Mexico's head coach Javier Aguirre revealed in a press conference before Wednesday's game against Trinidad that there would definitely be a change in the Mexican lineup.
El Vasco apparently did not like what he saw against El Salvador and said Mexico need to make the proper changes to face a team like Trinidad. Aguirre revealed that his team would look to be attack-oriented because they need to make more goals.
"I am thinking of making three or four or even five changes. We need to make goals. It is no good to us to just be organized in the first half, it's not good to just neutralize our opponent. What we need to do is attack, attack and attack," expressed Aguirre.
Aguirre will not count on the services from Gerardo Torrado or Pavel Pardo thanks to an accumulation of cards. So Aguirre will only have one true center midfielder for the game. Israel Castro would be the man to replace Pardo and Torrado as Aguirre said.
"Castro will play, it is obvious that he will. He is the only other natural midfielder we have, given that he started out playing in the right flank. I have three or four other men that could play in the center mid if needed," Aguirre said.
Aguirre admitted in a past press conference that any silly foul or player out burst would not be tolerated. Guillermo Franco though got away with a deliberate punch to the Salvadoran Alfredo Pacheco. The punch was not seen by the referee but was seen by Aguirre who did not qualify the play as nondisciplinary.
"What Guille did is a scene that cannot repeat itself. Guille knows what he did was wrong, and it's something we didn't like. I told him that and I make it public because I let him know," admitted Aguirre. "The Salvadoran gave Franco two flavorful blows with his elbow in front of the referee so Guille did the same. It's not a lack of discipline. It's not, believe me it's not. If they gave you two elbow shots, you would need to have a lot of patience to not react."
With regards to Trinidad, Aguirre is skeptical of how their opponents will play away from home especially after they appointed one of their subs, Russell Latapy, as head coach.
"They put a player form the bench to be their head coach. The suspense, and I say it openly is how they will play in our field. Will he have the guts to do what he did against Costa Rica….I think they will be more cautious here than what they were against Costa Rica. I think they will be cautious and will throw themselves back a few meters," foresaw Aguirre.
Onus on Mexico.
Trinidad and Tobago ’s national team had a one hour training session at the Estadio Azteca from 8pm (pm TT Time) on Tuesday on the eve of their 2010 World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Wednesday night in the Mexican capital.
Head Coach Russell Latapy arrived with a 19-man squad, all with face masks, just after midnight on Monday via Panama City before checking into the Radisson Hotel before a high presence of Mexican media which asked the question of the night … “Does Trinidad feel it can cause another upset against Mexico on Wednesday?”
Skipper Dwight Yorke would only respond: “It’s going to be a crucial game for both teams but the pressure is on Mexico to get a result at home. They are coming off a loss and so are we so both teams will be going all out to get something from this game. It’s always difficult to play at the Azteca Stadium but we are still very excited about the game.”
Looking ahead to the game, Yorke was still optimistic.
“The onus is on Mexico now because they are under pressure,” Yorke told TTFF Media.
“Their confidence is low at the moment and both teams will see this as crucial towards qualification.”
Latapy, who spoke to the media here in fluent Spanish, commented on the importance of the game for which T&T will take the field in their white kit.
“Coming here we knew was always going to be a vital game for us and for Mexico . And the situation is similar for both teams except that Mexico are at home,” Latapy said.
Latapy brought in defender Radanfah Abu Bakr and striker Devon Jorsling as replacements for Dennis Lawrence, who is out because of a family emergency while Scotland is out after picking up an injury in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Costa Rica. Avery John is also out injured with Kerry Baptiste, Densill Theobald and Khaleem Hyland all coming into the team.
Meantime, defender Marvin Andrews gave thanks to the Almighty for achieving a milestone of 100 international appearances on Saturday.
“It’s a great feeling for me to be able to play 100 times for my country and I must give thanks to God The Almighty. Without him I may not have been back out and I have to be thankful for a successful surgery and being able to achieve this wonderful milestone. I’ve played in Cup Finals and several big matches but this one was special in a lot of ways because to do something like this for your country is a wonderful thing” Andrews told TTFF Media.
“With God anything is possible and that is why I am still confident that we can get to South Africa. We played well on Saturday but we were unfortunate not to come away with the victory. Whatever God wants for us that is what he will give us and if he believes we shall be in South Africa then we will accomplish that feat. We just have to keep believing and working hard to achieve that.”
The Raith Rovers and former Glasgow Rangers defender also said that Lawrence was in his prayers at this time.
“Dennis is a good friend and everyone knows that we play together in the defence for Trinidad and Tobago . It’s a difficult time for him now and I pray to God that his mom has a successful and speedy recovery,” Andrews added.
Reporters here in Mexico claim that already it seems like a crowd of over 100,000 will turn up at the Azteca to try and spur their team on against the “Soca Warriors” which lost 2-0 when the both teams met in Mexico in 2005. However the Mexican FA has appealed to the media to assist them in getting the fans to attend the game, with tickets for only half the 104,000 capacity Stadium sold up until Tuesday.
The Azteca is also noted as the fourth largest in the world. Teetering 7,200 feet above sea level, the stadium has earned a reputation for Mexico 's national team as a fortress of results.
“If Mexico doesn't beat Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday then Javier Aguirre and his team are in real trouble” one headline read in the Mexican press.
"I'm one who's convinced we'll be in the World Cup finals," Aguirre said. "There's still time. What's for sure is that six games remain and four will be at home and we have to put those points up."
Nestor de la Torre, president of the commission for Mexico 's national teams, asked the press not to encourage Tricolor fans to boycott the match.
"We are in the same boat to go together to the World Cup and to be encouraging situations that divide I do not think it is good for anybody," de la Torre told reporters during the Mexican national team's press conference, "not for you, not for directors, not for the players and much less for the place that Mexican football deserves to be in, or for the Federation, or to generate any good for all of us that share the same football space in the world."
De la Torre also clarified that the Mexican national team is open to constructive criticism from the news outlets for their poor form.
"We are aware that this Saturday we did not have a good result [against El Salvador], the team's function was not what we expect or what we pretend, that individually and as a group there needs to be improvement, that the coaching staff is aware of all those mistakes," admitted de la Torre.