Mexico are set to face Iraq in Girona’s Estadi Montilivi at 3 ET / 2 CT / 12 PT in what’s the first of their remaining two prep matches previous to the beginning of the World Cup. It’s their eighth pleasant of the yr (since April), by which they’ve amassed a complete report of 2W, 2D, 3L. Not a perfect report by any stretch of the creativeness for any nation main as much as a World Cup, it doesn’t matter what your objective in stated match is. Particularly when throughout that stretch, 5 of your 7 opponents didn’t even qualify for the World Cup. And their final two upcoming prep rivals aren’t heading to Qatar both.
However Mexico’s issues go far past simply their poor pleasant outcomes. Over the whole WC qualifier interval, 2021 Gold Cup, in addition to friendlies, they’ve failed to actually discover a system that fits their gamers and places them in a perfect scenario to succeed. This due largely to the nation’s previous era of core gamers slowly getting older and retiring (to the purpose the place Ochoa (37), Moreno (34, Herrera (32), and Guardado (36) are the one key gamers remaining) and their failure to search out ample replacements. The expertise/ ability degree simply hasn’t been there for the Mexican NT.
To not point out, the actual fact head coach ‘Tata’ Martino has progressively misplaced extra of the nation’s fanbase, he’s now gone additional below fireplace after yesterday’s feedback explaining his determination to exclude teen Santi Giménez from the roster, regardless of his current performances in Europa League. Whereas if it had been as much as me, I’d take Giménez, I additionally perceive there’s a full course of that’s gone into Martino’s tenure and in the long run, you belief the coach is aware of who’s producing probably the most and offers his workforce one of the best possibilities to win. It’s additionally not a transfer that might considerably enhance Mexico’s possibilities both.
So, who precisely are Mexico dealing with in Iraq immediately? It is a NT who’ve solely participated in a World Cup as soon as (Mexico 1986) and misplaced all three of their matches by the way in which. This which means they’ve did not qualify for the final 9 WC editions (together with this yr’s). It’s a federation that has seen 5 head teaching adjustments since July 2021. They simply named Spaniard Jesús Casas as their NT head coach, in what is meant to be a everlasting transfer. We’ll see how that goes, however for immediately’s match, interim HC Radhi Shenaishil will probably be in cost.
The Iraq NT is ranked 68th by FIFA and did not make it previous the third and remaining spherical of their WC qualifiers. Their beginning lineup for immediately options no participant presently on an vital membership on a worldwide degree. In different phrases, Mexico should (and I imply MUST) dominate this workforce from begin to end and will come out winners from this match with no problem. It’s formally go time for Mexico and if you happen to can’t even beat Iraq in a pleasant, then you haven’t any enterprise attending a World Cup.
Now will not be the time for attempting to determine your fashion of play; you’ve had the previous 4 years to try this. If it hasn’t occurred by now, it ain’t happenin’ for the World Cup. Right this moment’s aims: DOMINATE and WIN it doesn’t matter what (and get your gamers some confidence on the way in which).
Listed here are immediately’s beginning lineups:
Mexico vs. Iraq: must-win
![Mexico vs. Iraq: must-win 6 Mexico vs. Iraq: must-win](https://i0.wp.com/fifanews.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mexico-vs-Iraq-must-win.jpg?resize=860%2C450&ssl=1)