Mexico need to clean up their act

Mexico were slightly fortunate to make it out of their group. With El Tri’s loss to Sweden serve as a wakeup call? 

After an impressive start to their World Cup campaign, Mexico showed us their uglier side against Sweden in their final group match, lacking conviction and discipline in their own end.

Although things were going somewhat according to plan through the first half, it all unraveled immediately after the second half kickoff following a series of defensive miscues that saw Sweden go up three goals in the span of 24 minutes.

From a tactical standpoint, Juan Carlos Osorio had been applauded and (finally) praised by the Mexican media following the team’s perfect start. Mexico were in need of a tie in their last game against Sweden to go through,  so it was surprising to see how easily Sweden players found space in the Mexican 18-yard box — not once but twice in the play leading up to the opening goal, as neither Edson Alvarez nor Andres Guardado were anywhere near Ludwig Augstinsson, the Swedish left-back who scored the game-winner.

The other two goals, which left El Tri on the precipice of disaster, were also the results of poor individual defensive decisions. The only silver lining may be that these types of mistakes or unfortunate bounces are unlikely to repeat themselves, because if Mexico are to have a chance against Brazil, they can ill afford any defensive lapses, of the mental kind or otherwise.

In theory Mexico should have approached the game with a defense-first mentality, looking to make it as difficult as possible for their opponents to find any space. In practice, with their wealth of creative midfield players this Mexican team aren’t exactly built to absorb pressure, despite being able to shut out Germany in their first game. El Tri have shown they have trouble handling a direct, physical attack, especially if the opponent has more pace on and off the ball — unlike Germany, who seemed to be stuck in neutral throughout the World Cup.

Mexico did extremely well in their first two games because they were able to exploit their strengths, their ability to take on opposing players (going into the Sweden game, Mexico were leading the World Cup in terms of direct dribbles) and attack with speed. Against Sweden, Mexico showed their limitations, as they had some trouble with Sweden’s high press and were unable to create the same quick transitions that put both Germany and South Korea off balance in the first two games.

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As the tasty matchup against Brazil looms ahead, Osorio’s men will do well to use the scare from the Sweden game as a sobering wakeup call. Brazil may not have the same physicality nor the same direct approach, but they’re quicker and more skillful than any team that Mexico have faced. For Mexico to have a chance at an upset they’ll hope the type of shambolic defense exhibited in the second half against Sweden is out of their system.

The good news is Brazil aren’t Sweden in terms of physicality and direct approach. A more technical side may actually offer Mexico a better matchup, even if that side may well be the most technically gifted team at this World Cup.

For now the Mexicans can dare to dream. Eliminate the defensive errors shown against Sweden and their World Cup dream may just continue. Failure to do so will leave the Mexican fans with a feeling that this generation could have accomplished more at this World Cup, considering the impressive wins in their first two games.