Mexico’s Hector Herrera and team-mates during a training session at the Al Khor SC Stadium in Al Khor yesterday. Reuters
Doha: Mexico coach Gerardo Martino has said El Tri must start positively against Poland in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This will be Mexico’s eighth straight World Cup, and over the years, they have made it only to the Round of 16 in the last seven appearances.
The Group C tie will be played at Stadium 974, and Martino is keen to get off to a flying start against a side he said plays “only one game style.”
“We are expecting to play our three group stage matches the same way, and that will depend on the rival’s game plan, too. We have a tough group with competitive rivals. Tomorrow’s showdown is special and important for us,” Martino told reporters yesterday.
Poland players during training yesterday at Al Kharaitiyat SC Training Facilities in Al Rayyan. Reuters
“Tomorrow’s match is going to be crucial for us. Poland only has one game style, and we are going to prepare ourselves for that match based on it. Poland has versatile players. They always wait and look for the open space. The style we saw against Sweden might be similar tomorrow,” the 60-year-old added.
Mexico will be hoping Raul Jimenez, who came on as a sub in their last friendly match, will be fit enough for the World Cup. The 31-year-old Wolverhampton Wanderers forward has only featured three times in the English Premier League this year due to form and injury, but his importance to the national team is unmatched.
Martino’s side qualified second in CONCACAF behind Canada, and they will be confident of challenging for a knockout. Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa stressed there would be no easy opponent in this tournament.
“We know what we are facing tomorrow against Poland. We need to block them. Tomorrow’s match is key; we are only thinking about Poland as of today.”
The 37-year-old Ochoa said the group is excited to start the World Cup, but not everyone has experience playing on this stage.
“I have the privilege to be in my fifth World Cup. I want this one to be different – and the best of them all.
“Every World Cup is important, but Brazil 2014 was special. I hope for everyone to have another big memory during this World Cup.”
Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz dismissed talks that Mexico are favourites in their opener while stressing the legitimacy of Poland’s chances to make it out of the group.
This will be Poland’s ninth World Cup, and they’ll hope to make it past the group stage for the first time since 1986.
“I don’t see the disparities between us, Saudi Arabia or Argentina,” Michniewicz said of the group.
“We are all at the World Cup. We feel as important as our opponents in the group. We don’t give them any special rank.”
“I think that we can get out of the group. We don’t want to be among the first 16 teams to go home. We have experienced players who have played in many tournaments, and many youngsters are just learning the big tournaments here in Qatar. I think this mix is right for us,” he added.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny backed striker Robert Lewandowski to shine at this tournament. Lewandowski had said this could be his final appearance at the tournament despite failing to score in his previous two appearances.
“It is important for him to score,” Szczesny said. “I believe that one day, Robert’s great performance in Qatar will also be talked about.”
