Mexico Squad Report: Olympic gold medal-winning coach predicts victory over Holland

Luis Fernando Tena will always hold a special place in Mexican hearts after guiding El Tri to Olympic gold at London 2012 and the coach is confident that the Netherlands are not an insurmountable obstacle to the present squad reaching the quarterfinals at Brazil 2014. 

“Mexico will win 3-2 in extra-time because our team is very good physically,” said Tena in a press conference in Mexico City on Friday. “(Mexico) works the games and little by little imposes itself, I think we’re all happy with how the national team has done.”

Tena highlighted the personality and dynamism Mexico has shown and said the performances of the team has elevated the status of the Mexican game.

In Brazil, the squad itself arrived in Fortaleza on Friday evening ahead of Sunday’s round of 16 matchup against the Netherlands and was once again accompanied by the traveling support that has been with them since their Brazilian adventure began.

Around one thousands fans were present to welcome the team to its hotel in the city where El Tri managed a 0-0 draw against Brazil in the second match of the group stage.

It has now been confirmed by coach Miguel Herrera via the Mexico federation that Carlos Salcido has been given the job of replacing holding midfielder Jose Juan Vazquez and that the rest of the team will be the same.

The starting XI against the Netherlands is: Guillermo Ochoa, Rafa Marquez, Francisco Rodriguez, Hector Moreno, Paul Aguilar, Miguel Layun, Salcido, Hector Herrera, Andres Guardado, Giovani Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta.

Fixtures/Results

Group A – June 13 – Mexico 1 – 0 Cameroon

Group A – June 18 – Mexico 0 – 0 Brazil

Group A – June 23 – Mexico 3 - 1 Croatia

Round of 16 - June 29 - Mexico vs. Netherlands

Squad News/Rumors/Injury Report

Jose Juan Vazquez is the only absentee after picking up his second yellow card in the Croatia match. Mexico has largely been lucky with its lack of injuries and suspensions, although Hector Moreno, Paul Aguilar and Rafa Marquez all carry a yellow card into Mexico’s match with Netherlands and would miss a potential quarterfinal match should they again go into the book.

Team Leaders

Oribe Peralta, Rafa Marquez, Andres Guardado, Javier Hernandez – 1 goal each

Hector Herrera, Oribe Peralta, Rafa Marquez - 1 assist each

Guillermo Ochoa – 2 clean sheets, 8 saves

Quick notes

“Gallito” Vazquez may not be playing on Sunday, but that hasn’t kept the 26-year-old Leon midfielder out of the news. UK publication The Guardian named him as one of the ten best emerging players at Brazil 2014, while The Mirror selected him in a World Cup “Breakthrough XI.”

And Vazquez isn’t the only one getting the accolades from Mexico’s fine performances so far. Spanish outlet Marca conducted a poll in which Rafa Marquez and Guillermo Ochoa were both voted into the ideal XI of the World Cup so far.

Rumours of Ochoa moving to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille have been widespread, but there’s also been news of El Tri teammate Hector Moreno also attracting interest from the side managed by Marcelo “El Loco” Bielsa.

The Mexican squad is set to train in Arena Castelao on Saturday, 24 hours before the team kicks off against the Netherlands. Coach Herrera is also due to give a press conference at which, if he keeps to his usual practice, he’ll name Mexico’s starting XI to face the European side.