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Scouting
Report
Style of play: Mexican coach Javier Aguirre
prefers a traditional 4-4-2 formation (although he has
been known to use a 3-5-2) with a defensive midfield.
Alberto Garcia Aspe and a core of workmanlike midfielders
control possession in midfield by moving the ball around
the full width of the pitch and challenging opposing
players for 50-50 balls with bruising tackles. Unlike
other striking duos, Mexico's forwards are not totally
dependent on passes from midfield. Instead, they often
drop back to try and win the ball and then create their
own scoring chances by making direct runs at opposing
defenders.
Strengths:
Coaching -- Javier Aguirre took over a lethargic
team that was left for dead during qualifying and brought
it back to life. He gets the best out his roster and
because of that, players are incredibly loyal to him
and are playing with newfound confidence.
Offensive depth -- Cuauhtemoc Blanco is a creative
striker who can create scoring chances for himself from
anywhere on the pitch. Striker Francisco Palencia is
versatile, tireless worker and Jared Borgetti has outstanding
aerial skills. This trio of attackers will produce lots
of quality scoring chances for Mexico.
Defence -- Mexico's trio of defenders are very
solid and supported by a cast of capable reserves. Rafael
Marquez is a physical defender who reads the game very
well, while Rafael Garcia has good all-around skills.
Weaknesses:
Creativity -- Mexico boasts toughness in midfield,
but not a lot of playmaking artistry or vision. Jesus
Arellano, the lone creative midfielder, will miss the
first two games due to suspension. Without any service
from midfield, Mexico's strikers will be left to their
own devices to generate scoring opportunities.
Track record -- Mexico has qualified for 11 previous
World Cups but have only managed to progress as far
as the quarter-finals (both times when it hosted the
tournament). Like Spain, Mexico chronically under-achieves
on soccer's greatest stage and usually manages to lose
games it should win.
Pressure -- It isn't enough for Mexico to win,
but its passionate supporters demand that they have
to win with style. That is far too much to ask of moderately
talented side that will have its hands full just to
make it beyond the first round.
Key injuries/omissions: Creative midfielder
Jesus Arellano will miss the first two games due to
suspension…. Veteran goalkeeper Jorge Campos received
a surprise call up into the squad by coach Javier Aguirre…
Prognosis: Mexico is currently ranked number
seven by FIFA, a ranking that doesn't seem justified
in light of the fact it took Mexico till the final day
of qualifying to stamp its passport for Japan and South
Korea. While the Mexicans are unquestionably the heavyweights
of the CONCACAF region, beating up on nations like Panama,
Trinidad & Tobaggo and Canada isn't the same as
facing teams the quality of Italy, Croatia and Ecuador.
Mexico simply doesn't have the pedigree or the class
to seriously challenge for one of the top two places
in Group G and will have to settle for a third-place
finish above Ecuador.
The
Country
Location: Central America, bordering on the Caribbean
Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to the east, the Pacific
Ocean to the west and the United States to the north.
Capital: Mexico City
Area: 1,972,550 sq km
Population: 100,349,766 (July 2000 est.)
Government type: Federal republic
Climate: Varies from tropical to desert.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish)
60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white
9%, other 1%.
Religions: Nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant
6%, other 5%.
Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl,
and other regional indigenous languages.
History: Mexico was under Spanish rule for three
centuries before achieving independence early in the
19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994
threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering its worst
recession in over 50 years. Ongoing economic and social
concerns include low real wages, underemployment for
a large segment of the population and inequitable income
distribution.
The Community in Canada
As of the 1996 census, there were 23,295 people of Mexican descent in Canada. The highest numbers were in Ontario (8,210) and British Columbia (5,560), followed by Quebec (5,195), and Alberta (2,455).
In spite of a good showing in their opening match, Mexican-Canadians are not holding out a great deal of hope for the Mexican team. As one contact, a Peruvian-Mexican-Canadian with family in Ecuador, put it when asked if he was supporting Ecuador or Mexico, "Neither. I'm supporting Argentina - hey, you've got to be realistic!"
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