THE AFTERMATH: MEXICO VS CANADA WHAT WENT WRONG
Mexico’s road to Qatar got a little bumpier after last night’s uninspired draw at home against Canada. El Tri continued to struggle to generate and looked unorganized in the back as a speedy Canadian attack ran wild throughout the game. So, where does this leave Mexico ahead of its next two qualifier games?
SPEED KILLS
Let’s not beat around the bush, Mexico struggles against teams with speedy attackers, and unfortunately, they were matched against Concacafs fastest and best player, Alphonso Davies. Every time Davies made a run down the flank every fan cringed. Fortunately, only one of those attacks ended in a goal.
CB PAIRINGS NOT WORKING
Tata has stuck with the CB duo of Araujo and Montes throughout these qualifiers. They have given up three goals in four games and have held a shutout in only one. At .75 goals per game, that average isn’t that bad, but when your offense is only producing 1.25 gpg in the same span, it becomes an issue. The glaring issue is that there are no alternatives, last night Tata’s alternatives to the Canadian attack were 33 years old Hector Moreno and Cata Dominguez…….yeah.
LACK OF CREATIVITY
Tata’s two 8’s are not working, there is a complete lack of creativity in the squad aside from sparks from Chucky and Tecatito, build-up is nonexistent. While Guardado and Herrera are both Iron Horses for El Tri, they are not producing for this team. Younger alternatives are chomping at the bit, to get in there.
YOUTH REVOLUTION NEEDED ASAP
So what’s the solution to these issues? Tata and Mexico need to look to their neighbors to the north. Yes, their archnemesis, the USA. Berhalter turned to youth after a rough start, he went with Pepi (18) over mainstay Zardes (30). The American backline average age is 24, and their attack 21. Mexico has plenty of U-23 players that need to be on this team, Tata has just been hesitant to pull the trigger, and with media and fan pressure mounting, he may not.
Now, again four games in, Mexico is still undefeated in the tournament and is currently in second place. They will be challenged by a Honduras squad that is desperate for its first win and has two very fast players in the attack in Alberth Elis and Rigoberto Rivas. This may be the perfect game for Tata to inject some youth into his starting squad and his substitutions. If not, and Mexico doesn’t come out with a win, Tata’s stubbornness may cost him his job.
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