Mexico, Miguel Herrera Under Pressure to Reclaim Gold Cup Title

Miguel Herrera and his Mexico national team are under pressure. After a poor showing at the Copa America—albeit with an almost entirely different squad—and costly injuries at inopportune times, El Tri face a tough task to reclaim the Gold Cup title this summer.

If they don't, Herrera could find himself sitting squarely on the heat seat.

With Mexico's Gold Cup campaign set to begin on Thursday, Herrera is having to deal with the loss of two high-profile players through injury. Late last month, center-back Hector Moreno had to leave El Tri's 2-2 friendly draw against Costa Rica at halftime, and shortly thereafter, the Mexican federation announced Moreno would miss the Gold Cup with a foot problem. 

Casual followers of El Tri might remember that name and for good reason. Moreno is the same player who broke his leg during the 2014 World Cup knockout stage against the Netherlands, a game Mexico lost controversially.

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Moreno has played a key role in Coach Herrera's preferred 5-3-2 formation, and though replacements are available, none are as good as the Espanyol man. In addition, the injury might force Herrera to reconfigure his formation for the tournament, with a switch to a 4-4-2 possible.

If Moreno's injury wasn't enough bad news, Mexico received a further blow when forward Javier Hernandez suffered a fractured collarbone last week during a draw with Honduras in another friendly. The 27-year-old Hernandez has been frustrated at the club level lately, failing to break into the first XI at Real Madrid while on loan from Manchester United. A strong showing at the Gold Cup might have given Chicharito's profile a boost as he considers his club options this summer, but now he'll be sidelined through injury instead.

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The injury to Hernandez means Mexico will have to rely on Carlos Vela, Giovani Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta to lead the attack. Vela has not played a competitive tournament for Mexico since the 2010 World Cup following disputes with coaches and the federation, but now the Real Sociedad forward might have to carry the attacking burden for his side.

There's no doubting Vela's talent, but chemistry with teammates could be an issue. Fortunately, Mexico will be heavy favorites to advance as winners of Group C, which also includes minnows Cuba, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago.

If the group plays out as expected, Mexico would certainly have a more manageable route to the final than the United States and Costa Rica, the other two group favorites. If both win their groups, the U.S. and Costa Rica would meet in the semifinals, while Mexico would play the runner-up from either Group B or C.

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The path thus seems clear, but Herrera will also have to deal with personal pressure after guiding Mexico to a disappointing group-stage exit last month at the Copa America. In fairness, though, that team included just one member‚ midfielder Jesus Corona, of the Gold Cup squad.

Now, with the team's stars in the squad (apart from the injured duo of Moreno and Hernandez), Herrera is under pressure to claim Mexico's first Gold Cup crown since 2011. As B/R's Rik Sharma noted upon El Tri's exit from the Copa America:

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In a group with Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba, qualification in first position is the only real option for Herrera.

They are favourites for the tournament, along with the United States, but if Mexico are as unorganised as they were in Chile, prepare for an upset.

Herrera was sent off in the final group game, against Ecuador, frustrated by his team's inept display.

Failing to perform well in the Gold Cup could see him sidelined for good.

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Herrera insisted he isn't feeling any pressure. "We can't do anything about the tournament we've lost," he said, per Reuters, after returning from Chile following his side's Copa America exit. "We've got to have a rethink; now I have to disconnect myself from (Chile) and concentrate on the (Gold Cup) team."

But in the same session with reporters, Herrera also acknowledged that more is at stake in this tournament than just continental bragging rights. The winner of this year's Gold Cup will enter a playoff with the U.S. to determine CONCACAF's representative for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The Americans, who lifted the cup in 2013, can eliminate the need for the playoff by retaining the title.

"Losing the last (Gold Cup) tournament obliges us to win this one..." Herrera said. "What Mexico and the (federation) directors want is to go to the Confederations (Cup), hence the obligation to win this one."

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