Mexicans sense French stars are ripe for upset
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2010, Thursday
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AFTER ruining South Africa's opening party plans, Mexico takes on an unsteady France side today eager to highlight its growing reputation as a World Cup gatecrasher.
France's household names hold no fears for a side which upset champion Italy 2-1 in a warm-up game before holding the host to a 1-1 draw in their first Group A match.
"At the end of the day, we're not playing against their stars, we're playing 11 against 11," Mexico midfielder Gerardo Torrado told reporters before facing the likes of Franck Ribery and Thierry Henry. "We have to be warriors."
The intriguing fixture in northern Polokwane seems a lot tighter than the sides' contrasting pedigrees suggest and France, which looked harmless in its 0-0 draw with Uruguay, can expect a fierce challenge from coach Javier Aguirre's men.
"They're an excellent side who can give any team a hard time," France coach Raymond Domenech said of Mexico. "I watched them against Italy and I was impressed. You must make sure they don't get too much possession, otherwise you're in trouble."
Another key to the match will be whether France's high-profile forwards, who have not scored an international goal since last November, will hit the back of the net at last.
Defensive stalwart
"We can't put our trust in the fact that it has been a long time since they scored," said Mexico's defensive stalwart Rafael Marquez, who plays for Barcelona but knows French soccer well having had a three-year spell in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
"They're maybe not in the kind of form that we're used to seeing them in but that can change in an instant," he added.
Such are the 1998 champion's worries up front that Domenech might decide to bring back Henry, its most prolific scorer with 51 goals from 122 appearances, in place of Nicolas Anelka at center forward.
Domenech, who boldly introduced an attacking 4-3-3 system during his side's preparations, is expected to revert to his preferred, more cautious 4-2-3-1 system against Mexico with Jeremy Toulalan and Abou Diaby in front of the defense.
Aguirre could also make a few changes and may opt for Guillermo Ochoa in goal after Oscar Perez's shaky showing against South Africa.
The experienced Cuauhtemoc Blanco, now 37, and young Javier Hernandez, 22, could also start in attack, at the expense of Carlos Vela and Guillermo Franco, respectively.
France's household names hold no fears for a side which upset champion Italy 2-1 in a warm-up game before holding the host to a 1-1 draw in their first Group A match.
"At the end of the day, we're not playing against their stars, we're playing 11 against 11," Mexico midfielder Gerardo Torrado told reporters before facing the likes of Franck Ribery and Thierry Henry. "We have to be warriors."
The intriguing fixture in northern Polokwane seems a lot tighter than the sides' contrasting pedigrees suggest and France, which looked harmless in its 0-0 draw with Uruguay, can expect a fierce challenge from coach Javier Aguirre's men.
"They're an excellent side who can give any team a hard time," France coach Raymond Domenech said of Mexico. "I watched them against Italy and I was impressed. You must make sure they don't get too much possession, otherwise you're in trouble."
Another key to the match will be whether France's high-profile forwards, who have not scored an international goal since last November, will hit the back of the net at last.
Defensive stalwart
"We can't put our trust in the fact that it has been a long time since they scored," said Mexico's defensive stalwart Rafael Marquez, who plays for Barcelona but knows French soccer well having had a three-year spell in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
"They're maybe not in the kind of form that we're used to seeing them in but that can change in an instant," he added.
Such are the 1998 champion's worries up front that Domenech might decide to bring back Henry, its most prolific scorer with 51 goals from 122 appearances, in place of Nicolas Anelka at center forward.
Domenech, who boldly introduced an attacking 4-3-3 system during his side's preparations, is expected to revert to his preferred, more cautious 4-2-3-1 system against Mexico with Jeremy Toulalan and Abou Diaby in front of the defense.
Aguirre could also make a few changes and may opt for Guillermo Ochoa in goal after Oscar Perez's shaky showing against South Africa.
The experienced Cuauhtemoc Blanco, now 37, and young Javier Hernandez, 22, could also start in attack, at the expense of Carlos Vela and Guillermo Franco, respectively.
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