Mexico’s national soccer team will face Australia today at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (California, USA), in coach Javier Aguirre’s last chance to check the physical condition of several of his players.
With less than two weeks to go before the World Cup opener against South Africa, Aguirre has numerous doubts because some of his key players are recovering from injuries and it is unclear whether they will be fit before the crucial competition.
They are playing for their last chance
Wingers César Huerta, from Belgian side Anderlecht, and Alexis Vega, from Toluca, as well as holding midfielder Edson Álvarez, from English side West Ham.
Midfielder Luis Chávez, from Russian Dynamo Moscow, and striker Santiago Giménez, from Italian Milan, have had a year of few minutes on the field.
They will try to convince the coach before Sunday, when Aguirre will announce the World Cup team.
Today, Mexico, fifteenth in the FIFA ranking, will be out to win against Australia.
But the main thing will be for the coaching staff to measure the physical condition of the 28 members of the team.
Australia, ranked 27th in the world, will also use the match as training for the World Cup.
This is a team that usually makes little noise, but against Mexico they have a favorable record of two wins, three draws and one loss.
Australia also fine-tunes details
Australia’s coach, Anthony Popovic, will also be looking for a win to keep a clean sheet in matches against Mexico.
But more important than that will be watching their stars, two weeks before their debut against Turkey in World Cup Group D, which also includes the United States and Paraguay.
Aguirre has numerous doubts
QuéOnnda.com
Before the World Cup, Australia will face Switzerland on June 6, while Mexico will play Serbia two days earlier.
Probable lineups
Mexico: Raúl Rangel; Israel Reyes, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Edson Álvarez, Álvaro Fidalgo, Gilberto Mora; Alexis Vega, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones.
Coach: Javier Aguirre.
Australia: Mathew Ryan; Cameron Burgess, Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati; Jacob Italiano, Aiden O’Neill, Coonor Metcalfe, Jordan Bos, Awer Mabil; Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Touré.
Coach: Tony Popovic.
Referee: To be designated.
Stadium: Rose Bowl, in Pasadena (California, USA).
Time: 19:00 hours (02:00 GMT).
With information from EFE
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