The groups are now officially set for the 2022 World Cup! During the Friday draw in Qatar, CONCACAF representatives Mexico were placed into Group C with Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
So now the questions come: Do Mexico have a chance to emerge out of the group stage? Will manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino and his men reach the mythical “quinto partido” and get to a quarterfinal for the first time ever in a World Cup not on home soil?
Let’s dive into Group C and El Tri‘s opponents.
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What to expect for Mexico in the group stage
The opening match against Poland could make or break Mexico. On paper, Argentina are the favorites within the four, likely leaving Mexico or Poland to fight for second place.
Led by 2021 Ballon d’Or runner-up Robert Lewandowski, one of El Tri‘s most daunting challenges in the group stage will be an effort to silence the Bayern Munich player who is arguably the best striker in the world. That said, Poland aren’t nearly as threatening in other areas of their XI and entered the tournament through the UEFA playoffs after being unable to top their qualification group. A change in management before the playoffs also indicates that this team could be a work-in-progress.
After potentially surviving a battle against a Ballon d’Or contender, Mexico will take on Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, in their second game against Argentina. Unlike Poland, Argentina have a much more well-rounded roster and will be expected to lead Group C. For El Tri, there’s a sense of revenge in this matchup after being pushed out of the round of 16 by the South American powerhouse in the 2010 and 2006 editions of the World Cup.
Last, but definitely not least, will be Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia. Although they appear to be the easiest opponent for Mexico on paper, Saudi Arabia recently topped their…
Source : espn
