Juan Carlos Osorio’s habit of rotating and adapting his tactics mean Mexico’s opponents cannot be sure what they will face

This article is part of the Guardian’s 2018 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 32 countries who have qualified for Russia. theguardian.com is running previews from two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 14 June.

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Juan Carlos Osorio has instilled his basic principles in the Mexico team: player rotation and tactical flexibility. In fact, Mexico’s opponents in Russia cannot be sure what exactly they will come up against; the team’s strategy and behaviour on the pitch are very unpredictable.

Osorio’s team are chameleons that adapt match by match. His gameplans and lineups are defined according to the strengths of the opponents. “I think that we must be a mix of two things,” he says. “We must be a team who play our own strengths but also respect our opponents. Obviously, we must be loyal to our style because that is how we create our chances. I think we are on the right path.”

Osorio mainly plays 4-3-3, although El Tri have had considerable success with a 3-4-3, with the win against Uruguay in the Copa América Centenario one example. This Mexico team play with a high defensive line. It is not uncommon for them to have a lot of possession in the attacking half with the back four stationed on the halfway line.

However, this attacking approach can lead to problems at the back, as the defensive players have some issues with their positional play as well as with knowing when to press and when to retreat.

In midfield Osorio has not yet found an ideal No 6. He wants a player with aerial power and the skills to play the ball out of defence. As Rafael Márquez is edging towards retirement, Osorio has assigned Héctor Herrera to this role. Unfortunately, the Porto player is not always the most positionally sound and that can lead to a huge gap between defence and midfield.

El Tri’s attacking plan is the most settled. Osorio prefers two wingers who are able to cross and play clever diagonal passes, with one striker in the box to pounce as well as create space for attacking midfielders to arrive behind him.

Probable starting XI

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Which player is going to surprise everyone at the 2018 World Cup?

Hirving Lozano, despite his disciplinary problems in European football with PSV Eindhoven he can improve his Mexico performances with a few more goals.

Which player is likely to disappoint?

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Jesús Manuel Corona has the ability to destroy defences with his dribbling skills and shooting accuracy but he has had a poor season at Porto and does not arrive in the best shape of his career.

What is the realistic aim for Mexico at the World Cup and why?

For six consecutive World Cups El Tri have been eliminated in the last 16 and the nation will not accept anything less than getting through the group stage. However, if they finish second in the group this time, behind Germany but ahead of Sweden and South Korea, then Brazil most likely await in the last 16 and it is very difficult to see them reaching the quarters-finals.

Manuel Portillo works for Televisa.

Follow him on Twitter here.



