Mexico Has Chance To Test More Of Roster, Build Momentum In Group Stage Finale

GUADALAJARA, México. — With first spot successful Group A secured aft 2 wins successful 2 matches, nan Mexican nationalist squad heads into its last group shape lucifer against Czechia connected Wednesday astatine 6 p.m. connected Fox and Telemundo without unit and is preparing to play immoderate of its reserves.

The business is rather different for Czechia, which has conscionable 1 constituent aft losing 2-1 to South Korea and drafting 1-1 pinch South Africa. The European squad needs a triumph against Mexico astatine Azteca Stadium successful Mexico City to beforehand to nan adjacent information — either arsenic nan group runner-up aliases arsenic 1 of nan champion third-place finishers.

“The Czechs are incredibly tough; they’re a very physically demanding team,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “We watched them successful their 2 matches against their group opponents, and it’s not going to beryllium easy.”

Aguirre will person to strategize pinch an oculus toward what lies up successful nan adjacent round, which is simply a single-elimination format. Mexican American midfielder Brian Gutiérrez enters this last group shape lucifer pinch an accumulated yellowish card, truthful Aguirre apt will not play him to debar risking suspension for nan information of 32 game. FIFA rules clear each cards aft nan group shape ends.

The lucifer could people nan return of César Montes, who was sent disconnected against South Africa and missed nan South Korea game.Goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, successful his sixth World Cup, could spot immoderate playing clip arsenic a benignant of tribute to his career, but Raúl Rangel had an bonzer capacity against South Korea, truthful it remains to beryllium seen whether Ochoa will get playing time.

“Obviously, it would beryllium thing extraordinary; it would beryllium really cool for Memo. He’s a fable successful Mexico and connected nan nationalist team. He’s ever been a subordinate consenting to springiness his each for nan nationalist team,” Mexico guardant Alexis Vega said. “In nan end, I deliberation [Aguirre] will make nan decision. I judge that each 26 of america present will springiness it our each if fixed nan opportunity. Whoever gets nan chance will do their best.”

Erik Lira, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo and Roberto Alvarado are nan Mexican players who person covered nan astir crushed for nan nationalist squad successful some matches, making them candidates for rest. Gallardo has a beardown replacement disposable successful young AZ Alkmaar subordinate Mateo Chávez.

Mexico’s Edson Álvarez clears nan shot distant from nan extremity during nan first half against South Korea during a World Cup match.

(Ricardo Mazalan / Ap Photo/ricardo Mazalan)

Edson Álvarez, who had a beardown capacity against South Korea, is apt to commencement again.

Another subordinate who could spot action is Santi Giménez, nan AC Milan forward, who has been recovering from an wounded and played only 10 minutes against South Korea. Gilberto Mora, Mexico’s youngest World Cup subordinate astatine property 17, could commencement nan game.

“We person to dainty nan crippled against [Czechia] for illustration a final. We cognize [Czechia] needs this win, but we’re preparing ourselves. Getting utilized to winning goes a agelong way,” Giménez said successful an question and reply connected Wednesday pinch TV Azteca.

Mexico does not yet cognize its force successful nan adjacent round, which will beryllium 1 of nan champion third-place finishers. Its force will not beryllium wished until nan 8 champion third-place teams that beforehand to nan information of 32 are identified.

On nan Czech side, coach Miroslav Koubek favors a disciplined and beingness approach, pinch Patrik Schick and Adam Hložek starring nan counterattack that will activity to capitalize connected immoderate Mexico mistakes.

“We cognize that Mexico is 1 of nan champion teams successful our group, and it will beryllium reliable for america connected their location turf. But we judge we tin get a bully consequence and decorativeness nan group shape connected a precocious note,” said Michal Sadilek, a midfielder for nan Czech team.

Since Czechia needs a triumph to advance, that suggests nan squad will onslaught much aggressively, which will beryllium vulnerable for nan Mexico defense but will besides time off much abstraction for nan location squad to utilization nan counterattack. Czechia has shown this World Cup it is peculiarly vulnerable connected group pieces.

Fellow Group A teams South Korea and South Africa will look disconnected astatine nan aforesaid clip arsenic nan Mexico-Czechia lucifer — 6 p.m. Thursday — successful Monterrey. The South Koreans, pinch 3 points, are looking to unafraid 2nd spot and a round-of-32 crippled astatine SoFi Stadium, while South Africa needs a triumph to compete for a spot arsenic nan second-place finisher aliases a berth among nan champion third-place teams. A South Korean nonaccomplishment mixed pinch a Czech triumph complete Mexico would sound LAFC’s Son Heung-min and his South Korea teammates retired of nan tournament.