Mexico Will Look to Stretch Stubborn Uruguay in Copa America Centenario Opener

If you study the form guide, Mexico are the horse to back in the Copa America Centenario.

El Tri heads into the tournament on a 19-match unbeaten run. Manager Juan Carlos Osorio has won seven on the spin since taking charge at the end of 2015, with his side scoring 14 goals without conceding.

It has been smooth sailing for the Colombian to date. However, the calm water is about to get a little choppy.

Mexico kick off their Copa campaign against Uruguay on Sunday. The game, staged at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is a clash between the two favourites to move on from Group C.

Although they would both still face Jamaica and Venezuela—the other two nations in the group—an opening win would do more than just lay down a marker.

If Mexico and Uruguay make it through to the knockout stage as expected, they would likely face a quarter-final tie against either Argentina or Chile.

Pick your poison, gents.

The likely absence of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez will help Osorio’s side on Sunday. The talismanic striker is struggling with a right hamstring injury he picked up in Barcelona's Copa del Rey win over Sevilla on May 22.

According to Luis F. Rojo and Simon Harrison of Marca, Suarez may not feature until the quarter-final stage.

La Celeste are far from just a one-man team, though. Edinson Cavani—who has scored 32 goals for his country—will lead the line in Suarez’s expected absence.

But, as pointed out by Thomas Hautmann of Fox Soccer, Uruguay are built on solid foundations at the back:

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Defence and organisation have long been the hallmark of Uruguay's play, and key to the team's 2011 Copa America title run and fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup. With [Diego] Godin, his Atletico Madrid team-mate Jose Gimenez, and Porto's Maxi Pereira in the veteran backline, Uruguay will continue to keep games close enough to give them a chance to win.

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Godin and Gimenez were part of a seriously stingy defence at Atletico. OptaPaolo tweeted the statistics:

However, Mexico have enough attacking talent to pose a threat to any national team.

According to Tom Marshall of ESPN FC, El Tri could use a three-man forward line against Uruguay:

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A 4-3-3 appears to be the likely choice and is Osorio's most commonly-used formation, even if a Marcelo Bielsa-style 3-4-3 was employed to good effect in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Paraguay. Osorio has also played with a 5-2-3 and a 4-4-2 in his time in charge.

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Marshall’s article finished with a predicted XI against Uruguay that featured a front trio of Hirving Lozano, Javier Hernandez and Jesus Manuel Corona.

Receiving a break from his club commitments in Europe with Porto, Corona played 57 minutes against Chile.

Due to him helping Pachuca to the Liga MX title at home, Lozano was a late arrival in the United States.

At just 20, this could be the tournament for the speedy Lozano to make a major impact at international level.

In an April article from Jack Gaughan for Mail Online, experienced scout Neil McGuinness summarised Lozano's game to Sportsmail by saying: "Quick, powerful strike, the ability to drop his marker and find five yards of space, in short he can affect games out of nothing."

European clubs take note—Lozano is a player of real potential.

Jurgen Damm and Javier Aquino are also options to occupy the wide forward positions. Osorio has options, and he isn’t afraid to use them.

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

With Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri no longer considered "The Tinkerman"—a nickname he received for constantly changing his XI during his time at Chelsea—it seems Osorio can assume the title.

He will be flexible in his formation, depending on the opposition.

However, there is no tinkering when it comes to Mexico’s man in the middle of the forward line.

After coming on as a late substitute against Chile, Hernandez showed his value by netting a game-winning goal in the 86th minute.

Chicharito is fresh off a stellar season with Bayer Leverkusen.

He bagged 17 league goals in his debut campaign in the Bundesliga—only Bayern Munich duo Robert Lewandowski (30) and Thomas Muller (20) and Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (25) scored more in Germany’s top flight.

In celebrating his 28th birthday by scoring against Chile, Hernandez moved within two goals of Jared Borgetti’s national record of 46.

He is the focal point for his country, a clinical marksman who dazzled as the lead man in Germany following peripheral roles at Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Yet the key to Mexico’s attacking play is pace and space.

Take a look at the goal they scored in the 1-0 victory against Paraguay on Saturday:

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Gool de Mex .!!!  #eltri #mexico #miseleccionmx pic.twitter.com/Kd5kJCjMKi

— Alex.⚽️ (@mundo_defutbol) May 28, 2016"

The ball over the top from Jesus Duenas was outstanding, but he only able to seize this opportunity because of Damm’s willingness to stay wide and attack the space offered to him by Paraguay’s high line.

Whoever plays out wide, their task will be to stretch the opposition and provide service for Chicharito.

Osorio often chooses to employ a defensive midfielder to offer protection to his central defenders. If he goes with a back four, as expected, the full-backs will get the chance to push on and provide width.

Mexico may need strength in numbers when you consider Uruguay’s defence is such a tough nut to crack.

Godin and Jimenez are about as good as it gets right now for a central-defensive pairing.

Alvaro Gonzales and Pereira, an experienced pair of full-backs who have a combined 190 caps, will likely join them.

They've seen it all before at the international level, so don't expect them to be sucked up field too often, as it would give Mexico's speedsters space to run.

The battle down the flanks between Mexico's youth—Lozano is 20, Corona and Damm are both 23 while Aquino is 26—and Uruguay's experience will be fascinating to watch.

In a game between two solid defences, don’t be surprised if it takes just one goal to settle a pivotal clash on the opening weekend of the tournament.