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World Cup Qualifying Preview: Mexico vs. Trinidad
Goal.com's Sylvestre Adame previews the Mexican national team's upcoming game against Trinidad & Tobago.
Jun 9, 2009 3:04:55 PM
What: World Cup qualifying, CONCACAF final round.
When: 9:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Where: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
TV: Telemundo
On Wednesday Mexico and Trinidad will meet again. This will be the ninth meeting between the two in the World Cup qualifiers. Both teams will be hoping for a win on Wednesday after they both endured tough losses during the weekend. Mexico suffered a tough defeat with their newly appointed manager at the helm. They lost 2-1 in a very controversial match against El Salvador. The Soca Warriors on the other hand endured a loss against the best team in the hexagonal. Costa Rica beat Trinidad 3-2 in a very tight game.
Line up questions
Mexico's line up could be going through a change by Wednesday's game. The line up could be changing up in the back where Mexico seemed to be most vulnerable against El Salvador. A replacement for Oscar Perez could be in the works. Guillermo Ochoa was available as a sub for the game which means he could be the replacement to el "Conejo". Another replacement would be to the defender Oscar Rojas. It was evident that Aguirre did not like his play much after he switched him with Osorio. Expect Carlos Salcido back in the backline for Mexico. Gerardo Torrado had a horrible night with Mexico. His poor play led to El Salvador's first goal. Along with Pavel Pardo, Torrado is suspended for the Trinidad match. Finally Fernando Arce again showed his inconsistency with Mexico. Arce was out of the game and a better fight for the right flank could be Giovanni Dos Santos.
Pressure to win
The pressure is on for Mexico. They sit fifth overall in the Hexagonal and are only one point ahead of their Wednesday rival. With a lot to gain and a whole bunch more to lose Mexico is pressured to win against Trinidad. El Tri will be playing at the Azteca, where they have not lost during the elimination phase. Mexico's only victory during the qualifying stages was against the team that beat Trinidad. Mexico beat Costa Rica at a packed Azteca 2-0. The pressure is on for Aguirre as well. The miracle worker was supposed to resurrect Mexico from the ashes and so far has failed to do so. It is too early to judge Aguirre though. Mexico has six games left including this one to turn things around; 18 points, four home games and two away games separate Mexico from their World Cup dreams.
History against Trinidad
Mexico holds an edge against Trinidad when it comes to their past matches. Out of 15 total matches Mexico has won 10 tied twice and lost three times. The three losses to the Soca warriors have come in World Cup qualifying matches. Their most recent loss to Trinidad was back in 2005 when Mexico was trying to qualify to another World Cup. Trinidad won at home 2-1. Mexico has never been defeated by Trinidad at home. El Azteca still stands as the Mexicans impenetrable fortress, for they've only lost once during qualifying at the Coloso de Santa Ursula.
Trinidad & Tobago struggling too
Trinidad has nothing good going for them during this World Cup qualifying cycle. The magic that drove the Soca Warriors into the 2006 World Cup seems to have disappeared. They are dead last in the hexagonal with only two points. Trinidad has beaten Mexico during world cup qualifying but never away from home. The outcome looks bleak for Wednesday's game against Mexico. The Soca warriors have been able to surprise in the past and Mexico will have to be on their toes if they want to defeat them.
Projected lineups:
Mexico:
----Guillermo Ochoa----
---Ricardo Osorio--Francisco Rodriguez--Carlos Salcido--Edgar Dueñas---
---Giovanni Dos Santos--Pavel Pardo--Cuauthemoc Blanco---Andres Guardado---
-------------------------Guillermo Franco--Miguel Sabah-------------------------------
Trinidad & Tobago:
----Clayton Ince----
---Makan Hislop--Avery John--Marvin Andrews--Dennis Lawrence---
---Carlos Edwards--Densil Theobald--Dwight Yorke Christopher Birchall---
----------------------Cornell Glen--Jason Scotland---
Goal.com Projection: Mexico 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Sylvestre Adame covers Mexican football for Goal.com.
Visit Goal.com for more coverage of the Mexican national team.
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