Belarus vs. Mexico: 6 Things We Learned
Back to reality! Mexico couldn't keep their momentum going, and they delivered one of their poorest performances of 2014 in a 3-2 defeat against Belarus.
Miguel Herrera used a completely different squad for this game, hoping to finally put together two functional teams, but he failed.
The biggest concern was the defense. Not even Paul Aguilar, one of Herrera's most trusted men, could keep it together.
The oiled team that we saw against the Netherlands vanished under the harsh cold of Minsk, and we will not see any resurgence until March 2015, when Mexico resume their international activity.
Let's find out what we learned from this match.
Giovani dos Santos and Raul Jimenez Are a Great Duo
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Miguel Herrera decided to use Giovani dos Santos and Raul Jimenez in the front, and the duo delivered good results.
Jimenez scored a brace, his first while wearing La Verde. He also completed 76 percent of his passes and recovered one ball.
Meanwhile, dos Santos assisted Jimenez in the second goal and completed 14 passes. He created plays around the box, especially through the left flank.
The biggest difference from the Carlos Vela/Javier Hernandez partnership was the use of the sidelines as an accurate and useful method for playmaking, thanks to Gio's speed and dribbling skills.
This is a good combination for one of the two teams Herrera must to put together for 2015.
Alfredo Talavera Needs More Confidence with El Tri
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Alfredo Talavera got another chance to prove his worth with Mexico, but he fell short.
The Toluca goalkeeper is having a great season with his club. He has been instrumental in helping Diablos Rojos become the fifth-best defense of the 2014 Apertura. He has allowed 14 goals in 16 appearances.
However, Talavera seems to carry a big weight on his shoulders when it comes to playing for El Tri.
Against Belarus, he was constantly under pressure and failed to organize the back line, which resulted in Mexico’s doom.
Talavera started in style by rejecting a penalty kick—the defense couldn't clear the rebound—but in Belarus' second and third goals he didn't come out correctly.
If he wants to wear La Verde in the upcoming games he needs to step up in the moment of truth.
"55' ¡GOL de #Bielorrusia! Signevich empató el marcador http://t.co/BdZvnok0Ky https://t.co/HbWNDW46xK
— Goal Mexico (@goalmex) November 18, 2014"
The Defense Is a Mess
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Once again Mexico failed to impress in the back line.
There were a lot of inconsistencies and distractions, which led to the 3-2 defeat.
Paul Aguilar, Hugo Rodriguez, Miguel Ponce and Luis Venegas couldn't keep up with the Europeans, who took advantage of their speed and long stride in counter-attacks.
Miguel Herrera needs to find the right men for this line soon.
Although Hector Moreno is back from his injury and Rafael Marquez will probably join next year, we are talking of two centre-backs, and El Piojo uses three in his 5-3-2 system.
He will need at least 10 footballers for that position (Gold Cup and Copa America starters and subs), and time is running out.
Perhaps the most troubling thing right now is that Aguilar and Ponce, who had been sharp, faltered against a squad that, on paper, was supposed to be less complicated than the Netherlands.
"#VideoTD Pavel Nekhaychik marca para poner el 3-2 final en Bielorrusia https://t.co/faU5HrFp2C
— Televisa Deportes (@TD_Deportes) November 18, 2014"
The 5-3-2 System Is Not Always Productive
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Miguel Herrera went back with his 5-3-2 system, but it didn't work.
The main issue was Belarus' focus on counter-attacks and the lack of concentration from El Tri's back line. Also, he lacked the defensive midfielder he used against the Netherlands (Diego Reyes).
Instead, he put Julio Dominguez in charge of the defense, which worked fine for 20 minutes, but along came the debacle.
Paul Aguilar and Miguel Ponce were constantly overpowered because in Herrera's 5-3-2 formation they can join the attack as flying full-backs, which left the centre-backs alone and struggling.
It's time to consider the 4-4-2 system he used against the Dutch, which was very effective due to the diamond he formed around the center of the pitch with a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder.
The European-Based Youngsters Are Game-Changers
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Jonathan dos Santos, Raul Jimenez and Jesus Manuel Corona didn't need to be spectacular to make a difference on the pitch.
Jimenez gave Mexico two goals, while dos Santos controlled the center of the pitch, and Corona unbalanced the defenders easily (until he left the pitch due to an injury).
There is no doubt that the way they train and the squads they face with their clubs have been key in their preparation. They hold a clear advantage over their team-mates, and let's not talk about technique and ambition.
These three players provided depth and more scoring options to El Tri, something we saw against the Netherlands with Corona and Carlos Vela.
The only thing they need now is the coach's trust and continuity.
Belarus Deciphered Mexico Quickly
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Belarus didn't take much time to realize they could beat Mexico quickly.
They took advantage of the defensive mistakes, especially through the flanks, and of Mexico's speed, which combined resulted in lethal counter-attacks.
Mexico were predictable again. Although the dos Santos brothers and Jesus Manuel Corona tried to bring their creativity to the pitch, it wasn't enough to unbalance the Europeans.
Instead, Belarus waited until all Mexico footballers were at least in the centre of the pitch to deploy the forwards and wingers.
These players opened up spaces with through balls and long passes, which was enough to confuse and overpower El Tri.
All stats appear courtesy of Mi Seleccion Gamecast (Spanish) unless otherwise noted.
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