Mexico vs. Ecuador: Preview
Now the real work begins for Miguel Herrera and Mexico.
After Wednesday's 3-0 victory over Israel played out as a farewell party for iconic striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco more so than a proper World Cup tune-up, El Tri will now have to narrow their focus against another team looking to gear up for next month's competition.
While Mexico are only three days removed from that win, their opponents today, Ecuador, will take part in their first friendly since May 17 when they played to a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.
All eyes towards Brazil for both teams.
The Details
Teams: Mexico vs. Ecuador
Time: 3:00 PM EST
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Texas, United States
Television: ESPNEWS (U.S. - English), Univision, Univision Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), TV Azteca 7 (Mexico)
Injury Update
Mexican goalkeeper Jesus Corona is likely to watch the match from the bench in favor of Guillermo Ochoa, but thankfully, it will not be related to the head injury that saw him stretchered off against Israel and taken to hospital while wearing a neck stabilizer.
Corona collided with teammate Maza Rodriguez in the 70th minute of the contest, but the Mexican FA released a statement the following day assuring that his injury was not serious.
Porto midfielder Hector Herrera, who sat out Wednesday's tilt with an illness, is expected to be fit, according to his managerial namesake.
"We hope that when we get to Dallas to train, [Herrera] arrives at the stadium having recovered well, but there is no hurry if the doctor says that he is not 100 percent," Miguel Herrera said.
Ecuador, meanwhile, are still dealing with concerns over a hip contusion suffered by bullish striker Felipe Caicedo in the aforementioned friendly against Holland. The well-traveled attacker had to be stretchered off the pitch, but recent statements from the team's medical staff suggest he is recovering ahead of the tournament.
"After the contusion he suffered on the hip bone, he is undergoing treatment and it is progressing well," Ecuador doctor Patricio Maldonado on was quoted as saying last week.
Historic Head-to-Head
The two sides have met 17 times in the past, with Mexico claiming the bragging rights on 10 occasions. A further five matches have ended in a draw.
Last Meeting
CenturyLink Field in Seattle - known at the time as Qwest Field - was the venue for the most recent encounter between these two World Cup hopefuls (2011).
The teams played to a 1-1 draw.
Jose Torres Nilo opened the scoring from an early set piece for Mexico, but a wonderful goal from Michael Antonio Arroyo tied the game.
Great strike. Even better commentary.
3 Things To Watch
Mexico's squad selection
With Blanco now out of the fold, Miguel Herrera will be tasked with fielding a lineup that should resemble the one he hopes to use in the team's opening World Cup match against Cameroon on June 13 in Natal.
Indeed, the manager recently hinted that today's lineup could resemble his starting XI in just under two weeks' time.
"We hope that on Saturday we have a full team, then we can begin to see others and begin to make decisions about who are going to be the core of the team," he said.
At the very least, this contest against a fellow World Cup-quality opponent should help him narrow down the competition for a starting berth.
With only 180 minutes of game action remaining before the tournament kicks off, time is running out to make the necessary decisions, including what to do with Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado.
Herrera is among the contenders to replace Juan Carlos Medina in the holding midfield role, as the ankle injury that has ruled the latter out of next month's tournament remains a black cloud hanging over the squad. Does the Porto man have the tactical nous to make the position his own, or will he be overtaken by José Juan Vázquez?
As for Guardado, he will likely get a look as the left wing-back after playing in a more unfamiliar central midfield position against Israel. The speedy Bayer Leverkusen man (on-loan from Valencia) should prove that he is much more adept out in the wide position at AT&T Stadium.
Giovani Dos Santos vs. Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez
With Herrera opting to utilize two out-and-out strikers in his 5-3-2 formation, there seems to be no room for the supremely talented Giovani Dos Santos.
Preferring to drop deep and pick up the ball as opposed to operating as a more traditional forward, the Villarreal man will need to foster opportunities for his strike partner to show Herrera that he can indeed function in the formation.
If not, he will likely be relegating himself to the bench in Brazil.
Oribe Peralta seems almost certain to be a starter at the World Cup, meaning there is only one spot available for either Dos Santos or Manchester United man Javier Hernandez.
Despite not scoring against Israel, Chicharito did perform well after being introduced as a substitute.
Unless his counterpart can produce something spectacular today, look for Hernandez to be the man partnered alongside Peralta against Cameroon.
The wing is king for Ecuador
Antonio Valencia on the right side. Jefferson Montero on the left.
Ecuador's squad may be devoid of the star power associated with the World Cup favorites, but in those two flying wingers, manager Reinaldo Rueda has a pair of players that will be able to trouble any and every squad they come across.
Today's match sets up a tantalizing tactical battle involving the two men.
With Mexico opting for a 5-3-2 setup, Valencia and his 24-year-old counterpart - who will be familiar with many players on the other side of the field given that he plays his club football for Mexican team Monarcas Morelia - will look to exploit the gaps left behind when the two Mexican wing-backs get forward.
Should they be able to find space with regularity, Ecuador could very well come away with a positive result.
