World Cup 2018: Three Tactical Changes Mexico should make against Brazil

#2 Attack Primarily Down the Wings

Gallardo was arguably Mexico’s best player in their first two games

The best way to prevent Casemiro from stopping counter-attacks is if Mexico primarily attack through the wings.

Mexico hasn’t done this yet as a rather significant 26% of their attacks (10 out of 32 teams in the World Cup) have come through the middle- partially depending on the guile of Hector Herrera and Hernandez. This will have to change if Mexico are going to pose an attacking threat against Brazil.

Firstly, Mexico have the personnel to pull off such a tactical shift. Their best player is clearly Lozano, one of the few ‘classical’ wingers who can play exclusively on the wing.

On the other side, Miguel Layun is a natural right-back who Osorio has been playing as a winger. In Jesus Gallardo, they also have a full-back who can bomb down the wing and accurately place crosses- Gallardo was arguably Mexico’s best player in their first two games.

Finally, Hernandez is the perfect poacher to finish crosses from the likes of Lozano, Layun and Gallardo.

Yet what makes this tactic necessary is the fact that Brazil’s weakness defensively lies on the wings. They have an excellent centre-back duo in Thiago Silva and Miranda, along with the defensive protection of Casemiro.

Thus, continuing to attack through the middle would be ineffectual. However, in terms of full-backs, Brazil’s first-choice right-back is not in Russia while Marcelo may not be available.

The Selecao may have to play a full-back duo of Fagner and Filipe Luis- both relatively inexperienced players.

Moreover, Brazil’s wingers (Neymar and Willian) are simply not going to track back. Thus, there will be acres of space for the likes of Lozano, Layun and Gallardo to exploit.