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International Friendly Preview: Mexico vs. North Korea
El Tri will play their second World Cup tune-up against a fellow World Cup participant when North Korea visits Torreon on Wednesday.
Mar 16, 2010 2:04:00 PM
By Sergio Tristan
Who: Mexico vs. North Korea
What: International friendly
When: Wednesday, March 17, 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: Territorio Santos Modelo, Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
TV: Telemundo
Mexico will be playing its third friendly of the year in preparation for the World Cup in South Africa. Having already won handsomely against Bolivia and New Zealand the Mexican team prepares in Torreon for what has typically been a speedy North Korean side.
Relatively Unknown
North Korea soccer is virtually unknown on this side of the Atlantic, well pretty much this side of Asia, but you get my point. The North Koreans did achieve great success in the 1966 World Cup, beating Italy 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals. However, it’s their southern neighbors, and rivals, who have demonstrated the greatest growth in futbol. South Korea's growth has led to their domination of the region and achieving its own semifinal game in 2002 when they co-hosted the event. The rivalry is sure to intensify this summer when both countries will be playing in the World Cup.
Precious Few Spots Remaining
The list announced by Javier Aguirre for the next two Mexico friendly matches consists mostly of home based players. Jonathan Dos Santos being the only international player released for national team duty. With El Vasco having at least seventy to eighty percent of his team defined there are few spots on the 23 man roster left for the remaining hopefuls. Specifically, El Vasco will use this game to find substitutes in the midfield where he has the least amount of players locked in for South Africa.
Luis Miguel Noriega of Puebla and Patricio Araujo are the two players with the best opportunity to grab a last minute spot should they demonstrate good play in front of Aguirre and the Mexican fans. Noriega, especially, was a lock in during the Gold Cup last year but quickly fell out of favor after a red card in the opening rounds. Israel Castro and Gerardo Torrado took control of the job and never looked back, leaving Noriega off the pitch and eventually off the team roster that successfully qualified.
On the other hand, the Chivas center midfielder might find himself a spot based on association. His Chivas association with Javier “El Chicharito” Hernandez. The two have been key to the current success of Chivas and El Vasco could keep the good working pair together while filling his needs in the defensive midfield.
Aguirre the Cruel
Nothing is more fickle than the mind of a soccer coach, or a soccer fan, and poor Miguel Sabah appears to be on the inside looking out. The Morelia forward, who not to long ago saved Mexico in El Azteca against the U.S., was not even part of the roster for this game but found a last minute call up due to Matias Vouso’s injury over the weekend. The short but efficient striker has not worn La Verde this year and more than likely will not be wearing one this summer. The size and strength of Guillermo Franco, the speed of Carlos Vela, the flamboyant skill of Giovanni Dos Santos, the heroics of Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the sensational moment of El Chicharito, and even the potential of Nery Castillo makes Miguel Sabah’s chances slim to none.
Projected starting lineups
Mexico
---------------Luis Ernesto Michel--------------
Jorge Torres Nilo-–Johnny Magallon-–Juan Carlos Valenzuela-–Oscar Rojas
Alberto Medina-–Jonathon Dos Santos–-Luis Miguel Noriega-–Braulio Luna
----Cuauhtémoc Blanco-–Javier Hernandez------------
The Mexican players are looking to win spots, unfortunately the speed that helps El Chicharito will be lacking.
North Korea
-----------------Ri Myong Guk----------------------
Cha Jong Hyok------Ri Jun Il-----Pak Nam Chol----- Ri Kwang Chon
Ji Yun Nam---An Yong Hak------Hong Yong Jo---- Mun In Guk
-----Jong Tae Se------Pak Chol Jin-----------------
Goal.com prediction: Mexico 2, North Korea 0
Sergio Tristan is a contributor to Goal.com.
For more coverage of the Mexican national team, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.
What: International friendly
When: Wednesday, March 17, 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: Territorio Santos Modelo, Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
TV: Telemundo
Mexico will be playing its third friendly of the year in preparation for the World Cup in South Africa. Having already won handsomely against Bolivia and New Zealand the Mexican team prepares in Torreon for what has typically been a speedy North Korean side.
Relatively Unknown
North Korea soccer is virtually unknown on this side of the Atlantic, well pretty much this side of Asia, but you get my point. The North Koreans did achieve great success in the 1966 World Cup, beating Italy 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals. However, it’s their southern neighbors, and rivals, who have demonstrated the greatest growth in futbol. South Korea's growth has led to their domination of the region and achieving its own semifinal game in 2002 when they co-hosted the event. The rivalry is sure to intensify this summer when both countries will be playing in the World Cup.
Precious Few Spots Remaining
The list announced by Javier Aguirre for the next two Mexico friendly matches consists mostly of home based players. Jonathan Dos Santos being the only international player released for national team duty. With El Vasco having at least seventy to eighty percent of his team defined there are few spots on the 23 man roster left for the remaining hopefuls. Specifically, El Vasco will use this game to find substitutes in the midfield where he has the least amount of players locked in for South Africa.
Luis Miguel Noriega of Puebla and Patricio Araujo are the two players with the best opportunity to grab a last minute spot should they demonstrate good play in front of Aguirre and the Mexican fans. Noriega, especially, was a lock in during the Gold Cup last year but quickly fell out of favor after a red card in the opening rounds. Israel Castro and Gerardo Torrado took control of the job and never looked back, leaving Noriega off the pitch and eventually off the team roster that successfully qualified.
On the other hand, the Chivas center midfielder might find himself a spot based on association. His Chivas association with Javier “El Chicharito” Hernandez. The two have been key to the current success of Chivas and El Vasco could keep the good working pair together while filling his needs in the defensive midfield.
Aguirre the Cruel
Nothing is more fickle than the mind of a soccer coach, or a soccer fan, and poor Miguel Sabah appears to be on the inside looking out. The Morelia forward, who not to long ago saved Mexico in El Azteca against the U.S., was not even part of the roster for this game but found a last minute call up due to Matias Vouso’s injury over the weekend. The short but efficient striker has not worn La Verde this year and more than likely will not be wearing one this summer. The size and strength of Guillermo Franco, the speed of Carlos Vela, the flamboyant skill of Giovanni Dos Santos, the heroics of Cuauhtémoc Blanco, the sensational moment of El Chicharito, and even the potential of Nery Castillo makes Miguel Sabah’s chances slim to none.
Projected starting lineups
Mexico
---------------Luis Ernesto Michel--------------
Jorge Torres Nilo-–Johnny Magallon-–Juan Carlos Valenzuela-–Oscar Rojas
Alberto Medina-–Jonathon Dos Santos–-Luis Miguel Noriega-–Braulio Luna
----Cuauhtémoc Blanco-–Javier Hernandez------------
The Mexican players are looking to win spots, unfortunately the speed that helps El Chicharito will be lacking.
North Korea
-----------------Ri Myong Guk----------------------
Cha Jong Hyok------Ri Jun Il-----Pak Nam Chol----- Ri Kwang Chon
Ji Yun Nam---An Yong Hak------Hong Yong Jo---- Mun In Guk
-----Jong Tae Se------Pak Chol Jin-----------------
Goal.com prediction: Mexico 2, North Korea 0
Sergio Tristan is a contributor to Goal.com.
For more coverage of the Mexican national team, visit Goal.com's Mexico page.
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