Costa Rica secure as Mexico awaits
As Mexico gets set to play Costa Rica on Saturday at NRG Stadium, the reality of its broader predicament looms in the background.
Stars such as Hirving Lozano, Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela are absent from the team for personal or injury concerns. On top of that, the team isn’t participating in the 2019 Copa America and won’t have an opportunity to play in the now-defunct Confederations Cup, leaving Nations League and the Gold Cup as
its only major tournaments in the 2022 World Cup cycle.
Mexico began the Gold Cup by thumping Cuba 7-0, but in its final group-stage game, Mexico outpaced Martinique in a less impressive 3-2 match. But those challenges haven’t shaken the cautious confidence that animates coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino and his team.
“We want to replicate the way (we’ve) played to be in command of the match,” Martino said through a translator Friday. “We always want to be the one to decide how the match is played and that’s what we want to do tomorrow.”
Between the matches against Cuba and Martinique, Mexico defeated a high-scoring Canadian team, which entered the competition with lofty aspirations, 3-1 last Wednesday.
The Mexicans, tournament co-favorites after winning the competition on seven occasions, were the top scorers after sweeping through the group stage with 13 goals.
“Of course the other team has quality players,” Martino said. “But in general I don’t think we need to adjust to them. What we need to do is be able to respond.”
Martino is undefeated in his seven matches with Mexico. Against Costa Rica, he looks to correct the defensive errors that led Mexico to concede twice against Martinique. In light of those — and his opponent’s most recent — struggles, he anticipates a different look than the Central American country gave Haiti.
In facing Costa Rica so soon in the knockout stage, he was surprised to meet a foe he expected to play for the crown.
“(My) first impression is this is a game we could’ve had later on,” he said, referring to Saturday’s opponent, which Monday lost Group B to Haiti — a team rated nearly 60 spots lower
in the FIFA rankings. “Perhaps the surprise is that we have to face them this soon but probably we were thinking of semifinals.”
Meanwhile, Costa Rica senses a window in Mexico despite its upset loss to Haiti.
“This is a beautiful opportunity,” coach Gustavo Matosas said, deflecting the idea his team is a significant underdog. “This is soccer. There’s players and a ball in the middle. The favorite is going to be the one who plays the best.”
Costa Rica played Haiti at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., in a match that amounted to a home game for the Haitians. At NRG Stadium, Matosas’ players expect to be in hostile territory once more, although they appear largely unfazed.
“I think for the players, we always like to play in a full stadium,” Costa Rica defender Oscar Duarte said. “When we are on the field it’s 11 against 11 and that’s it. We have an opportunity now. We’re going to try to take advantage of it.”