Confederations Cup 2013 Preview: Mexico

Usually branded as an unnecessary tournament which simply robs players of their summer break, the Confederations Cup in reality is much more important. Technically, it is the Championship of Champions as along with it being a dress-rehearsal for the big show – the World Cup – it also pits the six winners of their respective Confederations along with the FIFA World Cup winners and the forthcoming World Cup hosts to judge who is the best of the best.

Here is a preview of the CONCACAF winners Mexico:-

Buildup to the Tournament

The 1999 edition winners and two-time Confederations Cup semifinalists come into this tournament by virtue of being the CONCACAF Gold Cup Winners. El Tricolor won the 2011 edition with a 100% win record with a 4-2 comeback win against the United States in the finals. The recently concluded 2012 Olympics saw the young Mexican National Team win the Gold medal ahead of the much fancied and talented Brazilians, who they will be facing in the upcoming tourney.

Style Of Play

The Mexican style of play involves a fast transition from attack to defense with all the players showing good technique in passing the ball around. It is an organized system, as expected from Latin American or South American teams, which is rarely physical and pleasing on the eye. Most of the current national team players play in the Mexican League, but their main men ply their trade in Europe and are pretty good at it too.

The Squad

In goal you have Cruz Azul’s shot-stopper Jose de Jesus Corona who has been in fine form and was one of the reasons why the club reached the Liga Mx Finals. He marshals a defense consisting of Porto’s Diego Reyes, ex-Fulham wingback Carlos Salcido, Severo Meza and Gerardo Flores. Midfielder Gerardo Torrado sometimes acts a cover for the defence by playing deep and dictating play as required. No big names or star players but Mexico’s defense is an organized and a decent one.

Now this is where it starts getting better for the Mexicans. Their midfield consists of some pretty well-known and talented footballers. In Andres Guardado and Pablo Barrera, they have two pacy wingers who have the ability to beat their man and put in countless crosses or cut in and fire the odd pot-shots at goal. In central midfield sits their talisman and captain, Gerardo Torrado, who can spray the balls out to the wingers or keep it short and snappy as the situation demands. Assisting him is Jesus Zavala of Monterrey who likes to play in the hole but can put in a decent shift at central midfield too. Apart from all this, they also have the 2012 Olympics sensation Hector Herrera and Jonathan Dos Santos in their ranks who have shown that they too can mix it with the big boys.

Javier Hernandez has one of the best goals-to-game ratio of any forward in today’s world. A natural goal scorer with an incredible eye for goal, he has become the 5^th highest goalscorer for Mexico at the age of just 25. He also had the best goals/minutes ratio for any player with 5+ goals in this season’s Barclays Premier League. He is ably supported by Liga Mx star and Olympic Gold medal winner Oribe Peralta. Ironically, Peralta went to the Olympics only because Chicharito wasn’t allowed to go by Manchester United, so both of them haven’t really played together as of now. But this partnership will be one that many people will look forward to. Forgotten man Giovani Dos Santos and veteran Aldo De Negris, both of whom can play as wingers or as supporting strikers, complete this promising and talented Mexican attack.

Player to watch out for

Javier Hernandez – Chicharito has been in fine form over the last year with 24 goals for club and country despite not being afforded ample amount of starts for his fantastic performances. Quick, two footed and good in the air, he is a predator and is on top form coming into this tournament. Hernández was the 2011 Gold Cup’s top scorer with seven goals and was named the most valuable player of the tournament, in addition to helping his team to victory in the final which qualified them for the 2013 Confederations Cup. He is the undisputed star of El Tri and any inroads for Mexico into the latter stages of the tournament will depend on his goal-scoring exploits.

Summary

A tough group consisting of Japan, Brazil and Italy means that the Mexicans will have to play out of their skin, defend in an organized manner, pass the ball around patiently and hope that Chicharito and company gobble up the chances in-front of goal to have a realistic chance of getting through the group and winning the Cup.

And finally, here is how the Mexicans are expected to line-up for the tournament:-