Mexico target Gold Cup final with victory over Panama
ATLANTA --
History offers a painful reminder of the challenge ahead. Mexico expected to defeat Panama when the two teams met at this stage in the last edition of this tournament. The demands and the expectations were even higher then. The failure to deliver the anticipated victory led to regime change and paved the way for a fraught World Cup qualifying campaign.
Mexico manager Miguel Herrera and his players hope to avoid a similar fate in this semifinal at the Georgia Dome on Wednesday (live, 9:00p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2, FOX Sports Go).
In order to manage the feat, El Tri must produce their best performance of the tournament to date. They reached this stage without fully convincing anyone along the way. They finished second in Group C. They muddled through questions about the unity within the ranks and stood firmly behind Herrera in their wake. They benefited from a controversial penalty decision in the dying embers against Costa Rica to secure their deserved victory in the quarterfinal. They now square up to a chance to finally set the errors of two years ago straight and take their expected place in the final.
“I think so, because it is the same tournament, in a similar instance,” Herrera said about the potential for a cathartic victory in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. “Even though it is a different group -- both players and coaches -- I think so.”
The alterations continue for a Mexican side forced to adapt on the fly in this tournament. Herrera must make a change in the back three with Oswaldo Alanis expected to replace the injured Yasser Corona (left knee). He must also weigh whether to risk Giovani dos Santos as he continues his recovery from an adductor injury sustained against Trinidad & Tobago last Wednesday, though this match may ultimately arrive too quickly for him to contribute.
If Giovani is not fit enough to feature at some stage, then the precision must arrive from elsewhere. Oribe Peralta and Carlos Vela squandered several chances to see Mexico through comfortably as Costa Rica entrenched during the second half and extra time on Sunday. Peralta received late reprieves for his wastefulness and his wanton behavior, but he must locate his usual level of sharpness inside of the penalty area in order to thrive.
“We work equally with everyone,” Herrera said. “On other occasions, you saw us working on our shape in the middle. We took our time to work on the aspects that we need and we continue to do that to make sure our definition is correct. We must talk to them and tell them not to worry. They must stay focused and put the ball in the net in the next game.”
If they do not, then they risk the possibility of suffering through another nightmare. Panama return many of the key players from that 2-1 victory in Texas two years ago, but Los Canaleros face a nervous wait over the fitness of several of them. Integral figures Anibal Godoy (eligible again after serving a one-match suspension in the penalty kick victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday), Gabriel Gomez and Blas Perez are all wrestling with knocks picked up over the course of the tournament.
Panama manager Hernan Dario Gomez sidestepped any definitive verdicts about their availability for the semifinal, but he underscored the importance of continuing along the path charted in this tournament so far. His side is remarkably consistent -- four 1-1 draws so far with the first goal scored in each of them -- yet it must find another gear here in order to ensure Mexico does not find its stride consistently.
“When Mexico played against teams from the Caribbean and imposed their style, they won,” Gomez said in his pre-match press conference. “When they clashed with T&T, they drew. Panama has a new, developing style of soccer with technical players who can move the ball with skill and technical quality and who play well. We will see on Wednesday who submits: us to them or them to us. Mexico is a more technical team than Panama, but we hope to impose our style on them.”
The potential blend of pace, physique and technical ability can create some problems for Mexico and control the tempo of the game. Alberto Quintero poses genuine menace on the left, particularly if Paul Aguilar ventures forward too earnestly. Perez (if he plays) and Luis Tejada present a robust threat up top with their particular blend of application and grit.
If everything fires at once, then Los Canaleros can trouble the Mexicans without losing their generally reliable defensive shape. It is not a point lost on El Tri ahead of this decisive encounter, even though they understand a good performance with cadence in possession and intent in the final third will likely carry them into the final.
“Every match is difficult,” Mexico midfielder Jonathan dos Santos said. “They require attention on the small details. We have to stay focused, defend well, be strong and take the opportunities we have. Against Costa Rica, we missed a lot of opportunities that could have given us the victory much earlier. We know we have to be focused from start to finish, as we have done so far.”
It is a challenge Mexico failed two years ago. It now falls on this squad to atone for that misstep, grasp the good fortune provided in the late stages against Costa Rica and use it to secure a place in the final on Sunday.
