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FIFA World Cup 2018 team analysis: Mexico in good form but could run into Brazil in Round of 16

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup opener, myKhel.com breaks down the chances of all the 32 countries playing the World Cup final stages. Here is the team analysis of Mexico.

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FIFA World Cup 2018 team analysis: Mexico in good form but could run into Brazil in Round of 16

Country: Mexico

Placed in Group F also featuring South Korea, Sweden and Germany

Fixtures:

Vs Germany, June 17, Sunday, at 8:30 PM (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow)

Vs Korea Republic, June 23, Saturday, at 8:30 PM (Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don)

Vs Sweden, June 27, Wednesday, at 7:30 PM (Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg)

FIFA ranking: 15

Previous World Cup: 2014 (Eliminated from Round of 16)

Best Finish: Quarter-finals in 1986

Star players: Javier Hernandez (striker for West Ham United), Jesus Corona (winger for FC Porto), Hirving Lozano (winger for PSV Eindhoven), and Jonathan dos Santos (striker LA Galaxy).

Coach:

Juan Carlos Osorio

Osorio had spells with several clubs and enjoyed great success with Atletico Nacional in particular before being appointed the Mexico coach in 2015. Nicknamed El Recreacionista (The Recreationist in Spanish) due to his unorthodox training methods, the Colombian guided his team through an impressive qualifying campaign where they secured a ticket to Russia 2018 with three games to spare. Under Osorio's watch, Mexico have lost just seven of their 45 games.

Mexico confirmed their 2018 FIFA World Cup berth following their 1-0 victory over Panama in CONCACAF qualifying. El Tri then defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3-1, taking their points tally to 21, thus assuring they finish at the top of the qualification table for the first time since 1997.

Mexico have made 15 final stage appearances in the football World Cup but have never managed to go past quarter-finals, which they entered twice in 1970 and 1986. In Russia, Mexico share the group with defending champions Germany, Sweden and South Korea. If they finish second in the group, Mexico will directly face five-time champions Brazil in the round of 16, provided Brazil top their group of course.

Mexico would bank on their star players to make it to QFs

With 49 goals, Javier Hernandez is Mexico's all-time top scorer. Hernandez, the West Ham striker, appeared at South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, scoring three times. Nicknamed 'Chicharito', the forward won the FIFA Club World Cup title with Real Madrid in 2014.

Hernandez is a third-generation Mexico international after his father and grandfather, who played for Mexico in the 1986 and 1954 World Cups respectively. He is certainly going to be a key player for El Tri this year as well.

The Mexican side also boasts of 22-year-old winger Lozano, a promising young talent who could give opposition defenders a run for their money with his dribbling skills.

They also have a seasoned campaigner in Jonathan dos Santos. The LA Galaxy striker scored his 19th international goal during his team's international friendly against Scotland. However, the 28-year-old hasn't been the best of his form.

Dos Santos inspires World Cup-bound MexicoDos Santos inspires World Cup-bound Mexico

It was way back in 1986 when Mexico entered the quarter-finals and now, they are trying to end the 32-year-long drought. They are amongst six countries to have qualified consecutively since 1994 but somehow they've never got the best out of themselves to finish amongst the top-eight.

It will be interesting to see how Osorio's men will get better of Sweden and Korea and deal with Germany in their opening game.

Prediction: Considering their history of qualifying for the round of 16, Mexico are already considered the second favourite in Group F. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic's absence, Sweden are going to face a tough challenge from El Tri. South Korea might find it tough to get past Mexico.

Mexico, however, will face their biggest challenge in the next stage where they're destined to face Brazil if they finish second in their group.

Belgium</a> | <a href=Panama | Tunisia | England" title="Belgium | Panama | Tunisia | England" />Belgium | Panama | Tunisia | England

Poland</a> | <a href=Senegal | Colombia | Japan" title="Poland | Senegal | Colombia | Japan" />Poland | Senegal | Colombia | Japan

Sweden</a> | <a href=Germany" title="Sweden | Germany" />Sweden | Germany

Story first published: Saturday, June 16, 2018, 0:28 [IST]
Other articles published on Jun 16, 2018
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