2022 FIFA WC Qualifying - Mexico vs El Salvador; March 30, 2022

I don't know which one I was most confident about. Probably 2014 (after Herrera took over obviously). But this one is up there as the one I feel least confident about (probably up there with 2010).

 

I've never bought that CONCACAF qualifying is especially brutal. Surely it's not more brutal than CONMEBOL or UEFA just bc there aren't huge rivalries here. This specific qualifier didn't feel brutal either. We were getting the results. Just didn't play that well.

 

As much of a problem that is Raul Jimenez is having in imprecise passes and missing chances and how that is a problem, the way Mexico lost so much offensive punch after he got subbed out for Henry Martin is one of the main takes of the match. It also happened against Honduras where he was supposed to hold on to the ball against a Honduras team that was tired and most where local league players and he did a terrible job. Today Lozano had that great play where he made a good cross into his path (something Antuna tried but for all his good appearance he failed to do) and Martin failed to get to it and he had as fresh as could be. I would have liked to have seen Lozano and Jimenez or maybe even Santi Gimenez for Jimenez if you have to take him out because getting Martin there helped El Salvador.

 

That's because Berhalter was designed to end up beating Tata. Dude lost to him for three straight before figuring the best way to beat Mexico. Doesn't help our forward are in a compete rut

 

Martin struggled at the Olympics too, no surprise at his performance tbh.

 

That and that even when Jimenez is struggling, he gives you more. It's like people complained about that play when he got fast into the area and got past his defender but decided wrong and allowed the keeper to get to the ball. It really sucks that he made that play and that he's used to deciding better but the alternative at least in the bench is not a guy who does the same play but decides it better to score but a guy who doesn't even get close to doing the beginning of that play.