Daniel is a football journalist based in Buenos Aires, who specialises in covering the South American game. You can follow him on Twitter at @DanEdwardsGoal
FIFA Confederations Cup: What to Expect from Mexico
Daniel Edwards@@DanEdwardsGoal
Featured ColumnistJune 4, 2013
There is no doubt whatsoever that it is a good time to be a fan of the Mexico national team. In addition to their iron grip on the North American football scene, the Tricolor have an exciting young side who were rewarded with an Olympic gold medal just under 12 months ago.
As Juan Manuel de la Torre's men prepare for the Confederations Cup, however, this is the time to find out whether the nation can progress from being Concacaf big fish to making a splash for the first time in major world competitions. The preparations for Brazil 2014 will begin in earnest during the traditional warm-up tournament, and the Mexicans have never been better placed for a successful campaign.
Thanks to their domination at the regional level—since the inception of the Concacaf Gold Cup in 1991, Mexico have been crowned champions in six of the 11 tournaments—the North Americans have been regular participants in the Confederations Cup. Their experience in the tournament has been mixed.
A superb individual tournament from local legend Cuauhtemoc Blanco was the key in Mexico's solitary triumph in 1999, achieved on home soil with a gripping 4-3 victory over Brazil in the final. The ex-America idol and Chicago Fire striker finished joint-top scorer with six goals, as he helped the Tricolor lift their first ever international trophy.
Aside from that success 14 years ago, though, the side have rarely enjoyed their trips to the meeting of federation victors.
Two semifinal finishes and two exits in the group stage represent a fairly underwhelming record for the nation, but the feeling is that 2013 can bring greater glory for the Tricolor faithful. With talent dotted around the squad, this faith may not be unfounded.
The base of the team is built around players who ply their trade in the local league, an almost unique achievement for a nation of the American continent; the best players of whom, generally, seek their fortunes in European football. This is a reflection of the growing economic power of the Mexican Primera Division, bolstered by interest from television companies and growing commercial exploitation.
Local stars such as Jesus Zavala (Monterrey), Raul Jimenez (America) and Porto-bound America wonderkid Diego Reyes give the team its familiarity, as they continue to play in front of the Mexican public despite strong interest from the best of Italy, Spain and other top European competitions.
This mix with the foreign-based idols, among whom Javier Hernandez and Andres Guardado stand out as the players to watch, has been a key factor in a sharp improvement in the Mexico national team since the last World Cup in South Africa, and a pacey, counter-based system utilises the pace of the likes of Chicharito to make the side a fearsome prospect.
De la Torre favours the in-vogue 4-2-3-1 formation when he has the luxury of playing a full-strength team, as he will in Brazil. Hernandez serves as the lone striker but is supported with the direct running of Guardado and Javier Aquino out wide, while the more cerebral talents of Giovanni Dos Santos keep things moving through the middle of the park. It is a dynamic, hard-working system, and on the right day Mexico's first XI are a match for any adversary.
Despite this confidence, Mexico cannot afford to get ahead of themselves. De la Torre's men have been drawn arguably the tougher of the two Confederations Cup groups, facing hosts Brazil, Asian champions Japan and Euro 2012 runners-up Italy.
To take one of the two qualifying spots, the Tricolor will have to be at their very best from the outset; two clashes in the space of three days against Italy followed by Brazil will make or break their tournament.
Still buoyed by that London success, the senior national team will be desperate to mirror the achievements of the Under-23s and keep up the winning momentum. Mexican football is on a high, and while they are far from favourites in the Confederations Cup, they have more than enough talent to spring a few surprises.