After losing 1-0 to Venezuela, the Aztec team must beat Ecuador to advance to the Quarterfinals.
The Mexican team will face this Sunday, June 30, the Selection of Ecuador in a match corresponding to Matchday 3 of the Group Stage of the America Cup 2024. El Tri must win the match if it wants to qualify for the next round of the prestigious CONMEBOL competition.
After losing 1-0 to Venezuelathe Mexican team must beat Ecuador to advance to the Quarterfinals. If Mexico does not get 3 points, the Mexican team would be out of the competition and Jaime Lozano, technical director of the Mexican squad, could lose his job.
Even though the outlook does not look encouraging, ‘El Jimmy’ is sure that his players will get their ticket to the Quarterfinals and defeat Ecuador on the last day of the group stage.
“In the end things didn’t go as we expected, but first we have 90 minutes and no one is getting off this ship and we are going to make it. I can say that. What you say seems pessimistic to me, but we are going to achieve it. “I am sure of that,” Lozano said at a press conference.
“We are not outside and we depend on ourselves, we are clear about that. Our game will put us in the next phase, but I said it, playing games like this we will hardly achieve it. I think we had better records than the rival,” he added.
Ecuador and Mexico are tied with 4 points in Group B, but the South American team has a better goal difference, so a draw would be enough to advance to the Quarterfinals and consummate another failure for the Mexican National Team.
Due to the decisive match of Mexico ante Ecuadorwe invite you to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the Ecuadorian team.
WHAT SHOULD MEXICO TAKE CARE OF IN ECUADOR?
Despite receiving two scores so far in the Copa America 2024One of Ecuador’s strongest points is its defense and this area excites its fans because they know that a strong defense can win championships. The Mexican players will have a very difficult challenge to score against the Ecuadorian team and take the victory.
The referents of the Ecuadorian defense are Piero Hincapié y Willian Pacho. Piero had an unforgettable campaign in Bavarian territory with Bayer Levekusen by winning the Bundesliga y German Cup. Hincapié played a fundamental role in the squad Xabi Alonso and is one of the most important figures in Ecuador’s squad.
Regarding Pacho, the center also had an outstanding campaign in Germany with the Eintracht Frankfurt and his performances have aroused the interest of various clubs in the Premier League.
On the other hand, the player Chelsea, Moses Caicedoshould be considered another of the main strengths of the Ecuador National Team.
Caicedo has had a hard time adapting to Stamford Bridge, but the midfielder has managed to gradually win the affection of Chelsea fans with good performances. Caicedo is considered one of the most talented players in the Premier League and his work in the midfield will be key for Ecuador’s aspirations to advance to the next round of the Copa América 2024.
Next to Caicedo, End of Valenciaan old acquaintance of Mexican soccer, will be available to face Mexico after missing the match against Jamaica by suspension. Valencia It is synonymous with goals and the Aztec central defenders will have a lot of work to try to contain it.
WHERE CAN MEXICO HURT ECUADOR?
Curiously, Enner Valencia could also be considered one of Ecuador’s weak points. Why? The 34-year-old striker is known for his goal-scoring instinct, but in his last 8 games with La Tri, Valencia has only scored once.
Ecuador suffers from a lack of danger in its attack. For example, in its first two games of the 2024 Copa America, Ecuador managed to score with players who do not play as forwards while Jordy Caicedo y Kevin Rodriguez, who are natural center attackers, have only one goal in recent months at the international level.
In addition to the complicated moment that its forwards are experiencing, other weaknesses that Ecuador has shown in the Copa América 2024 is its lack of ability to control games that begin by dominating as well as not supporting the physical wear and tear of commitments. Ecuador’s own coach, Félix Sánchez Bas, acknowledged after the match against Venezuela that the physical issue cost his players and La ‘Vinotinto’ took advantage of the situation.
“They forced us to retreat, which resulted in a lot of physical strain. If you have ever been on a football pitch in these temperatures, you will know that it is difficult, they make you run a lot. Our players struggled, they moved us from one side to the other and kept us trapped there for a long time,” he said in a press conference.
After the commitment against Jamaica, which won Ecuador by 3-1, Felix Sanchez Bas He pointed out that despite the victory, his team was unable to control the game as he would have liked and even highlighted that his players had moments of confusion after Jamaica will get closer on the scoreboard.
“We have to try to improve those moments, we face a team that has great players, a great coach, difficult to beat. Those first 15 minutes they have bet and we have not relaxed. Doubts have entered, there has been some imbalance and we conceded a goal,” he said at a press conference.
The match between Mexico y Ecuador in the Copa America 2024 It should be considered one of the most important confrontations that the two countries have had in recent years because the result could define the next plans of both teams for the 2026 World Cup.