Mexico Humbled: Player Ratings As River Plate Expose El Tri's Shortcomings In Argentina
Mexico's disappointing outing against River Plate in a friendly in Argentina laid bare the shortcomings of the El Tri squad. Gerardo Martino's men were outplayed by the Argentine giants in a match that exposed the team's weaknesses and raised questions about their World Cup prospects.
Here are the player ratings for Mexico in the 0-3 defeat:
| Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Guillermo Ochoa | Goalkeeper | 6.0 |
| Jorge Sánchez | Right-back | 5.5 |
| César Montes | Center-back | 6.0 |
| Héctor Moreno | Center-back | 5.5 |
| Gerardo Arteaga | Left-back | 5.5 |
| Héctor Herrera | Midfielder | 5.0 |
| Andrés Guardado | Midfielder | 5.5 |
| Luis Romo | Midfielder | 5.0 |
| Hirving Lozano | Forward | 5.5 |
| Raúl Jiménez | Forward | 5.0 |
| Alexis Vega | Forward | 5.5 |
The match highlighted several tactical deficiencies in Mexico's play. The team struggled to create chances, with the forwards often isolated and lacking support. The midfield was overrun by River Plate's aggressive pressing, and the defense was repeatedly exposed by the Argentine side's pace and movement.
Another major issue for Mexico was a lack of cohesion. The team looked disjointed and unorganized, particularly in defense. Communication seemed to be a problem, as players were often out of position and failed to cover each other effectively.
While Mexico's tactical shortcomings were evident, individual errors also played a significant role in the defeat. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made several uncharacteristic mistakes, while center-backs César Montes and Héctor Moreno were frequently caught out of position. The midfielders failed to provide adequate protection for the defense, and the forwards were unable to convert the few chances that came their way.
Positive Perspective: Some observers argue that Mexico's performance should not be judged too harshly. The team was facing a top Argentine club in a friendly match, and the result is not necessarily indicative of their overall quality. Additionally, several key players were absent from the squad, including Edson Álvarez and Jesús Corona.
Negative Perspective: Others believe that Mexico's performance was a serious cause for concern. The team's tactical deficiencies and individual errors were glaring, and the result raised doubts about their ability to compete at the World Cup. The friendly against River Plate served as a stark reminder of the work that Martino still has to do with this squad.
Mexico's defeat to River Plate was a sobering reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for El Tri. While it is important to note that the match was a friendly and that not all of Mexico's best players were available, the team's performance exposed a number of weaknesses that need to be addressed. Martino has less than six months to find solutions and prepare his team for the World Cup. If he fails to do so, Mexico's dreams of making a deep run in Qatar could be in jeopardy.