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World Cup round of 16 power rankings: Can anyone stop Brazil?

By James Dudko

TOPSHOT - Brazil's forward Neymar waves at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Brazil's forward Neymar waves at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Serbia and Brazil at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 27, 2018. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images) /
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YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA – JUNE 27: Carlos Vela of Mexico looks on during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA – JUNE 27: Carlos Vela of Mexico looks on during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /

10. Mexico

Like Russia, El Tri wowed through their first two matches, only to end an otherwise positive group campaign in disappointing fashion. Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat to Sweden was a squib damp enough to condemn Mexico to second place in Group F.

It was also the first time a team this talented going forward has looked pedestrian in attacking areas. What compounded the performance was the fact coach Juan Carlos Osorio opted against resting star names.

So Mexico were dull going forward even though Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez and Hirving Lozano all started. Even a midfield led by twin purveyors of passing Hector Herrera and Andres Guardado was too easily bypassed.

The result left Osorio doubting his tactics, per ESPN FC’s Tom Marshall:

Now hardly seems like the time for soul-searching, not with a last-16 meeting against Brazil on the horizon. Mexico have been a joy to watch at times, but Sweden exposed a potentially fatal fragility ahead of the knockout phase.

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