Forty-eight hours before El Tri's make it or break it 2025 moment
Some lines ahead of El Tri's 2025 Nations League Final Four debut
First of all, let me express how happy I am after recording two Mexican Soccer Show episodes. If you’ve watched them, thank you! I look forward on my conversations with Cesar Hernandez and Lizzy Becherano and hope you’ll enjoy the podcast in the weeks ahead.
Where can we start with El Tri?
It’s not easy, let me tell you. On the one hand, there’s a sense that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but on the other there’s serious doubts still lingering ahead of the match against Canada.
To say that Mexico heads into Thursday’s game as the clear favorite would be an incorrect assessment. Respect has to be added to Jesse Marsch’s side after finishing among the top-4 in last year’s Copa America, held in the United States.
How will El Tri deal with Canada’s pressing triggers?
Does El Tri have the right center-backs to carry the ball out from the back? Will they have the order to send long-balls up to the strikers if Canada’s press becomes too intense?
These are all questions to be asked ahead of the crucial game.
As the hours near, it looks like Julian Quiñones will get the start. His contributions will be fundamental if El Tri aspires to get the win. Quiñones is a forward that likes to appear in open space. Those tend to be his best moments on the pitch. In games where there’s so much on the line, it’s important that he scores the few opportunities he may have. El Tri can’t afford too many misses against Canada, as they won’t come as easily. His movements off the ball, with Raul Jimenez or Santi Gimenez on the field will be critical.
A game for Alexis Vega? A year ago, it would have been unthinkable to suggest that El Tri’s winning chances would be passing through his boots, but this is where we are. I’m intrigued to see if he lives up to the moment, if those tears he shed in the 2022 World Cup really signify the pride he has to play for Mexico. His club level is undeniable, he’s scoring and assisting, but his national team level has never lived up to that high level. Javier “Vasco” Aguirre and Rafa Marquez have deposited in him to lead El Tri’s attacking reigns. If El Tri has a successful March a lot will have to do with Vega’s contributions.
Get ready, buckle up because these games will be a rollercoaster of emotions. I expect that we’ll see Marquez’s coaching blueprint in these next games. It’s going to be an opportunity to really understand what he provides as a coach. Vasco understands that Marquez will one day be El Tri’s manager and has opted to act as a mentor. The coach and face right now is Vasco; he’ll take the jabs and hits as manager, but it’s all to shield Marquez, who’s using the next weeks and months to develop his qualities as manager. What better way to develop his coaching skills than with players that look up to him and admire all the accolades he achieved as a player.
But one thing is clear, Canada, the USMNT and Panama won’t be easy opponents. Time in Concacaf has dramatically changed in the last decade, and the evolution won’t stop.