Mexico eye further progress against Guatemala

Patience is a rare luxury in the middle of a tournament, but Mexico manager Miguel Herrera can afford to exercise it as his team sets its sights on winning the title this month.

Credit the circumstances for creating some latitude. El Tri brushed aside undermanned Cuba to open Group C play on Thursday. This group now confronts another manageable task against Guatemala on Sunday night (live, 9:00p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2, FOX Sports Go).

It is, in some ways, the perfect scenario for a side that entered this tournament under considerable scrutiny. The easy victory in the first game and the straightforward assignment in the second permit Herrera and his players to build confidence in the team and start the necessary progression toward the more rigorous challenges ahead in the knockout stage.

“The demands will grow against Guatemala,” Mexico manager Miguel Herrera told reporters in Phoenix on Saturday. “We have the obligation to win. We are focused and committed as a team on improving and playing well. Every day can be more difficult, but we must be prepared as the demands increase.”

Instead of evaluating his options during this compressed group stage, Herrera plans to stick with his first-choice XI. José Juan Vazquez is the only change in central midfield as he continues his recovery from a right leg injury sustained on the eve of the tournament.

MEXICO STARTING XI TO FACE GUATEMALA

Vazquez’s health remains important to El Tri as this tournament progresses and the need to defend increases, but the focus here remains firmly fixed on the chemistry going forward.

The injury to Javier Hernández (broken clavicle) forced Herrera to reshuffle his lineup ahead of the opener. He opted to replace Hernandez with Oribe Peralta to add a more traditional target man and provide an aerial dimension to the approach play. Peralta justified his inclusion ahead of Giovani dos Santos with a hat trick in the opener and supplied a reliable touchstone to facilitate the play.

Peralta’s neat work in the buildup offers a helpful component for a team always looking to combine neatly, create numerical advantages and play through the lines. The decision to play Héctor Herrera on the right creates some interesting balance considerations as Mexico moves forward. Herrera prefers to tuck inside -- he plays centrally with FC Porto -- to cede room for Paul Aguilar on the right, while Andrés Guardado pushes out toward the touchline at points to create genuine width on the left.

Spacing is a critical consideration for Mexico given the need to break down opponents from the run of play. It might take some time to cultivate the chemistry between Peralta and Vela and hone the movements inside the final third, but the work is critical to ensure this potent attack is ready to break down more resolute opposition.

“It is easy to play with them,” Mexico midfielder Héctor Herrera told reporters. “They are strikers of great quality. You know if you give them the ball, then they will return it in a good way. We were playing in our triangles many times (against Cuba), but we missed the final or the killer pass. That’s an important part [to improve], too.”

Guatemala is organized enough to allow Mexico to work through some of those kinks without threatening the final result. It is the perfect opportunity to establish the foundation necessary to move forward and introduce more ruthlessness ahead of the final Group C match against Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.

“It is important to continue to sharpen in front of goal,” Mexico fullback Miguel Layún told reporters. “We must continue to generate opportunities. We know sooner or later they will be converted.”

There are also considerations in defense as Mexico adjusts to life without injured linchpin Héctor Moreno. The decision to switch to a back four reveals the lack of depth in central defense and underscores the expectation to operate in possession in this sort of tournament. Diego Reyes and Maza Rodriguez coped with the modest threats sent their way in the opener. They must continue to find their footing together against the pesky Carlos Ruiz and instruct their teammates to mind their recovery positions when they concede possession.

“If we continued to stay plugged in and remain connected, then we can benefit all the way up until the final,” Mexico goalkeeper Memo Ochoa said. “But we must go calmly, step-by-step.”