It will be a study of contrasts at the Estadio Azteca when Mexico hosts Scotland on Saturday.
The entire Scotland squad combined has 78 caps. Six Mexico players have more individually.
El Tri is playing its final match in the Americas before heading to Europe for a final friendly match and then the World Cup. Scotland is getting ready for the UEFA Nations League in September.
There's still intrigue surrounding the match for Mexico fans. El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio has set the game as the deadline for players who were injured to get fit and be named in Mexico's final squad for Russia. With four cuts still to be made, Saturday could be a deciding factor in who goes and who stays.
| Game | Mexico vs. Scotland |
| Date | Saturday, June 2 |
| Time | 8:00pm.ET/1:00am BST |
| Stream (US only) | fuboTV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
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Squads & Team News
| Position | Mexico players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ochoa, Corona, Talavera |
| Defenders | Marquez, Ayala, Alanis, Alvarez, Gallardo, Layun, Reyes, Salcedo, Moreno |
| Midfielders | Herrera, Aquino, Molina, Damm, Gutierrez, J. Dos Santos, Fabian, Guardado |
| Forwards | Hernandez, Peralta, Jimenez, Corona, Lozano, G. Dos Santos, Vela |
There are still concerns over Diego Reyes' fitness for this match, while Andres Guardado's recovery also may keep him from playing in this match, which Osorio has set as the deadline for fitness for players. Still, expectations may be made for the two veterans Mexico is desperately hoping to have in Russia.
Potential starting XI: Ochoa; Salcedo, Ayala, Moreno, Layun; J. Dos Santos, Herrera, Fabian; G. Dos Santos, Hernandez, Lozano
| Position | Scotland players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Archer, Bain, McLaughlin |
| Defenders | Hendry, McKenna, Mulgrew, O'Donnell, Paterson |
| Midfielders | Gadden, McGeouch, McGinn, McLean, McTominay, Murphy, Shinnie |
| Forwards | Russell, Morgan, McBurnie, Christie |
Matt Phillips and Lewis Stevenson have left the squad after playing against Peru with Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell joining up with the team.
Potential starting XI: Bain; Paterson, Mulgrew, O'Donnell, Mckenna; McLean, McGinn; Murphy, McGeouch, McTominay; Russell
Betting & Match Odds
Mexico is favored to win with dabblebet putting El Tri at 2/7 to win with a draw the next likely outcome at 4/1. A Scotland win is at 10/1.
Click here to see all of dabblebet's offers for this weeks' international friendly matches.
Game Preview
USA Today
The deadline is here. Or maybe it isn't.
While fitness worries about defender-midfielder Diego Reyes and midfielder Andres Guardado continue, the June 2 deadline Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio set for all players to be fit doesn't seem so firm. Mexico wants those two on the field in Russia and may give them as long as possible to get fit for the group game, even going against the original plan and traveling to Denmark with more than 23 players.
Mexico would like to see them on the field Saturday against Scotland as well, in what should be a triumphant send-off for El Tri in front of a sold-out crowd at the Estadio Azteca. It might be too soon for them, but Osorio also hopes Giovani dos Santos will be able to start and prove he's fit to play significant time.
Rafa Marquez, who at age 39 is set become the third player ever to play in five World Cups, may also get a look after missing Mexico's scoreless draw in Wales because he can't travel to the United States.
Alfredo Talavera and Miguel Layun joined up with the team Tuesday after finishing their rest period from their European season, and all 27 players have been part of training this week - with Reyes and Guardado the players who have worked apart from the full group.
It's an inexperienced Scotland team visiting Mexico City. Center back Charlie Mulgrew's 35 caps lead the way with John McGinn's eight caps good enough to put him second. Seven players made their Scotland debut in a 2-0 loss to Peru.
Mexico will want to give their fans a victory to celebrate, especially coming in after failing to score in consecutive matches for the first time in the Osorio era.
Osorio will be more concerned, though, about making sure there are no new injuries to worry about and that those who came in unable to give their best have reached the level they need to be able to be in top condition by June 17's World Cup opener against Germany.
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