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Diziah
Starting Member
USA
33 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 07 2001 : 7:00:05 PM
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Tue Aug 7 11:57:55 2001
By Luis Bueno
7 August 2001 (TEAMtalk) - Before Copa America began, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said his goal for Copa America was to prepare for their next World Cup qualifier.
After six matches and one World Cup qualifier, Aguirre now has enough games under his belt to pick a starting lineup. When Mexico play Jamaica on Sept. 2 in Kingston, the team’s style should be similar to the one that finished second in Copa America. They will play tough defense, control the ball, and play physical, aggressive soccer with a touch of arrogance.
Aguirre has brought total football to Mexico. Much like the Dutch teams of the 1970s, Mexico can switch players from position to position with success. Aguirre tends to choose players that are versatile and can fill several roles at once. In other words, he is maximizing his players’ skills to better the team.
Aguirre’s trip to Colombia helped clear up many question marks with the national team. Several players did little to solidify their spots on the team while others showed they belong on the squad while still others have yet to shed the question-mark label.
In case, Aguirre needs help to decide on a starting line-up, here is one suggestion. This is not to say that some of the players he unceremoniously ousted from the national team should not return. This is the lineup he should use given the players he has used thus far.
The following lineup will give Mexico their best shot at beating Jamaica.
Goalkeeper:
Oscar Perez, Cruz Azul. Perez is not an overwhelming goalkeeper. He will not win games with his mere presence. All Perez does is play solid and steady and everything one would expect in a goalkeeper. With the system Mexico utilizes now, Perez is a perfect fit.
Right back:
Jesus Arellano, Monterrey. Quite possible the most versatile player on Mexico’s roster, Arellano can play three positions well. His value is probably best served as a right back, where he acts as a Mexican version of Roberto Carlos. Arellano’s speed is an asset and with the support of the central defenders, he has the ability to use it.
Center back:
Alberto Rodriguez, Pachuca. Rodriguez may not be one of the more naturally gifted defenders in Mexico, but what he lacks in skill he makes up for in effort. Rodriguez would complement Arellano well on the right side of the defense. He can sprint up the field when needed and can get back to his position quickly. His versatility and heart benefits the team.
Central defender:
Rafael Marquez, Monaco (France). No other player in all of Mexico is as skilled as Marquez is in the heart of the defense. Marquez has all the tools to be a dominant defender for years to come. The Monaco-based defender has proven to be a leader in the Aguirre regime and has a bit of a mean streak of late. The only drawback to Marquez is that he tends to get hurt easily. He has missed several crucial matches of late because of injuries.
Center back:
Manuel Vidrio, Pachuca. Some would call Vidrio a dirty player. Even Palencia may attest to that. After all, Vidrio threw an elbow at Palencia during a league match last year that resulted in 33 stitches. However, this is what makes Vidrio a valuable player. An early physical challenge by Vidrio may cause the opposing forwards to think twice about trying to roam free past the defense. Vidrio is the prototypical defender under Aguirre’s system.
Left back:
Carlos Heriberto Morales, Chivas. Another product of Mexico’s total football system, Morales is proving to be an adept back. Morales, normally a forward, has raw skill and speed. He is not as talented as Arellano but his enthusiasm is unmatched. Morales can push up and add another ball-handling midfielder to the attack and quickly recover in case of a turnover. Like Arellano, the talent on the backline can allow Morales to roam free up top.
Right midfielder:
Johan Rodriguez, Santos. With Gerrardo Torrado unavailable due to accumulation of yellow cards, Rodriguez should get the call. He is not a great player but he serves his team well. He can agitate opponents with his dives and physical play, which helps the other offensive-minded players find space.
Center midfielder:
Alberto Garcia Aspe, Puebla. It took Garcia Aspe nearly two years to re-join the national team, but his inspired play in league did the trick. Now, he is proving to all the naysayers wrong. Garcia Aspe is still the same volatile yet gifted midfielder he always has been. His leadership on the field is second to none while his experience is just as valuable. He has fought through qualifying battles in the past, so Kingston will not deter the captain.
Left midfielder:
Cesareo Victorino, Cruz Azul. Victorino can fill the balance between aggressive defending and offensive attacks. The slender midfielder can create scoring chances, help build the attack and finish if need be. Victorino has stepped up in key league matches but has not shown the same flair for the dramatic while with the national team. He has shown more than other attacking midfielders on the squad and should get the nod at this position.
Strikers
Francisco Palencia, Espanyol (Spain). Under Aguirre’s scheme, Palencia seems to be the perfect forward. He can finish as well as anybody in the region. He is aggressive and will leave it all on the field. Palencia will not back down from any challenge and will respond to the toughest task. His inspired play with Cruz Azul in Copa Libertadores is testament to that. He led the team in goalscoring with six and took Cruz Azul all the way to the finals. He is the number one forward on Aguirre’s depth chart.
Jared Borgetti, Santos. While playing with Aguirre, Borgetti has scored three goals, all of which were of top-notch caliber. With the rest of the team controlling the ball, Borgetti can focus on one thing: scoring goals. And in the Mexican league, there is nobody better at that. Borgetti is learning how to translate his goalscoring skills from the league level to the international stage. One scoring chance is all the lanky forward needs to potentially bury a team.
source: http://www.internetsoccer.com
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