two teams are quite familiar with one another, having battled plenty of times in the Gold Cup and CONCACAF World Cup qualification.
On the road to the 2014 World Cup, Mexico and Panama finished fourth and fifth, respectively in the fourth and final qualifying round. El Tri advanced to the playoff against New Zealand and eventually qualified for the World Cup.
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Los Canaleros were headed for Brazil until Graham Zusi scored a 92nd-minute equalizer for the United States against Panama in the final match of the round. That goal put Mexico through at Panama's expense and earned Zusi a place in Mexican soccer lore.
Nothing will make up for that bitter disappointment from a Panamanian perspective, but going into enemy territory and picking up a win over Mexico would at least be a small measure of revenge.
When: Sunday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. ET
Where: Estadio Corregidora, Queretaro, Mexico
Watch: ESPN2
Live Stream: Watch ESPN
Preview
For El Tri, this friendly is another opportunity for coach Miguel Herrera to figure out his best lineup looking forward.
One of Herrera's top goals will be continuing to forge a partnership between Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez. Peralta played much better during the qualifying process, but Hernandez is the better pure talent and offers the higher ceiling.
By picking one over the other, Herrera could possibly alienate a key player in his team.
The two strikers are seemingly better in a one-forward formation. However, they possess slightly differing styles so as to complement one another. Herrera started both in the 2-0 win over Honduras, and one of the more encouraging aspects of the friendly was Hernandez scoring off an assist by Peralta.
"The short-term future of Mexico’s attack includes both Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez," wrote Bleacher Report's Jerrad Peters. "That much was made clear Thursday when the two combined to open the scoring against Honduras."
The goal was also a confidence-builder for Chicharito, who ESPN FC's Cesar Hernandez writes has been a whipping boy for El Tri supporters over the last few years:
"There appears to be an unforgiving amount of criticism and praise for everything Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez does. His talents and star appeal give the player a massive amount of attention on and off the field.
Chicharito will be given another start on Sunday and fans will expect nothing less than a goal. Unfortunately for the striker, his supporters are never satisfied until he adds another to his tally -- even if he is only given five to 10 minutes to do so.
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Another player hoping to impress Herrera is Marco Fabian. The Cruz Azul midfielder is a bit like Giovani dos Santos in that he generally plays better in the national team shirt than he does with his club.
Fabian delivered the assist for Oswaldo Alanis that made it 2-0 and also had a large role in Mexico's opener. He regained possession and midfield and began the move that resulted in Hernandez's goal. Mexican football writer Tom Marshall made sure that Fabian's effort didn't go unnoticed:
With Herrera continuing to tinker with the squad, now is the time for Fabian to establish himself in the national team and become a consistent selection once World Cup qualification begins.
Another area where Herrera's still trying to develop continuity is in his three-man defense. El Tri kept a clean sheet against Honduras, but the back three looked shaky in a few different moments during the match.
Herrera viewed his defense's performance in a much more positive light.
"The three center backs bordered on perfection," he said, per Marshall for Sporting News.
Marshall highlighted an inability at times to get the ball out from the back. He countered with the fact that former stalwart Rafael Marquez had his growing pains in the national team, so the issue isn't a major concern just yet.
Blas Perez won't be a hub of activity in the Panamanian attack, but he's the kind of striker who can finish off a chance when given the opportunity. All he needs is one shot on goal, and he can undo all of Mexico's defensive progress.
Mexico's defense can't afford to fall asleep, nor can it afford to misplace passes around Perez.
A loss won't be devastating for Herrera and El Tri, but it's important for him and the team to continue the positive momentum they've built over the past few months. Jose Manuel de la Torre's tenure as national team coach is proof positive as to how quickly things can turn sour.
