THREE KEYS TO MEXICO’S SUCCESS VS THE USA
El Tri and the Yanks will add another chapter to their historic rivalry in the semifinals of the 2023 edition of the CONCACAF Nations League. To say this rivalry has been one-sided recently would be an understatement. Mexico has yet to be able to defeat its northern neighbors in their previous five meetings, including two finals losses in the 2021 Nations League and 2021 Gold Cup.
Both squads have been through their fair share of changes since those two finals meetings. Mexico terminated Tata Martino’s contract and hired another Argentine manager in Diego Cocca.The USA also parted ways with their coach Gregg Berhalter following the World Cup, and has yet to appoint a new manager. The USA is also on their second interim coach.
So, can El Tri finally get one over on their archrivals? In short, yes, but it won’t be pretty, and here’s how they can do it in three steps.
COCCA RETURNS TO THE 5-3-2
While leading Atlas to the BI-Campeonato, he would deploy a 5-3-2 or modified 3-5-2 formation which emphasized defensive stability. This formation would work against this version of the USA. USMNT Striker Ricardo Pepi recently stated, “We are more aggressive…”. Cocca can use the aggressiveness and high press that the USA will likely employ against them, and hit them with quick counters. The Yanks have had issues breaking down opponents who have a solid defensive block. If Cocca’s men can stay disciplined, the Americans will get frustrated and make mistakes.
SPEED KILLS
Mexico has very fast players in various positions and needs to use them. Araujo, Herrera, Jimenez, Arteaga, and yes, even Antuna, should all be in the lineup and use their speed to counterattack the USA as they push men forward, especially if rumors are true, and Walker Zimmerman will be a starting CB. Among them, in true Cocca style, Henry Martin will also need to be in there to fight for aerial balls and hold possessions while the jets fly in behind him. The American starting backs are also more attack-oriented than defensive, so putting constant pressure on them will lead to mistakes, fouls, and cards.
DEADBALL TACTICS
In the past two finals, all of the United States’ goals have come from either freekicks or corners. The Yanks have aerial specialists in McKennie, Pepi, the aforementioned Zimmerman, and even Pulisic are dangerous in the air. Not to mention, the USA’s new striker Folarin Balogun is a poacher in the box and will need to be accounted for on every play. Defending the deadball has always been an Achilles heel of El Tri, and if they want to take back the CONCACAF crown, they will need to put in some serious work in this department.
It won’t be pretty, but it can be effective. El Tri will have to play to its coach and squad’s strengths to try and regain its place atop the Concacaf mountain and get their first win against the United States in their last five meetings.
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