Guyana’s Golden Jaguars and Mexico, ranked 122nd and 19th in the FIFA world rankings respectively, lock horns in the penultimate round of group B action, in the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone, third round 2014 World Cup qualifiers, at the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston Texas, from 8 pm tomorrow (9 pm Guyana time).
CONCACAF giants Mexico, affectionately known as “El Tri” is the only team in the entire zone to qualify for next year’s hexagon phase, having won their opening four group matches. Regardless of this position of strength, they have resisted temptation to pick a reserve team.
Instead, Coach Jose Manuel De La Torre has selected the strongest possible Mexican squad available to him.
This squad includes players such as Manchester United’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Valencia FC left-winger Andres Guadardo, 2012 Olympic goal-scoring hero Oribe Peralta and tough tackling, veteran defensive mid-fielder of three world cups (2002, 2006, 2010), Gerardo “El Borrego” Torrado.
Guyana, on the other hand, with the chance of qualifying for the next round mathematically possible, but improbable at best, will be giving a few of the younger local players more of an opportunity in this game and in the final game against Costa Rica.
With established first choice central defensive pairing Leon Cort and John Paul “JP” Rodrigues unavailable owing to club commitments, Colin Nelson or Jamaal Smith are likely to be battling for the spot to partner Charles “Lilly” Pollard in the heart of defence. Also, in the absence also of senior striker Carl Cort for a similar reason, the trio of Vurlon Mills, Anthony “Awo” Abrams and Shawn Beveney will be vying to be strike partner of Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson.
National Assistant Coach Wayne Dover, who is in charge for this game, spoke on how preparation has gone since the team arrived in the United States and the mood in the camp ahead of the game.
“We arrived in Texas today, after initially having a short camp in Miami where we went went through final stages of preparation, in which we specially worked on our team organization and finishing. Tonight at our mandatory one-hour FIFA pre-match training session at the venue, we will work on our offensive patterns and speed work”, explained Dover.
“Overall though, the spirit is high in camp. This morning we spoke and the team is 150% upbeat for this match. We played Mexico before, as everyone knows and in some ways we know what to expect from them. With regard to the starting XI, we will wait until our final session to decide this.”
The National Communications Network (NCN) will once again broadcast the game live to the Guyanese audience.
Guyana squad:
Richard Reynolds, Derrick Carter (Goal-Keepers), Charles Pollard, Walter Moore, Colin Nelson, Jamaal Smith (Defenders), Chris Nurse (Captain), Brandon Beresford, Nick Millington, Dwight Peters, Dwain Jacobs, Kester Jacobs, Ricky Shakes, Trayon Bobb (Mid-Fielders), Gregory Richardson, Vurlon Mills, Anthony Abrams, Shawn Beveney (Strikers).
Coach: Wayne Dover, Trainer: Americo Falopa, General Manager: Rawle Adams, Assistant Manager: Mark Xavier, Equipment Manager: Trevor Burnett, Goal-Keeper Coach: Andrew Hazel, Physiotherapist: Debita Harripersaud.
Mexico squad:
Jonathan Orozco (Monterrey), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca), Severo Meza (Monterrey), Israel Jiménez (Tigers), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (Vfb Stuttgart), Diego Reyes (America), Hector Moreno (RCD Espanol), Joel Huiqui (Monarcas Morelia), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigers), Adrian Aldrete (America), Elias Hernandez (Tigers), Javier Aquino (Cruz Azul), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Club León), Jorge Enriquez (Guadalajara), Hector Herrera (Pachuca), Andres Guardado (Valencia CF), Angel Reyna (Monterrey), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Oribe Peralta (Santos), Aldo de Nigris (Monterrey), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United). Coach: Jose Manuel de La Torre.
