Mexico Must See off Surprise Package Venezuela to Continue Copa America Charge
Many expected two teams to sail through Copa America Centenario Group C. Not many predicted that Venezuela would be one of them.
Mexico and Uruguay were the clear favourites to progress to the quarter-finals and heading into the final round of fixtures in the group stage, the main issue for debate was supposed to be which of the two would finish first or second.
That's still the case, although Venezuela are in Uruguay's place and it's a shoot-out with Mexico for top spot.
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Uruguay lost both their games, against Mexico 3-1 in the opener, then 1-0 in a frustrating clash with the Vinotinto, with Luis Suarez failing to make it onto the pitch because of his hamstring injury.
That was a big problem for the Celeste, although also a story for another day. The Group C team with the biggest potential to influence the Copa America tournament is Mexico.
One of El Tri and Venezuela will be facing Argentina in the quarter-finals and when they clash at Houston's NRG Stadium on Monday night, the aim will be topping the group to avoid Lionel Messi and Co.
Unlike Colombia, who lost 3-2 against Costa Rica on Saturday night, Mexico are expected to pick a strong team to face Venezuela to secure top spot.
With passage to the quarter-finals assured, Juan Carlos Osorio is likely make some changes but they will not be as wholesale as Jose Pekerman's.
The Colombia coach changed 10 players and paid the price, although with Brazil’s elimination they have now been drawn against Peru in the quarter-finals, which is not a bad outcome for Los Cafeteros.
Osorio made four switches against Jamaica from the first game, showing he doesn't mind a bit of rotation, and striker Oribe Peralta said that the squad accepts the coach's tactical shuffling.
Per FourFourTwo.com he said: “We take it very well because you have to be 100 per cent for each game. Because you do not know when your moment will be, you have to give it your best shot when you have the chance.
“Ultimately, we are all here for what we have done and what we can give.”
A draw against Venezuela would give Mexico top spot, because they have a better goal difference, plus four to the plus two of their opponents, going into Monday night's game.
Good news for Mexico is that Andres Guardado will be back after being suspended during the 2-0 win over Jamaica. He was sent off against Uruguay and was missed by his side.
The PSV star plays a key steadying role in midfield, helping out both defensively and in attack, the glue in Mexico's midfield.
Guardado will be well-rested and ready to perform against Venezuela, who have proven hard work to handle for Uruguay and Jamaica.
Osorio's team are hard work to handle themselves, having won all nine matches under the coach and conceded just one goal in that time period.
Mexico’s performances at the Copa have generally been good overall, although there have been worrying spells where they lost control of the game.
Against Uruguay in the second half they were under the cosh and the same was true of their clash with Jamaica. There were too many mistakes and against stronger teams, they may get punished.
In the negative column is the pitch at the NRG, which Osorio criticised in his press conference on Sunday night.
The team were supposed to train at the stadium but decided to go to an indoor centre because of heavy rain in the southern US city. Osorio said, according to Goal.com:
"We’re very worried about the state of the pitch. [There were] two injured players yesterday [during Colombia vs Costa Rica]. We don’t know if it was chance or if it had a lot to do with the pitch. But it would be unfair on my part, very unfair on my part, to pick the group thinking that these players might get injured, but these players not. So, zero. This doesn’t matter. We’re thinking it’s not going to happen, that nobody’s going to have a knock and we’re going to play the best XI possible tomorrow.
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However, Mexico can be sure to count on wild support on Monday night. Jamaica and Leicester City defender Wes Morgan said after their last game, also per Goal.com:
"Support is always important, and they were the 12th man for Mexico today. You’ve got to give it to the Mexicans, they always show up when their team needs them the most, the supporters. The passion is unbelievable, and we hope and we pray that one day our nation will get that support, just as Mexico is getting it now.
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El Tri have given their fans plenty to cheer about. Mexico have had five goalscorers so far, with Alvaro Pereira's own goal, Rafa Marquez, Hector Herrera, Javier Hernandez ("Chicharito") and Peralta on the scorsheet so far.
That shows that even though Bayer Leverkusen forward Chicharito is the main striking threat, goals can come from anywhere if necessary.
Mexico's strong squad for the tournament gives them depth that other teams, like Venezuela can only dream of.
That could pay dividends in the latter stages when Osorio can make changes and bring match-fit, quality players into the team to replace tired or suspended stars.
Another factor with both a long and short-term pay off, is that while other teams have suffered because of their hectic travel schedules, Mexico's has been relatively light.
They played in Glendale, Arizona, then Pasadena, Los Angeles, before now appearing in Houston, Texas. It is a total distance of less than 2,000 miles.
Another incentive to beat Venezuela and top the group is that they could then play their quarter-final clash, almost certainly against Chile or Panama, in Santa Clara, which would be a short trip again.
Mexico are extremely well-positioned to go far in this year’s Copa America Centenario. Beating Venezuela—or simply not losing to them—would be a stepping stone on the way to glory.
However, as Jesus “Tecatito” Corona pointed out, if anything is going to harm Mexico, it will be themselves.
He told Univision (link in Spanish): "We have to be a little calmer, sometimes we are our own worst enemy because we get too desperate."
Based on the evidence of the first two games, he is correct. If Mexico can eliminate the mistakes from their game, the periods where they cede possession of the ball to their opponents, they will see off Venezuela and go storming into the quarter-finals with wind in their sails.
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