Mexico

Eriksson Gives Mexican National Team Day Off

On his 61st birthday, Sven-Goran Eriksson canceled training as the Mexican national team had a day of inactivity less than one week before opening the 2009 Hexagonal.

Feb 6, 2009 7:26:50 AM

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WCQ: Sven-Goran Eriksson - Mexico (Mexsport)

Sven-Goran Eriksson celebrated his 61st birthday away from the soccer field as the Mexican national team coach scrapped training on Thursday.

With less than one week from opening the final round of World Cup qualifying against the U.S. in Ohio, Eriksson opted to give the players the day off and celebrated his birthday with a day of rest.

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The move drew some criticism from around the Mexican league.

"That is something atypical," Chivas coach Efrain Flores said in a press conference. "As coach, I wouldn't do that. I would think there would be a better way to pass the time, to think about how to beat the United States."

El Tricolor has drawn criticism for several months as results in friendlies and the semifinal phase of World Cup qualifying have ranged from mediocre to downright poor. Injuries and suspensions have cost Eriksson of several name players, including Andres Guardado and Gerardo Torrado, and the day off has apparently cost Eriksson of some valuable prep time.

"I'm surprised that it happened because right now what I think is most crucial is the time to prepare the team," Flores said. "If there was a prior agreement between the coaching staff and the players to take this day off, only they would know."

Tecos coach Miguel Herrera said the situation was puzzling and that league coaches had the right to question the move.

"It's difficult to understand how teams could give up their players to the national team and then all of the sudden the national team gives them the day off less than one week away from an important game," Herrera said in a press conference. "If what (Eriksson) is asking for is the time to work with the players, he should take advantage of all of the time."

Week 4 of the Clausura 2009 season will be played without any of the players Eriksson called on for the United States match as the group gathered in Mexico City after their respective Week 3 matches.

Herrera said it may have been best for clubs to have held on to their players after all.

"If we are going to give up our players to support the national team, to see the national team in a state we'd all be happy with, then they need to take advantage of the time to work," Herrera said. "But if they are going to give them days off, it would be better to return them to their clubs on the weekend. That would have been more beneficial."

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